Duct cleaning in Ottawa costs $350–$700 for an average home in 2026, with most three-bedroom houses landing around $450–$550 for a complete truck-mounted negative-pressure cleaning of all supply and return vents, the main trunk lines, and the furnace blower compartment. Condos and small bungalows with 8–10 vents run $250–$400, while large homes with 20+ vents, multiple furnaces, or finished basements with extra runs reach $700–$1,100. Pricing is typically structured as a base fee of about $200–$300 covering the main trunks and blower, plus $20–$35 per vent. Common add-ons include dryer vent cl...
Legitimate Ottawa duct cleaning companies price on the size of the system, not a flat gimmick rate. The standard structure is a base charge of roughly $200–$300 that covers setting up the truck-mounted vacuum, cleaning the main supply and return trunk lines, and cleaning the furnace blower compartment and heat exchanger area, plus a per-vent charge of about $20–$35. A typical Ottawa two-storey with 12–16 vents therefore lands around $450–$650. A bungalow or condo with 8–10 vents runs $250–$400. ...
Truck-mounted negative-pressure systems pull far more air (typically 8,000–15,000 CFM) than portable units and are the standard for houses. Portable equipment is appropriate for condos and high-rises where hose runs from the street aren't possible. Ask which will be used on your home.
Ottawa homeowners see $79 to $129 'unlimited vents' ads on social media and in flyers every winter, and the pattern is consistent enough that both the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Protection Ontario have issued warnings about it. The crew arrives with a small portable shop vacuum, blows air into a few registers, then reports 'mould' in the ductwork or a cracked heat exchanger and quotes $800–$2,500 for sanitizing, deep cleaning, or urgent furnace work. Sometimes the vents are barely touch...
Ontario's Consumer Protection Act gives you a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel a direct agreement signed in your home, and up to a year if the contract didn't meet disclosure requirements. Cancel in writing and keep a copy.
Dryer vent cleaning is the most worthwhile add-on, at $90–$160 when bundled with a duct cleaning (versus $130–$200 as a standalone call). Lint-clogged dryer ducts are a genuine fire risk and are especially common in Ottawa townhomes where the dryer sits in a basement or interior room with a long, twisting vent run. HRV or ERV cleaning at $100–$200 matters here because Ontario Building Code has required heat recovery ventilators in new homes for decades, and most Ottawa homeowners have never had ...
Health Canada's position is that duct cleaning is not required as routine maintenance for most homes, which surprises people used to seeing aggressive advertising. The practical Ottawa guidance is every three to five years for a typical household, and more often in specific situations: after any renovation that generated drywall dust (the number one reason Ottawa ducts genuinely need cleaning), after moving into a previously owned home, when there's visible mould in the ductwork or on the drip p...
Taping plastic over supply and return registers during dusty work costs almost nothing and prevents most of the drywall dust that would otherwise coat your entire duct system and force a $500 cleaning.
Start by asking for the price structure in writing before booking: base fee, per-vent rate, vent count included, and every possible add-on. Confirm the company uses truck-mounted negative-pressure equipment with mechanical agitation (air whips or brushes), not just a vacuum at the register — agitation is what actually dislodges the debris. Ask whether they are NADCA-certified (the National Air Duct Cleaners Association standard) or affiliated with HRAI, and confirm WSIB coverage and liability in...
In 2026, duct cleaning in Ottawa costs $350–$700 for an average home, with most three-bedroom houses at $450–$550. Pricing is usually a $200–$300 base fee covering trunk lines and the furnace blower, plus $20–$35 per vent. Condos and small bungalows run $250–$400; large homes with 20+ vents run $700–$1,100.
Almost never. Ultra-cheap ads are typically bait pricing: the crew arrives with a portable shop vacuum, claims to find mould or a cracked heat exchanger, and pressures you into an $800–$2,500 upgrade. A legitimate whole-home cleaning in Ottawa starts around $350 and takes two to four hours.
Every three to five years for most homes, and sooner after a renovation that produced drywall dust, after buying a previously owned home, following rodent infestation, water damage, or visible mould, or if a household member has significant allergies or asthma. Health Canada does not consider duct cleaning routine required maintenance.
Yes, if your Ottawa home has one — most homes built since the mid-1990s do. HRV or ERV cleaning adds $100–$200 and covers the core, filters, and intake/exhaust ducts. A neglected HRV loses ventilation efficiency and contributes to winter condensation and humidity problems.
About $90–$160 when added to a duct cleaning appointment, or $130–$200 as a standalone service. It's a worthwhile add-on because lint buildup is a real fire hazard, particularly in townhomes with long, bending vent runs from a basement laundry.