Air Duct Cleaning in Waterfront Communities-The Island

The pattern: a $50-100 'whole house special', then on-site claims of hidden mould with photos that may not be from your ducts, pressure-selling sanitizer fogging at hundreds extra. Legitimate firms quote by vent/system count, show you findings in your own ducts, and never pressure same-day decisions.

Usually no — blanket chemical fogging is discouraged unless there's confirmed microbial growth and the product is approved for HVAC use. Mechanical cleaning plus fixing the moisture source addresses the cause; fogging is the most-upsold, least-needed add-on.

Usually per system or per vent: a flat whole-house price for an average system, with surcharges for extra vents, multiple air handlers, or heavy contamination. Dryer vent cleaning is typically a smaller separate line item.

Proper source-removal cleaning puts the system under negative pressure with a high-power vacuum, then agitates each duct run with rotating brushes or compressed-air whips so debris is pulled to the collector — not blown into the house. Register covers, the air handler, and coils should be included.

There's no fixed schedule — clean when there's visible mould, vermin, renovation dust, or significant debris buildup. In practice every 3-5 years is typical for forced-air homes, sooner after building work or if filters blacken quickly.

Evidence is mixed for routine cleaning of already-clean ducts. It clearly helps when ducts contain mould, construction dust, pest debris, or blockages. Pairing cleaning with better filtration and sealing duct leaks delivers more measurable benefit than cleaning alone.

After renovations, before first winter in a resale home, or when filters blacken fast — typically every 3-5 years. Book before heating season; crews are cheapest in late spring and summer when furnaces are idle.