One room is freezing, another is stuffy, the furnace runs all day, and the vents blow dust every time the blower kicks on. That's usually not the furnace — that's the ductwork. Ultimate HVAC Inc. does ductwork cleaning and sealing throughout Skokie and Cook County: we clean the system out, find where the air is escaping, and seal it up so the air you paid to heat actually reaches the room. You call, you get Chano Garcia or his family. No call center, no subcontractors, no press 1 for service.
What ductwork cleaning and sealing involves
Two jobs, usually done together, because doing one without the other is half a repair.
Cleaning is the physical removal of what's built up inside the trunk lines, branch runs, supply boots and return drops — construction dust, drywall grit, pet hair, insulation fibers, whatever got pulled through a leaky return over the years. We pull registers, run agitation tools and brushes through the runs, and vacuum the debris out under negative pressure so it goes into the collection unit instead of into your living room. Blower compartment, blower wheel and the coil area get looked at too, because that's where the dirt actually chokes airflow.
Sealing is the boring part that saves you money. We look for disconnected boots, open joints at the plenum, crushed flex, gaps at the takeoffs, and returns pulling air out of an unconditioned basement or attic. Those get mechanically fastened, then sealed with mastic and mesh or proper foil-backed tape — not cloth duct tape, which dries out and lets go in a few seasons. Then we re-check airflow at the registers and make sure static pressure is where it should be.
A typical Skokie house — bungalow or split-level, single system — is a half-day to a full day depending on how many runs and how much access we have.
Why Ultimate HVAC Inc. for ductwork cleaning and sealing
- Family owned, and you talk to the owner. Chano Garcia and his family run this. No call center, no dispatcher reading a script, no subcontractor crew you've never met showing up in an unmarked van.
- Same day service and 24/7 availability. We're open Monday through Sunday, around the clock, including emergencies. If your ductwork is disconnected and you have no heat in half the house, that's not a Tuesday problem.
- We chase the fundamentals, not the upsell. Sizing, airflow, ductwork. If your real problem is a crushed return or a duct dumping conditioned air into the crawlspace, we'll tell you that instead of selling you equipment you don't need.
- Free second opinions. Somebody else quoted you a full duct replacement? Bring us the quote. We'll look at the same system and tell you straight what it actually needs.
- Transparent pricing and online scheduling. Firm appointment time, price explained before we start, and financing available if the job is bigger than you planned for.
- Current promotion: $140 for the season. Ask about it when you book.
Our ductwork cleaning and sealing process
- Call or book online. You get a real person and a firm appointment window, not a four-hour maybe.
- Walk the system. We open the furnace or air handler, look at the plenum, follow the trunk and branch runs, and check the basement, attic and crawlspace where the leaks usually hide.
- Measure before we touch anything. Airflow at the registers, static pressure across the blower and filter, temperature split. That tells us whether you have a dirt problem, a leak problem, or an undersized duct problem.
- Straight quote. What we found, what we'd clean, what we'd seal, what we'd leave alone, and the price. No pressure, no theater. You decide.
- Clean it out. Registers off, runs agitated and vacuumed under negative pressure, returns and supply boots included, blower compartment cleaned up, floors protected.
- Seal it up. Fasten and seal joints, takeoffs, boots and plenum connections with mastic and mesh or foil tape. Reconnect anything that came apart. Insulate runs in unconditioned space where it makes sense.
- Re-measure and walk it with you. Same readings again so you can see the difference, filter sized and set correctly, and a plain-English rundown of anything worth watching.
What ductwork cleaning and sealing typically costs
We won't throw a number at you over the internet, because the honest answer depends on your house. Estimates range based on the number of supply and return runs, the square footage, how many systems are in the building, access (finished basement ceilings and tight crawlspaces cost more labor than open joists), the condition of what's in there, and how much sealing the ducts actually need once we open them up.
Cleaning-only visits sit at the low end. Cleaning plus sealing the plenum, takeoffs and boots is the middle. Sealing plus reworking crushed or badly undersized runs is the top end, because that's fabrication work. What's included: the inspection, airflow and static pressure readings, the cleaning, the sealing materials, and cleanup. What's not included without a separate quote: full duct replacement, new returns, asbestos-wrapped duct abatement, and equipment work.
Ask about the $140 seasonal promotion, ask about financing, and get a free quote before you commit to anything. Free second opinions on other companies' duct quotes, too.
Service areas we cover
- Skokie
- Evanston
- Lincolnwood
- Morton Grove
- Niles
- Wilmette
- Glenview
- Park Ridge
- Des Plaines
- Cook County
FAQ
How often should ductwork be cleaned?
For most Skokie homes, every few years is plenty. Clean it sooner if you've just finished a remodel, if you've had rodents or water in the ducts, if the previous owner had pets, or if you see dust blowing out of the registers when the blower starts.
Will duct cleaning fix my hot and cold rooms?
Sometimes, but usually the fix is sealing and airflow, not cleaning. Uneven rooms are normally leaks, a disconnected boot, a crushed flex run, or ducts that were never sized right. That's why we measure static pressure and airflow before quoting — so you're paying for the actual problem.
Can sealing my ducts lower my heating bill?
Yes, if you're leaking. Air escaping into a basement, attic or wall cavity is money you paid to heat and never used. Sealing the plenum, takeoffs and boots is one of the cheapest efficiency improvements in the house — a lot cheaper than new equipment.
Do you use duct tape to seal ducts?
No. Cloth duct tape dries out and lets go. We mechanically fasten first, then seal with mastic and mesh or foil-backed tape rated for duct work.
Will a subcontractor show up at my house?
No. Ultimate HVAC Inc. is family owned and family run. Chano Garcia and his family do the work.
Can you come out today?
Often, yes — we offer same day service and we're available 24/7, Monday through Sunday, emergencies included.
If your Skokie home has dusty registers, rooms that never get comfortable, or a furnace that runs and runs, get the ductwork looked at before you spend money on anything else. Call Ultimate HVAC Inc. at +17734942052 or book online for a free quote — and if you already have a duct quote from someone else, bring it and we'll give you a free second opinion. Straight answer, firm appointment time, no pitch.