An improved apparatus for cleaning ducts of a heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a pod having a vacuum chamber therein, a drive motor located within the pod and configured to receive a removable drive shaft therein, and a conduit member located within the pod adjacent the drive motor. The conduit member has a vacuum inlet opening at an exterior wall of the pod and a drive shaft exit opening formed in the conduit member through which the removable drive shaft can extend. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a man-portable pod and a cart removably-coupleable to the man-portable pod. A method of manufacturing the apparatus and a method of cleaning an HVAC duct is also provided.