Air duct cleaning after the Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire started on January 7, 2025, near Altadena, just north of Pasadena. According to CAL FIRE, it burned about 14,000 acres and destroyed more than 9,400 structures, most of them in Altadena. Parts of Pasadena burned too, including more than 70 homes damaged or destroyed in Upper Hastings Ranch, as reported by local press. Many more homes across the city stood through days of heavy smoke and wind-blown ash.
The City of Pasadena’s guidance for residents returning home after the fire recommends cleaning HVAC ducts. The city notes that many ducts are poorly sealed or poorly filtered and can become contaminated. It also advises changing furnace or HVAC filters monthly until smoke odors go away. Fine ash that entered through returns, attic gaps or open windows can settle inside the duct system and blow back out each time the system cycles.
If you are dealing with smoke residue, our guide to cleaning air ducts after wildfire smoke in Los Angeles explains what to look for and what a cleaning involves. Homes with structural fire damage or an active insurance claim should also work with their insurer and any required remediation professionals.
Pasadena’s older homes and their duct systems
Pasadena is known for its Craftsman architecture. Bungalow Heaven alone has more than 800 small Craftsman homes, most built between 1900 and 1930. It became a city landmark district in 1989 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Garfield Heights is another city landmark district, and grand older houses line Orange Grove Boulevard. These homes were built before central air existed. Their forced-air systems came later, often snaking through crawlspaces under raised wood floors or through tight attic spaces under low-pitched roofs.
That history shows up when we open the registers. Floor vents collect everything that falls into them, from pet hair to sand. Older sheet-metal ducts can have open seams, and crawlspace returns can draw in dust from the soil below. Newer sections added during remodels may be joined to original ductwork in ways that leak.
Inland heat means long cooling seasons
Pasadena sits against the San Gabriel Mountains, and its summers are hotter than the coast. Heat waves from July through October can be long and intense, which means air conditioners in Pasadena run harder and longer than they do on the Westside. More run time pulls more air, and more dust, through the system. Santa Ana winds in the fall add another round of dust and, in fire season, smoke.
What our Pasadena duct cleaning includes
Our air duct cleaning service starts with an inspection of registers, returns and accessible ductwork, including crawlspace and attic runs where we can reach them safely. We remove dust, debris and residue using professional equipment such as HEPA-filtered negative-air vacuums, agitation tools and inspection cameras where appropriate. We protect original wood floors and trim during the work. For homes affected by smoke or past pest activity, air duct sanitizing can be added after cleaning.
A note on expectations: the U.S. EPA says duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems. It recommends cleaning when there is visible mold growth, evidence of vermin, or excessive dust and debris released into the home. After a smoke event, that last condition is fairly common, but we will give you an honest assessment either way.
Other services for Pasadena homes
- Chimneys: Brick and stone fireplaces are a signature of Pasadena’s Craftsman and period homes. Our chimney cleaning removes soot and creosote, and is worth doing if ash or debris fell into the flue during the fire. See how often you should clean your chimney.
- Attic insulation: Older attics may have little insulation, and some picked up smoke odor or ash in 2025. Attic insulation removal and replacement can address both.
- HVAC and AC: With Pasadena’s long cooling season, HVAC cleaning and AC cleaning of accessible coils, blowers and drain pans make sense alongside duct work.
- Dryer vents: Dryer vent cleaning and dryer vent repair help in older homes where the laundry was added later and the vent takes a long route through a crawlspace.
Pasadena neighborhoods and ZIP codes
We serve homes across Pasadena, from Bungalow Heaven and Garfield Heights to Madison Heights, Linda Vista west of the Arroyo Seco, Lamanda Park, Upper and Lower Hastings Ranch, and the condos and lofts around Old Pasadena. Main residential ZIP codes include 91101, 91103, 91104, 91105, 91106 and 91107.
Pasadena is roughly 13 miles northeast of our West Adams base as the crow flies. We also serve nearby Glendale and the rest of our service areas.
Request a Pasadena estimate
Whether you are cleaning up after the fire or simply caring for an older home, we will inspect first and recommend only what is needed. Call (213) 596-9955 or request a free estimate.