The general rule
Industry guidance commonly suggests cleaning a typical home’s ducts every 3 to 5 years. Many Canadian homes benefit from cleaning more often — every 2 to 3 years — because furnaces run for so much of the year and windows stay closed through winter.
Clean sooner if…
Some homes collect dust much faster than average. Consider cleaning sooner if:
- You have pets that shed
- Someone in the home has allergies or asthma
- You’ve renovated — drywall and sawdust settle deep in the ducts
- You’ve moved into a new build that has never been cleaned
- You’ve just bought a home and don’t know when the ducts were last cleaned
- Dust is visibly blowing out of the vents
Don’t forget the rest of the system
Your furnace filter should be checked every 1 to 3 months. Your dryer vent should be cleaned roughly once a year in a busy household — see our guide to dryer vent fire safety. If you have an HRV, its core and filters need regular cleaning too.
Climate makes a difference
Long winters in places like Edmonton, Winnipeg and Ottawa mean the furnace runs for months. Humid coastal cities like Vancouver and Halifax deal more with moisture and musty smells. Either way, a system that runs more needs cleaning more often.
Ready to book? See our prices or book online.