Whole-system duct and dryer vent check with before-and-after photos - you see exactly what came out of your vents
That "$99 whole-house special" is a bait ad - the real number appears once they are in your hallway, or the "clean" is a shop-vac at the register. We photograph the inside of your ducts before and after instead.
Aprilaire Air Duct Cleaning in San Antonio: What to Know First
CleanRun Duct Repair & Cleaning provides independent Aprilaire air duct cleaning in San Antonio for homeowners who want a written price before any work starts and a documented photo record of every duct run when the crew leaves. A typical residential Aprilaire system cleaning takes three to five hours, and our whole-system pricing for San Antonio homes runs $380 to $780 depending on the layout and what the camera finds. We are not affiliated with or authorized by Aprilaire; we are an independent service provider who works on the equipment daily.
This page is for Aprilaire owners in San Antonio neighborhoods like Stone Oak, Alamo Heights, and the Pearl District who have noticed uneven airflow, dust accumulation at registers, or higher energy bills and want to know what the problem actually is before committing to a price. Call (726) 600-7155 for a free estimate with a written number delivered on the spot.
How Aprilaire Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Model 5000 Electronic Air Cleaner - ionizing wire fouling: The tungsten wires in the 5000’s ionizing section attract fine particulate that bypasses the prefilter, especially during San Antonio’s cedar pollen season from December through February. The wires develop a insulating coat that drops ionization voltage by 40% or more, and the homeowner sees dust settling on furniture within days of running the HVAC. We remove the cell assembly, clean the wires with a non-residue solvent that won’t etch the tungsten, and photograph the voltage test with a calibrated electrostatic meter before reinstalling. Haven Standard Clause 1 applies: the written price covers full cell restoration, not just a rinse.
- Model 600 / 600M Humidifier - bypass duct obstruction: The 6-inch bypass duct on these units is a dead-leg that traps debris where the humidifier ties into the supply plenum. In San Antonio’s hard-water zones near Helotes and Leon Valley, calcium scale binds with dust to form a concrete-like obstruction that chokes airflow to the humidifier pad and strains the blower motor. We cut in an access panel at the bypass elbow, mechanically remove the obstruction with a duct knife and negative-pressure extraction, then seal the panel with mastic, not tape. The photo record shows the obstruction removed and the pressure reading restored.
- Model 2210 / 2410 Media Air Cleaner - collapsed pleats from moisture intrusion: These cabinet-style units use MERV 13 pleated media that collapses when return-side humidity spikes above 70%, common in San Antonio homes with oversized AC units that short-cycle. Collapsed pleats shed filter media into the ductwork downstream, where it accumulates at the first elbow or damper. We extract the shredded media with a Rotobrush and HEPA vacuum, inspect the cabinet for gasket failure that allowed the moisture in, and replace with quality aftermarket media that matches OEM specs without the Aprilaire markup.
- Model 8126X Ventilation Controller - intake duct contamination: The 8126X brings outside air through a dedicated intake duct that many San Antonio installers run through the attic, where flex duct degrades in 140-degree summer heat. The degraded duct liner sheds particles into the fresh air stream, and the homeowner smells a hot-plastic odor every time the ventilator cycles. We replace the flex with insulated hard duct where accessible, or sleeve the existing run with a Nikro duct liner extraction tool, and document the before and after with the camera scope. Tomas Reyes has found dead geckos and wasp nests in these intakes more times than he’d count.
- Model 1850 / 1870 Dehumidifier - return duct condensation and mold: These whole-house dehumidifiers pull air through a dedicated return duct that often runs uninsulated through San Antonio crawl spaces. The cold metal sweats, fiberglass liner wicks the moisture, and Aspergillus colonizes the duct within two seasons. We remove the contaminated liner with Abatement Technologies negative-pressure containment, treat the metal with a non-registered sanitizer that won’t void the Aprilaire warranty, and install a vapor barrier sleeve if the crawl space moisture source can’t be eliminated. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers any regrowth at the treated section.
Our Aprilaire Air Duct Cleaning Process

- 1
Camera inspection before the quote. We feed a lighted scope through every accessible duct run and show the homeowner what we see on a tablet. The camera goes in first. Then we talk. No exceptions, no guesses.
- 2
Written price delivered on site. Based on the footage, we provide a single flat price per system under Haven Standard Clause 1. The price covers the full scope, not a per-vent teaser that balloons once work starts.
- 3
Equipment selection and parts decision. For Aprilaire components needing replacement, we stock quality aftermarket media and gaskets that match OEM specifications. If the homeowner prefers Aprilaire-branded parts, we source them with a clear cost comparison. No markup hidden in the part number.
- 4
Negative-pressure extraction and mechanical agitation. We seal each register and use a Rotobrush or Nikro system to dislodge debris while a HEPA-filtered vacuum maintains negative pressure, preventing contamination of the living space. Every duct run is photographed before and after.
- 5
System test and pressure verification. We restore power, verify blower amp draw, check static pressure across the Aprilaire component, and confirm no leaks at access panels. The documented photo record and written scope are delivered before we leave.
- 6
365-Day Done Right Promise activation. The written guarantee is dated and signed. If airflow drops, dust returns, or any sealed panel fails within a year, we return and make it right.
Before
AfterWhat Aprilaire Air Duct Cleaning Costs in San Antonio
These are the whole-system ranges we have written on quotes for San Antonio Aprilaire owners in the past eighteen months. Every job is flat-priced before work starts.
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard residential duct cleaning with Aprilaire media cleaner | $380 - $580 | Number of duct runs, accessibility of plenum, condition of flex duct |
| Deep cleaning with 5000-series electronic cell restoration | $520 - $780 | Cell condition, wire replacement needs, voltage test results |
| Humidifier bypass duct obstruction removal (Model 600 series) | $340 - $520 | Length of bypass, hardness of scale deposit, access panel location |
| Ventilation intake duct replacement or sleeving (8126X) | $480 - $720 | Attic accessibility, length of run, hard duct vs. liner extraction |
| Dehumidifier return duct remediation with liner removal (1850/1870) | $620 - $940 | Extent of contamination, crawl space access, vapor barrier needs |
We also provide a Free Second Opinion on any written estimate from another San Antonio contractor. Bring their quote; we will put our number next to it in writing. Call (726) 600-7155 for an exact quote on your Aprilaire system - estimates are free.
Why San Antonio Homeowners Call CleanRun Duct Repair & Cleaning for Aprilaire Work

Since 2013, we have served over 52,000 homes with a written price before every job and a documented photo record when the crew left. The 365-Day Done Right Promise is not a policy subject to manager approval; it is a written guarantee on every invoice. Our technicians are background-checked and uniformed under Haven Standard Clause 3: Verified Crews, and they arrive identified by name.
We work on Aprilaire equipment daily, but we also service Lennox, Trane, and Carrier systems, which matters when your San Antonio home has mixed-brand components or when an Aprilaire part is backordered and we need to source a cross-compatible alternative that won’t void your warranty. Tomas Reyes trains every technician on the specific failure modes above, not generic duct cleaning protocol. The equipment roster - Rotobrush, Nikro, Abatement Technologies, Honeywell, Aprilaire, Guardsman - is published here so you can verify it before we arrive.
FAQs
No, professional air duct cleaning does not void your Aprilaire warranty, provided the work does not damage components or use unapproved replacement parts. We document our process and parts specifications in writing so you have a record if a warranty claim ever arises. As an independent Aprilaire service provider, we have no special warranty authority, but we know what practices keep your coverage intact. Call (726) 600-7155 if you need documentation for a pending claim.
Every duct run is photographed before and after with a lighted camera scope, and the images are delivered as part of your standard job record. We show you the footage in real time at your tablet or monitor, and the dated photos stay in your file. If a competitor’s “cleaning” produced no visual record, we will clean the same system and show you the difference. Call (726) 600-7155 to schedule.
Repair is usually the better value if the cabinet is intact, the motor runs within spec, and the duct connections are accessible without major demolition. We replace when the heat exchanger is cracked, the control board is obsolete, or repair costs exceed 60% of replacement. We put both numbers in writing under Haven Standard Clause 1 so you decide with actual figures, not pressure. Call (726) 600-7155 for a free second opinion on a replacement quote.
Every four to six years for homes without pets or recent renovation; every two to three years if you have shedding animals, active construction nearby, or a Model 5000 electronic air cleaner that runs continuously. San Antonio’s cedar pollen and caliche dust accelerate accumulation compared to humid climates where particles adhere less. We inspect with a camera and tell you whether cleaning is needed now or can wait. Call (726) 600-7155 to schedule a look.
Not always. Aprilaire media filters and humidifier pads have exact aftermarket equivalents that meet the same MERV and absorbency specs at lower cost. For electronic air cleaner cells and control boards, OEM is usually the safer choice because voltage tolerances are tight. We stock both, explain the trade-off in writing, and let you choose. Haven Standard Clause 1 requires that the price reflect your choice before work starts. Call (726) 600-7155 to discuss your specific model.
Ready to see what is actually inside your Aprilaire ducts? Call (726) 600-7155 for a free estimate with a written price delivered before any work starts. A live person answers every call, and a background-checked, uniformed technician will arrive at your San Antonio home identified by name, camera in hand.
Written by Tomas Reyes, Owner, CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning San Antonio at CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning San Antonio, serving San Antonio and nearby areas.




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