Frequently Asked Questions

We connect a high-powered negative air machine to your trunk line, seal off each vent, and agitate debris loose with compressed air tools and rotary brushes, then suck it all out. We clean to the collar, meaning every branch line gets attention, not just the easy reaches. Before we pack up, we run a camera through so you can see the difference. The whole process takes two to four hours for a typical single-system home.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends every three to five years for most homes. In Los Angeles, where Santa Ana winds blow fine dust through attic vents and wildfire season deposits ash that finds its way inside, every three years is prudent for households with allergies or respiratory concerns. Homes with pets, recent renovations, or smokers should consider more frequent service.

You can vacuum vent covers and the first few feet of visible duct with a shop vac, but you won't reach the trunk lines or the buildup deep in the system where the real problems live. More importantly, disturbing compressed debris without proper negative air containment can blow contaminants through your home. We've been called in after DIY attempts made things worse. For a thorough, contained cleaning, a trained journeyman with the right equipment is the sound choice.

A standard single-furnace home takes two to four hours. Larger homes with multiple systems, complex attic ductwork, or significant contamination can run five to six hours. We don't rush. The 400th job gets the care of the first, and we'd rather take the time to do it right than leave debris behind to save thirty minutes.

No. Our negative air machines create suction at the trunk line while we work, so debris moves toward the vacuum, not your living room. We lay protective coverings, wear booties, and treat your home the way we'd work in our mother's. When we leave, the only evidence we've been there is cleaner air and the camera footage to prove it.

We run Nikro negative air machines and agitation tools, paired with Honeywell media filters for post-cleaning system protection. These are workhorse brands that repair shops stock parts for and that our journeymen have trained on for years. We don't chase gadgets. We use what works, what lasts, and what we can service without waiting three weeks for a proprietary part.

A clean duct system deserves a filter that can maintain it. We typically recommend Aprilaire media filters, which capture finer particles than standard one-inch fiberglass without choking airflow the way high-MERV pleated disposables can. The right filter extends the benefit of your cleaning and protects your equipment. We'll size it to your system and show you how often to change it based on your household.

Yes, and we recommend it. Dryer vents clogged with lint are a leading cause of house fires, and the buildup is real and preventable. We clear them to code with rotary brushes and high-velocity air, then verify airflow with a meter. In Los Angeles, where many homes have long vent runs through walls or roofs, professional clearing is especially important. We quote it separately so you can bundle or schedule it later.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and we verify it before they ever enter a customer's home. We're a national family of brands, which means every location is held to the same standard, not whatever the local market will tolerate. If you want to see credentials, we'll show them. A company that plans to be in town in thirty years doesn't hide behind fine print.

Ask for proof of liability insurance, whether they'll show you before-and-after camera footage, and whether the quoted price is final or subject to add-ons. Ask how long they've been in business under the same name, not just how long the technician has been cleaning ducts. And ask what happens if you're not satisfied. Our answer: The Keystone Standard, 90 days in writing, no arguing.

California requires HVAC contractors to hold a C-20 license for any work that disturbs or modifies the system, which includes accessing and cleaning ductwork connected to heating and cooling equipment. Always verify the license through the Contractors State License Board. We welcome that verification. It's one way to separate the craftsmen from the fly-by-nights.

We answer the phone with a live coordinator who connects you with the local team nearest you, and we do our best to accommodate same-day requests when capacity allows. Our hours are Monday through Sunday, 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM. For urgent situations like post-fire ash contamination or water damage that could breed mold, call (844) 685-6342 and we'll get you scheduled as fast as the local team can get there.

Sudden mold discovery after a roof leak, visible vermin infestation, or post-wildfire ash infiltration that triggers respiratory distress are the situations we treat with urgency. Routine dust buildup, while worth addressing, rarely requires same-day service. We'll tell you honestly whether your situation needs immediate attention or can wait for the next available appointment. No scare tactics. A square deal means straight talk.

Call (844) 685-6342 and our coordinator will route you to the Bellows location that covers your address. We're a national network with local teams in every market we serve, including Los Angeles and surrounding communities. You'll speak to a person, not a phone tree, and we'll give you a real arrival window we intend to keep. We'll be there when we say.

We stand behind every job with The Keystone Standard: 90 days, in writing, no arguing. If you're not satisfied with the work, we come back and make it right. No paperwork gauntlet, no manager escalation, no "we'll see what we can do." It's stamped on every page because we mean it. Clean air, the old craft way, means the job isn't done until it's done right.

Some residual dust can settle in the first 48 hours as your system recirculates air through lines that were disturbed. If visible debris persists beyond that, or if you suspect we missed a branch, call us. The Keystone Standard covers it. We don't disappear after we cash the check. Standing behind it is one of our K.E.Y.S. values, and it's how we've operated since 1984.

Any new components we install, such as Aprilaire filters or access panels, carry the manufacturer's warranty plus our installation guarantee. If a part fails because of how we fitted it, we fix it. If it fails because the part itself was defective, we handle the manufacturer exchange so you don't have to chase paperwork. Either way, you're not stuck in the middle.

K.E.Y.S. is how we train every journeyman and hold every location accountable. Krafted right means trained craftsmen, proper materials, no shortcuts. Every time means the 400th job gets the care of the first. Your home first means we work in your house the way we'd work in our mother's. Standing behind it means if it's not right, we come back, no paperwork, no arguing. Named for the oldest air-moving tool there is, Bellows still believes a handshake and a square deal matter.

Written by Ray Castillo, Owner at Bellows Air Duct & Vent Co., serving Los Angeles since 1984.