Duct Cleaning near you

A thorough cleaning treats the whole air system, not only the ducts you can see. The technician opens access points in the main trunks and connects a powerful vacuum that keeps the ductwork under negative pressure, so loosened dust is pulled toward the machine instead of into the house, then works through each branch with brushes or compressed-air whips. The US Environmental Protection Agency says the vacuum should exhaust outdoors or through a HEPA filter, and that every component must be cleaned, since a dirty blower or coil can quickly soil clean ducts again.

The EPA suggests considering a cleaning when there is substantial visible mould inside hard ducts, when ducts are infested with rodents or insects, or when they are clogged with so much dust and debris that it blows out of the registers. Dusty renovations, such as sanding drywall or floors, often lead to that last situation, especially if the system ran during the work.

If mould is the reason, the moisture behind it has to be fixed too, or it will come back. Health Canada recommends that a qualified professional assess and clean up large areas of mould.

Natural Resources Canada's guidance for homeowners says that duct cleaning alone won't fix airflow balancing problems and generally has little effect on the heating system or on indoor air quality. A review of the scientific evidence archived by the National Research Council Canada reached a similar conclusion: there was insufficient evidence that cleaning relieves occupants' symptoms, inadequate evidence that it improves airflow or reduces energy use, and pollutant levels can even rise after a cleaning.

The EPA takes the same line: a light layer of household dust in ducts is normal, duct cleaning has never been shown to prevent health problems, and it isn't recommended as routine maintenance. None of this makes cleaning useless. It means the decision should rest on what is actually in your ducts, ideally after a look through a register or with a camera, rather than on a calendar or an unsolicited phone call.

The Competition Bureau lists air duct cleaning among the services used in phone and door-to-door scams, where callers offer bargain rates and then use high-pressure tactics to force a quick decision. Its advice is simple: don't let anyone rush you, and take time to research the company first.

The filter catches much of the dust before it can settle in the ducts, the blower and the coil. Natural Resources Canada suggests changing or cleaning furnace filters every three months, or sooner as they become loaded, which can mean more often when the system runs hard in winter and summer, during renovations or with pets in the home.

A heat recovery ventilator has its own filters, core and outdoor hoods, and routine care is usually within a homeowner's reach. Natural Resources Canada notes that it typically means cleaning the filters and the core and checking components as the service manual describes. CMHC suggests cleaning or replacing HRV filters every two months, and calling an HRV service technician when a more thorough cleaning is needed.