What to Expect During a Professional Duct Cleaning

If you have never had your air ducts professionally cleaned, the whole idea can feel a little unfamiliar. You might be wondering what actually happens, how long it takes, or whether it will disrupt your day. Those are fair questions, and you are not alone in asking them.

Here is a straightforward walkthrough of our process at MedCity Duct Cleaning, from the moment you pick up the phone to the moment we leave. No surprises, no mystery. Just a clear picture of what to expect so you can feel comfortable having us in your home.

Scheduling and Arrival

It starts with a phone call or a quote request through our website. When you call, you will talk to a real person — not a call center. We will ask a few simple questions about your home: roughly how many vents, how many floors, the approximate square footage, and when the ducts were last cleaned. This helps us give you an accurate quote and schedule the right amount of time.

On the day of your appointment, Brian — our owner and lead technician — arrives on time with all the equipment needed. He handles the majority of our Rochester-area jobs personally, which means you are getting the person who cares most about the quality of the work. He will introduce himself, explain what is going to happen, and answer any questions before anything gets started.

The Camera Inspection: See It for Yourself

Before any cleaning begins, we start with a camera inspection. A small camera goes into your ductwork so both of us can see what has built up over the years. Some homeowners are surprised. Others already suspected it was time. Either way, you will know exactly where things stand before we do anything. This inspection is always free, even if you decide not to move forward that day.

Setup and Protecting Your Home

Once you give the go-ahead, we set up and protect your space. Floor coverings go down around work areas so your carpets and hardwood stay clean. Furniture near vents gets moved or covered as needed. We treat your home the way we would treat our own — because we know you are letting someone into your personal space, and we take that seriously.

The Cleaning Process: Register by Register

Here is where the real work happens. We use a professional Rotobrush system, which combines a high-speed rotating brush with a powerful HEPA-filtered vacuum. The brush physically scrubs the interior walls of your ductwork, loosening years of caked-on dust, pet hair, allergens, and debris. The vacuum captures everything simultaneously — nothing gets blown back into your home or pushed further into the system.

We work through the house one vent at a time. Every supply register, every return duct, and the main trunk lines all get the same thorough treatment. Each register cover comes off, gets cleaned, and goes back on when that section is finished. While we work, you are welcome to go about your day. There is no need to leave the house, and we are only in one area of your home at a time.

What Comes Out of Your Ducts (It Can Be Surprising)

This is the part that catches most people off guard. Even in homes that look spotless on the surface, the amount of material hiding inside the ductwork can be shocking. Thick layers of dust, clumps of pet hair, cobwebs, pollen, insulation fibers, and debris that has accumulated over years of daily HVAC use. In older Rochester homes or homes that have gone through renovations, it is common to find drywall dust and construction debris mixed in. We have also pulled out small toys, crayons, and other objects that fell through register openings over the years.

None of this means your house is dirty. It is simply what happens in every home with a forced-air system over time. That is why regular cleaning makes such a difference.

Final Inspection and Walkthrough

When the cleaning is complete, we run the camera through your ductwork one more time. This is not an upsell — it is a standard part of every job. We want you to see the clean interior of your ducts with your own eyes. The difference between the before and after footage is usually pretty striking.

We will walk you through what was done, make sure every register is back in place, and give you an honest recommendation about future maintenance timing.

How Long Does It Take?

Most residential duct cleaning jobs in Rochester take between 2 and 4 hours. A typical home with 10 to 15 registers usually lands around 3 hours. Larger homes or systems that have never been cleaned may take a bit longer. When you call for your quote, we will give you a time estimate based on the details of your home so you can plan your day.

After the Cleaning: What You Will Notice

The changes are subtle but real, and most homeowners notice them within the first few days.

• Less dust settling on surfaces. That thin film that reappears a day or two after you clean? It slows way down once the source inside your ducts is removed.
• Fresher-smelling air. Musty or stale odors when the furnace kicks on are often caused by what is living inside the ductwork. Once it is gone, the air just smells cleaner.
• Better HVAC airflow and efficiency. Your system does not have to work as hard when the ducts are clear, which can mean lower energy bills and less strain on your furnace and air conditioner.
• Reduced allergy symptoms. For households with allergy or asthma sufferers, removing a major source of airborne irritants can make a noticeable difference in day-to-day comfort.

Rochester homeowners who rely on their heating systems six or more months of the year tend to notice these improvements especially clearly.

A Note on Pricing

Every home is different, so we provide custom quotes rather than advertising a generic number. We also offer a price match promise on all residential duct cleaning — if you have a lower written quote from another local company for comparable service, we will match it. You can read what other Rochester-area homeowners have to say on our reviews page.

Ready to See What Is in Your Ducts?

The easiest way to find out whether your ducts need cleaning is to schedule a free camera inspection. We will show you exactly what is inside your ductwork and give you an honest recommendation. No pressure, no obligation. If you decide to move forward, we can often clean the same day.

Give us a call at (507) 289-4039 or request your free quote online. Brian and the MedCity Duct Cleaning team look forward to hearing from you.