You've booked. Here's the entire appointment, in order, so nothing on the day is a surprise — including the parts where you have a role: the walkthrough at the start and the photo review at the end.
Arrival and walkthrough (first 15–20 minutes)
The crew arrives inside your appointment window in a marked truck, introduces themselves, and walks the system with you: every register and return, the furnace or air handler, and any problem areas you flagged when booking. This is when you point out the musty bedroom or the weak vent — it directs the crew's attention and the "before" photography.
Before photos and setup (20–40 minutes)
Technicians photograph representative duct interiors — the documentation you'll compare against at the end — then protect the work path: floor coverings, corner guards, register removal. The negative-air collection unit is connected to the main trunk near the air handler and sealed. When it spins up, the system is under negative pressure: from this point, loosened debris travels one direction — out.
The cleaning itself (1.5–3 hours for a typical home)
Working vent by vent, the crew runs agitation tools — high-pressure compressed-air tools, air whips — through every supply and return line, driving debris toward the collection unit, per the NADCA ACR Standard. Expect steady shop-vac-level noise and technicians moving between rooms. The blower compartment and accessible components get attention too, and any approved add-ons — disinfecting, dryer vent cleaning — happen in this window. Disinfecting is always applied after mechanical cleaning, never instead of it.
After photos and the review (final 20–30 minutes)
The same duct runs are re-photographed from the same angles, and the lead technician walks you through before-versus-after — this photo review is standard on every Superior Air Duct Cleaning job, because it's your proof of work. Registers are reinstalled, a fresh filter goes in, the system is restarted, and the crew resets anything they moved. You'll also get an honest read on when your household should think about the next cleaning, based on what the photos showed — the same logic as our cleaning-frequency guide.
The first 24 hours afterward
- Airflow from registers is often noticeably stronger — restriction removed
- A faint "clean" smell for a few hours is normal, especially after disinfecting
- Run the fan; you should see no dust puffs from registers — that's the point
- Your before/after photos are yours to keep — file them with home records
What good looks like, summarized
Walkthrough → before photos → containment → full-run agitation on supply and return → components → after photos → your sign-off. If any future company skips steps in that chain, you now know exactly which corners got cut. That's not an accident — an informed customer is our best kind.
Haven't booked yet? Prep is easy — the 20-minute preparation checklist covers it — and payment options, promotions and financing are laid out in paying for duct cleaning. Keeping results after the crew leaves is the last piece: the 12-month maintenance plan.
Frequently asked questions
Will my HVAC system be off during the cleaning?
Yes — the system is shut down while the crew works, since the collection unit controls airflow during cleaning. It's back on before the crew leaves, with a fresh filter installed.
What if the crew finds something unexpected, like mold or a pest problem?
You'll see it in photos on the spot, get a plain-language explanation, and receive a written recommendation — never mid-job pressure. Anything beyond the approved scope is priced separately and only proceeds with your sign-off.
Do I pay before or after the work?
After. You approve the exact quote before work begins, review the after photos when it's done, and pay on completion — card, check, or monthly through Wisetack financing.
