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 Vent Sanitizing: The Marietta Owner’s Guide
We stock and install Aprilaire-compatible vent sanitizing systems for Marietta homeowners, with installed pricing typically running $380-$620 depending on your existing Aprilaire model and whether the UV-C lamp assembly, ozone generator, or ionization module needs replacement. Most Aprilaire sanitizing components are on our trucks and can be swapped same-day. Homeowners usually discover the problem when they notice a persistent musty smell returning weeks after a standard duct cleaning, or when their Aprilaire 5000 or 1210 series air cleaner stops showing the blue indicator light that signals active sanitizing.
Which Aprilaire Models This Applies To
The vent sanitizing conversation for Aprilaire centers on three product families: the Model 5000 electronic air cleaner with its factory UV accessory slot, the 1210/2210/3210 media air cleaner series with add-on sanitizing modules, and the standalone 1910/1920 in-duct UV-C systems. The critical compatibility gotcha is the lamp socket spacing: pre-2018 5000 units use a 9.5-inch lamp carriage, while post-2018 revisions moved to 11.25 inches to accommodate higher-output UV-C bulbs. We measure before quoting. The label you need is on the side of the Aprilaire cabinet, not the filter - look for a six-digit code starting with 50, 12, 19, or 22.
OEM Aprilaire UV lamps run $89-$140 retail for the bulb alone. We also install quality aftermarket equivalents from Abatement Technologies and Guardsman that meet the same 253.7 nanometer UV-C output spec at roughly 30% lower parts cost. For ionization modules, we stick with OEM - the voltage tolerance on Aprilaire’s 24V transformer is narrow, and we’ve seen third-party ionizers fail within two seasons on Marietta’s 240V HVAC circuits. We’ll show you both options in writing before the panel comes off.
Signs Your Aprilaire Vent Sanitizing Is Failing

- The blue indicator light is out or flickering. This means the UV-C lamp has reached end-of-life (typically 9,000 hours, or about 12 months of continuous operation) or the ballast is failing. Georgia’s voltage fluctuations during summer storm season accelerate ballast degradation.
- Musty odors return within 3-4 weeks of duct cleaning. When the sanitizing component is dead, mold and bacterial colonies reestablish on the coil and in the plenum faster than clean airflow can suppress them. We see this most often in Marietta’s older East Cobb homes with crawl-space return ducts.
- HVAC technician reports “biological growth on evaporator coil.” The Aprilaire sanitizing system is supposed to prevent this. If the coil is growing mold, the UV lamp is either burned out or installed in the wrong position relative to the coil face.
- You never hear the faint transformer hum during cooling cycles. The 24V transformer that powers the sanitizing module should produce a low buzz when the fan is running. Silence usually means transformer failure, not lamp failure - a $45 part vs. a $120 part, and we photograph the difference before ordering.
- Visible corrosion on the lamp contacts. Aprilaire’s lamp sockets are brass, and the ozone variants produce enough oxidation to green the contacts within 18 months in Marietta’s humidity. Corroded contacts arc, which destroys the ballast.
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
For Marietta, our installed pricing breaks down as follows:
| Component | Parts Range | Labor | Total Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| UV-C lamp only (OEM) | $89-$140 | $180 | $269-$320 |
| UV-C lamp + ballast | $140-$220 | $240 | $380-$460 |
| Ionization module (OEM) | $180-$280 | $240 | $420-$520 |
| Full sanitizing assembly replacement | $280-$380 | $240 | $520-$620 |
What drives the range: whether we can access your Aprilaire cabinet from the attic side or need to cut drywall in a finished basement, and whether your existing wiring meets current NEC grounding requirements for UV ballasts. Every quote is written before work starts, per Haven Standard Clause 1. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the installation labor and electrical connections; OEM lamps carry their own 1-year manufacturer warranty, which we register for you. Aftermarket Guardsman lamps carry our 2-year replacement guarantee.
DIY or Call Us?

Here’s where the line sits. A homeowner can safely verify the lamp is dead by looking through the Aprilaire viewport (if installed) or checking the indicator light - no tools needed. You can also read the model label and confirm your unit’s age. What you should not do: remove the lamp while power is present (the UV-C wavelength causes corneal burns within seconds, and the ballast holds a lethal charge for 10 minutes after disconnect), or attempt to retrofit a different lamp length into the carriage.
We’ve been called to Marietta homes where a homeowner forced an 11-inch lamp into a 9.5-inch socket, cracked the quartz tube, and released mercury into the plenum. That job became a full duct remediation. The camera doesn’t lie - and neither does the invoice. If your Aprilaire sanitizing system is down, call (470) 516-9337. We’ll scope the cabinet, show you the photo, and put the replacement price in writing before any work starts.
FAQs
UV-C lamps degrade to 80% output at roughly 9,000 hours of runtime, which translates to 12-14 months in a typical Marietta home where the fan runs continuously. We recommend annual replacement because output below 80% won’t suppress coil mold. Call (470) 516-9337 and we’ll check your runtime hours against the install date.
Ballasts and transformers can sometimes be repaired, but Aprilaire’s integrated lamp-ballast assemblies are sealed units with no serviceable components. We don’t charge diagnostic fees to determine this - we photograph the failed part and show you why replacement is the only viable path. Bring any competitor’s written quote; we’ll put our number next to it for free.
Most Aprilaire sanitizing replacements take 45-90 minutes, assuming electrical access and no cabinet relocation. Attic installations in Marietta’s 1990s-era homes with blown-in insulation over the plenum add 30 minutes for safe access. We include that time in the written price, not as a surprise add-on.
We carry OEM and aftermarket UV-C lamps for the 5000, 1210/2210/3210, and 1910/1920 series, plus ballasts and ionization modules for the same. For discontinued Aprilaire models or the rare 4000-series commercial unit, we can source parts within 24 hours through our Abatement Technologies and Guardsman supply chain. We’ll tell you before we drive whether your part is on the truck.
CleanRun Duct Repair & Cleaning is an independent service provider; we are not affiliated with Aprilaire, though we install OEM and quality aftermarket parts to manufacturer spec. We also stock sanitizing components for Lennox, Trane, and Carrier systems.
Written by Tomas Reyes, Owner, CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning Marietta at CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning Marietta, serving Marietta and nearby areas.




Before
After
Before
After