Airways Systems

What Airways Systems does

Airways Systems Inc. is a privately held, Chicagoland-based ventilation cleaning and sealing specialist that has operated continuously since 1942. The company delivers NFPA 96-compliant kitchen hood and grease exhaust cleaning, commercial HVAC and air duct cleaning, industrial and institutional exhaust system cleaning (paint booth, weld, laboratory fume hood, industrial oven), and certified Aeroseal duct sealing services to restaurants, hospitals, schools, hotels, manufacturing plants, office buildings, and property managers across Cook, DuPage, and DeKalb Counties in Illinois. Technical delivery relies on industry-leading equipment including HEPA-filtered vacuum systems, high-pressure steam gear for trash chute sanitization, and Aeroseal's proprietary inside-out duct sealing technology, operated by fully certified and insured technicians available on overnight shifts at no additional charge.

The business operates on a professional services revenue model with custom quote-based pricing and multi-year scheduled maintenance contracts, supplemented by a stocking distribution business for air filters and Bando industrial belts. Go-to-market is sales-led and field-based: prospective customers contact the company through a single published phone line or a website estimate request, and certified technicians perform work on-site at customer facilities. Marketing runs primarily through the company website, customer testimonials, RSS-distributed industry news, and direct phone conversion; the company holds industry memberships in NADCA, IAQA, and IKECA and highlights compliance documentation as a key trust signal for fire-marshal-facing customers. The Aeroseal partnership is the single most consequential commercial relationship, providing access to a differentiated, vendor-controlled sealing technology that competitors without certification cannot offer.

The firm has no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, acquisitions, leadership changes, or funding activity. Ownership appears to be founder or family-controlled, with the company operating as an independent single-site regional service business. Strategic posture has been one of organic service-line broadening (trash chute, ceiling tile, wall and floor, fire damage restoration) rather than geographic expansion or inorganic growth, and there is no evidence of digital, software, or AI capability investments.

Name

Airways Systems

Legal name

Airways Systems Inc.

Website

https://airwayssystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Airways Systems is a privately held Chicagoland industrial cleaning company, founded 1942, providing NFPA 96-compliant kitchen hood and grease exhaust cleaning, HVAC duct cleaning, industrial exhaust cleaning, and certified Aeroseal duct sealing to restaurants, hospitals, schools, hotels, manufacturers, and property managers across the Chicago metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Ventilation Cleaning Services

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Air Duct Cleaning & Sanitization (HSAOAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

HVAC Filter Replacement & Vent Register Checks (HSAGAOAB), Fire/Smoke Damage Cleaning & Sanitization (HSAEAHAN)

Keywords

• Commercial duct cleaning
• Kitchen exhaust cleaning
• HVAC system maintenance
• Industrial ventilation cleaning
• Aeroseal duct sealing

Headquarters

HQ city

Bensenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ventilation Cleaning Services: Core revenue from commercial ventilation cleaning services including kitchen hood cleaning, grease exhaust system maintenance, HVAC duct cleaning, and industrial exhaust system services. Services are provided to commercial and institutional facilities on a contract or per-job basis with scheduled maintenance programs available.
2. Aeroseal Duct Sealing: Duct sealing services using proprietary Aeroseal technology to fix air leaks. This specialized service addresses energy efficiency and indoor air quality improvements for existing duct systems.
3. Air Filters and Parts Supply: Sale of air filters (pleated, HEPA, specialty filters) and Bando belts as replacement parts for HVAC systems. They are a stocking distributor for filtration products and offer custom ordering.
4. Emergency and On-Demand Services: Emergency cleaning services available for urgent situations, including 24/7 response for restoration contractors dealing with fire, smoke, water, and storm damage recovery projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Airways Systems provides commercial and industrial ventilation cleaning and sealing services for facilities throughout the Chicagoland area. Its core offerings include NFPA 96-compliant kitchen hood and grease exhaust cleaning, commercial HVAC and air duct cleaning using HEPA-filtered vacuums, industrial and institutional exhaust system cleaning (paint booth, weld, laboratory fume hood), and Certified Aeroseal duct sealing that reduces air leakage by up to 95% without major construction. Supporting offerings include laundry, bathroom, and trash chute exhaust cleaning, wall/floor/ceiling tile cleaning, industrial machinery cleaning, fire damage restoration, filter changes, and stocking of replacement HVAC filters and Bando belts.

Product overview

Airways Systems is a ventilation cleaning and sealing service company offering a comprehensive suite of cleaning services and related products for commercial and industrial facilities across Chicagoland. The core offering consists of four primary service categories: Kitchen Hood and Grease Exhaust System Cleaning, Commercial HVAC System Cleaning Services, Industrial and Institutional Exhaust System Cleaning, and Aeroseal Duct Sealing Services. Supporting these core services are additional specialized cleaning offerings including laundry exhaust, bathroom/toilet exhaust, trash chute, wall and floor, ceiling tile, industrial machinery, commercial kitchen equipment, overhead structure, and fire damage restoration services. The company also supplies related products including Air Filters (pleated, HEPA, specialty filters) and Bando Belts (industrial V-belts and power transmission products). The service portfolio is designed to help facilities maintain fire safety compliance (particularly NFPA 96), improve indoor air quality, enhance energy efficiency, and extend equipment lifespan across diverse industries including restaurants, hospitals, schools, hotels, factories, and commercial properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aeroseal Duct Sealing: Certified Aeroseal duct sealing services for commercial and industrial facilities, offering up to 95% reduction in air leakage.

Products and services

• Kitchen Hood and Grease Exhaust System Cleaning Professional NFPA 96-compliant kitchen hood and grease exhaust cleaning, including full system degreasing from hood to roof fan, inspection reports for fire marshal compliance, scheduled maintenance programs, and emergency cleanings for restaurants, hotels, and institutional food service operations.
• Commercial HVAC System Cleaning Services Comprehensive commercial air duct and HVAC system cleaning using industry-leading equipment and HEPA-filtered vacuums to remove contaminants, improve indoor air quality, reduce allergens and dust, and prolong HVAC equipment lifespan for offices, retail, and commercial facilities.
• Industrial and Institutional Exhaust System Cleaning Specialized cleaning of paint booth, weld, industrial oven, and laboratory fume hood exhaust systems for complex industrial and institutional facilities, tailored to each facility's safety, efficiency, and code compliance needs.
• Aeroseal Duct Sealing Services Certified Aeroseal duct sealing that fixes leaks from the inside without major construction, achieving up to 95% reduction in air leakage, lowering heating and cooling costs, enhancing indoor air quality, and supporting building performance and LEED compliance.
• Laundry Exhaust Systems Cleaning Cleaning services for laundry exhaust systems to reduce fire risk and improve dryer efficiency in shared laundry facilities of apartments, condominiums, and hotels.
• Bathroom/Toilet Exhaust Systems Cleaning Cleaning of toilet and bathroom exhaust systems to maintain proper ventilation, reduce moisture-related issues, and support code and LEED compliance for commercial buildings and residential properties.
• Trash Chute Cleaning Services Professional trash chute cleaning using high-pressure steam equipment and eco-friendly disinfectants to clean, sanitize, and deodorize chutes in high-rises, apartments, condominiums, and commercial properties, preventing odors, pests, and fire hazards.
• Commercial Wall and Floor Cleaning Services Industrial wall and floor cleaning, including degreasing and deep cleaning, for parking garages, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and institutional buildings.
• Ceiling Tile Cleaning Service Commercial ceiling tile cleaning for FRP, acoustic, and metal pan tiles in restaurants, offices, and industrial facilities, including vacuuming, track cleaning, and chemical application.
• Industrial Machinery and Equipment Cleaning Cleaning of manufacturing equipment including acid lines and dust collectors to maintain equipment health, safety, quality, and efficiency at industrial plants.
• Air Filters Stocking-distributor supply of HVAC and specialty filters including pleated, throw-away, synthetic bag, ASHRAE, auto rolls, kitchen exhaust, HEPA, and custom-order filters for HVAC equipment.
• Bando Belts Industrial power transmission belts from Bando, including classical, narrow, FHP V-belts, and synchronous products for HVAC equipment and industrial applications.
• Commercial Kitchen Equipment Cleaning Deep cleaning services for commercial kitchen equipment to support fire safety, hygiene, and operational efficiency in food service operations.
• Overhead Structure Cleaning Services Cleaning of overhead structures, ductwork, beams, ceilings, and trusses in industrial and commercial settings to remove dust, grease, and contaminants.
• Fire Damage Restoration Fire damage restoration services for smoke-damaged HVAC systems, ductwork, and kitchen exhaust systems, including emergency response for restoration contractors on fire, smoke, water, and storm damage projects.
• Filter Changes HVAC filter replacement and change services performed as part of maintenance programs for commercial and industrial facilities.
• Disinfectant Application Professional disinfectant application services for commercial and industrial facilities to support infection control and sanitation in HVAC and ventilation components.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 95% reduction in air leakage with Aeroseal duct sealing
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AerosealcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified Aeroseal duct sealing technology partner. Airways Systems is certified to provide Aeroseal duct sealing services, a proprietary process that seals duct leaks from the inside without major construction, achieving up to 95% reduction in air leakage.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• DUCTZ: National franchise specializing in air duct and HVAC system cleaning for residential and commercial customers. Most directly comparable peer given its focus on commercial duct cleaning with standardized processes and certified technicians.
• HOODZ: Commercial kitchen exhaust and hood cleaning franchise that competes directly with Airways Systems' NFPA 96 kitchen exhaust service line. Comparable business model and customer base (restaurants, hotels, food service).
• Coit Cleaning Services: Diversified cleaning services provider offering air duct cleaning, carpet cleaning, and restoration services. Overlaps with Airways Systems on commercial HVAC duct cleaning and fire/smoke restoration services.
• Stanley Steemer: National cleaning services company providing air duct cleaning, HVAC cleaning, and restoration services for residential and commercial customers. Comparable duct cleaning service offering and large geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• Aeroseal: Technology licensor of the duct sealing technology Airways Systems deploys. While a partner, Aeroseal also operates its own service network in select markets, making it both ally and potential competitor in duct sealing.

Broad incumbents

• SERVPRO: National franchise leader in fire, water, and smoke damage restoration. Overlaps with Airways Systems' fire damage restoration and emergency cleaning services for HVAC/ductwork, though SERVPRO's scope is much broader.
• ServiceMaster Clean: National commercial cleaning and janitorial services brand offering HVAC and duct cleaning among broader facility services. Comparable commercial customer base and service breadth, with significantly larger scale.
• BMS Catastrophe: National fire, smoke, and water damage restoration firm that handles HVAC system cleaning and ductwork restoration as part of its post-incident services. Directly comparable on the restoration side of Airways Systems' business.
• PuroClean: National franchise providing property damage restoration and commercial cleaning services including duct and HVAC cleaning. Comparable restoration + cleaning model, though with broader service portfolio and franchise footprint.

Regional players

• Jani-King: Franchise commercial janitorial and cleaning services provider with franchisees operating in Chicagoland. Adjacent competitor offering commercial cleaning to overlapping facility customers (offices, healthcare, education).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airways Systems