Duct Cleaning FAQs

What is Duct Cleaning?

Professional duct cleaning services utilize specialized machines and tools such as vacuums, brushes, and blowers to thoroughly clean the supply, intake, as well as return ducts in homes and commercial buildings. Aside from that, thorough cleaning of the registers, air handler, motors, housings, fans, grilles, and coils of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or HVAC system is done.

It is inevitable for airborne pollutants to get stuck in your air ducts such as pet hair, dust mites, and smoke. These things can spell disaster, especially for people who suffer from asthma and other respiratory conditions. So ensuring that your home’s ductwork is clean and works properly is key!

Is Duct Cleaning Necessary? Do I need to get my air ducts cleaned?

When done properly by professionals, duct cleaning can bring about a lot of benefits. If you’re wondering whether you need to get your air ducts cleaned or not, here are some cases when you need to clean your duct systems:

1. Renovation

Homes that have been remodeled – especially those with asbestos abatement, significant dust, and lead paint removal – have ductwork that needs to be cleaned. It makes a lot more sense for ducts to be sealed off during home renovations because dangerous dirt and debris can easily become lodged inside the ductwork but this may not always be the case.

2. New Home

Have you recently moved into a new home? You may not know when the previous homeowner completed their duct cleaning and there’s a great chance they may be dirty and require attention.

3. Mold

Visible mold inside the ductwork means it is time for a good cleaning.

4. Illness

If someone in the family is suffering from allergies and illnesses, it may be a good idea to consider having ducts cleaned. It is possible that the HVAC system is the culprit.

5. Contaminants

If you notice pet hairs, debris, odors, and other contaminants being released into the room through the ducts even after a thorough cleaning of the registers, it’s possible that the ducts that need cleaning.

6. Animal Infestation

Any trace of animal infestation or nesting in your ducts warrants removal of them and cleaning of the ductwork system.

7. Last Duct Cleaning?

You should also consider having your ducts cleaned simply because the air ducts to get dirty over time and should be cleaned occasionally. If it’s been more than 2 years since your last duct cleaning, it may be time for your next cleaning session.

How Often Should You Clean Your Ducts?

After a proper duct cleaning from us, homeowners are usually good for a time period of a minimum of 2-3 years to up to 3-5 years. This depends on factors such as whether you have pets, the amount of carpeting you have, cleanliness, how often you change your filters etc.

How Much Does Duct Cleaning Cost?

Duct cleaning costs can depend on factors such as the contamination level, size of the system to be cleaned etc. We charge based on the square footage of the home as well as the type of home. We don’t charge extra for vents and don’t have any hidden charges. You can give us a call at 416.278.7661 for a quote!

What are the Benefits of Duct Cleaning? Is Duct Cleaning Worth it?

1. Cleaner Living Environment

The air ducts in your home are incredibly important as they circulate the air from your cooling and heating system to the various part of your home. This circulation of air in your home through your ducts happens multiple times a day. This is the air you live and breathe in. So you want it to be as clean as possible and that’s where the benefits of duct cleaning come in. Did you kow that homes, on average, produce 40 pounds of dust each year? During the duct cleaning process, vacuums remove the dust, dirt and debris from the system, preventing them from recirculating in the home. 

2. Removes Bad Smells and Odours

Is the air in your home smelling foul? Pets, food smells, smoking, mold etc. can lead to bad odours in your home. A deep cleaning of your air ducts helps in the removal of odour trapping particles, leading to a fresher smelling home.

3. Removal of Allergens

Are you frequently suffering from allergies or respiratory problems like asthma? It’s a possibility that your air ducts contain allergens. Duct cleaning can help remove them and prevent recirculation of the same air repeatedly.

4. Increase the Life of Your HVAC System

The more dirty your air ducts are, the harder your heating and cooling system needs to work to push air through your ducts and circulate it. There may come a time when you might need to replace your ducts instead of being able to clean them and salvage them. Regular maintenance is significantly cheaper than having to replace your ducts completely.

5. Saving on Electricity Costs

Dirty ducts full of dust and debris lead to the HVAC system having to work harder, which leads to it drawing more power, thereby increasing your monthly utility costs. If you’re noticing higher electricity bills, your air ducts may be the reason.

How Does Duct Cleaning Work? 

At Entire Duct Cleaning, we take our big vacuum hose to every register in your house instead of going straight to the basement and trying to create a vacuum from the bottom. We start from the upstairs and work our way down and eventually to the basement and furnace which we clean for you as well.  After the cleaning, we spray the inside of the duct work with a herbal disinfectant called Benefect.

1. Inspecting the Ducts

Contractors must conduct a simple, visual inspection of the ducts leading to the return and supply registers. This is necessary because this helps assess the level of buildup in the ducts and confirms the difference after cleaning has been done. The inspection is also an opportunity for the technician to check kinks, leaks, and other issues.

2. Create Negative Pressure

Large, truck-mounted or portable vacuum collection devices are used during duct cleaning because they suck debris out of the ductwork.

3. Agitate the Dust

Once the system has been subjected to negative pressure, the technician will uncover the registers and clean the ducts one by one. Professional companies will use compressed air tools, rotating brushes, and vacuum cleaners so that dust is dislodged and sucked into the vacuum collection device.

4. Clean the Rest of the System

Other components of the HVAC system must also be cleaned and sometimes the filter has to be replaced. This will greatly improve the air quality in the home and extend the life and efficiency of the HVAC system.

Is Duct Cleaning a Waste of Money? How Should I Choose a Contractor?

No, if it is done by professionals. You should select and use only qualified contractors. Duct and HVAC system cleaning which is done by someone who is trained and certified has the best chance of being done safely. If the contractor fails to perform the correct steps, duct cleaning can cause problems with your indoor air. So it’s important to choose a reputable company. For instance, an improper vacuum collection system can end up releasing even more dirt, dust, and other contaminants than if you decide to leave the ducts alone. Similarly, a service provider that is improperly trained can end up damaging your ducts and possibly increase heating or air conditioning costs. We at Entire Duct Cleaning are a team of trained professionals! You can give us a call at 416.278.7661 for a quote!

How Often Should Air Duct Cleaning be Performed?

To help increase efficiency and reduce energy bills, you should have your heating equipment inspected annually and your ducts cleaned every 2 to 3 years.  However, if any of the following factors apply to you, we recommend having your ducts cleaned every 1-2 years:

• You live in a new construction site
• How much carpeting is in your home
• You live near a highway
• You recently have completed home renovations
• Home/lifestyle cleanliness
• Allergens (pollen, dust mites, animal dander, etc.)

Your personal preference to any of the above factors may mean you want to have your ducts cleaned on a yearly basis.  When getting a quote, it is always best to ­­­ask what the cleaning process involves.  This is very important when considering a Duct Cleaning Company.

What are the Most Common Problems You See With Homeowner’s Air Ducts?

• Home owners not changing furnace filter(s) on a regular basis
• Kids’ toys and various objects down the vents, blocking airflow
• Poor duct design (turns and bends in the ducting) which will reduce airflow in the home
• Debris left from renovations/construction

What Can the Average Homeowner do to Maintain the Cleanliness of Their Air Ducts?

• Change the furnace filter(s) regularly
• Cover vents when doing renovations i.e. drywall & hardwood (sanding/cutting)
• Vacuum / clean the house frequently
• Clean the ducts on a regular basis

What Causes the Ducts to Become Dirty?

The indoor environment (ie. carpet, pets, dust, hair, etc.) and the outdoor environment coming in (dirt/mud on shoes etc.). This moves around your house and gets pulled in through the return vents. Whatever your furnace filter(s) captures, it collects and whatever it does not trap gets circulated through the supply of the duct work and throughout the home. This cycle will repeat itself over and over.

How do I Know if or When my Air Ducts are Dirty?

• A good indication would be if your furnace filter(s) requires frequent replacement
• Visible dust accumulation on return vent grills
• The need to clean the dust in the home more often

What Happens if Homeowners Do Not Clean Their Ducts?

• Possibility of poor airflow throughout the home
• Strain on the furnace as it must work harder
• Dirt throughout the home gets circulated and therefore causes more dust which creates a poor indoor environment
• Possibility of mold, spores and bacteria growing in ductwork

We offer professional duct cleaning services for Residential & Commercial applications to help eliminate irritants such as pollen, smoke, dust mites, bacteria, etc. We provide duct cleaning in Ontario, specifically Toronto & the GTA, servicing cities up to a 50 km radius of Toronto including Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Pickering, Ajax, Vaughan, North York, Richmond Hill, Scarborough. Call us at (416) 278-7661 for a duct cleaning service quote today!

Request a Duct Cleaning Quote!

Phone

(416) 278-7661

Email

info@entireductcleaning.ca

Hours

• Monday          8am–6pm
• Tuesday         8am–6pm
• Wednesday    8am–6pm
• Thursday        8am–6pm
• Friday             8am–6pm
• Saturday        9am–6pm
• Sunday          Closed

Areas We Offer Duct Cleaning Services