Duct cleaning cost in Ottawa: the base rate, the add-ons and the ads

Two Ottawa figures, and what each one measures

HomeStars publishes two sets of Ottawa numbers, and they answer different questions. Its current Ottawa page gives ranges for a standard job: $300–$500 for the whole home, $150–$300 to clean the furnace or HVAC unit. Its older Ottawa table lists what homeowners reported paying, with costs as of November 2020: an average of $436, from $100 to $4,000.

The guide says a cleaner may charge up to $4,000 depending on the size of the ducts and their degree of contamination. For a first budget, start from the current range.

Per vent or one price for the whole house

Canadian crews quote one of two ways, says the national HomeStars guide: per vent, at $28–$45 each, or a flat rate for the full system. The arithmetic shows where each one wins.

• A small bungalow with 12 openings: $336–$540 at the per-vent rate.
• A two-storey house with 20 openings: $560–$900 at the per-vent rate, against $375–$650 for a standard full system in the same guide.

Before comparing, ask what a “vent” means in each quote. Supply registers are the obvious ones. Return grilles, the main trunk lines and the plenum above the furnace may sit inside the count, or outside it.

The add-on menu, line by line

Most of the spread between quotes comes from extras. Published rates for the common ones:

• Furnace or HVAC unit cleaning: $150–$300 in Ottawa. HomeStars says it covers the blower, heat exchanger and evaporator coil.
• Coil cleaning: $150–$550 Canada-wide, closer to $400–$450 when the technician has to pull the coils.
• Sanitizing and deodorizing: $100–$200 in Ottawa.
• Mould and mildew removal: about $1–$2 per square foot on top of the base price, and the national guide says severe cases may be referred to a specialist.
• Dryer vent: $100–$175 in Ottawa. See dryer vent cleaning.
• Rodents: the Ottawa guide says the crew may handle the problem or bring in a subcontractor; settle that cost when you book.

A package price is fine when each item in it is named; HomeStars advises an itemized quote.

Reading a low-price ad

In a 2013 CBC Marketplace investigation, discount cleaners booked through telemarketers charged $99 and $115 before tax, finished in about an hour and did little to a duct that an expert on the show estimated held almost four centimetres of dust, which barely changed afterward.

HomeStars puts a standard Ottawa house at 2 to 4 hours. The U.S. EPA adds three warning signs for any provider:

• Sweeping health claims. The EPA calls them unsubstantiated.
• A pitch for cleaning as a routine part of furnace upkeep, regardless of condition.
• A claim of “EPA certification”. The EPA certifies and endorses no duct cleaning company.

The EPA guide, in US dollars, says these services typically, but not always, cost $450–$1,000 per heating and cooling system. A $99 offer sits far below both that and the $300–$500 Ottawa range.

When the price climbs at the door

Ontario’s guide for home renovation and roofing businesses says a written agreement is required for any contract worth more than $50, and that when an estimate is part of a contract the business cannot charge more than 10% above it unless the customer requires additional or different work and a change to the contract is signed. Put the add-ons on paper before the vacuum starts, and ask for a written change with its cost if mould or rodents turn up mid-job.

Duct cleaning is also on Ontario’s list of restricted services for sales at the home, in place since 1 March 2018. A contract signed because of unsolicited door-to-door marketing, or because of misleading marketing materials left at your home, is void, and the business must reimburse charges such as those to remove or return the product or service. The full door-to-door rules, including the furnace-visit case, sit on our duct cleaning page.

Ottawa houses and access

Access drives labour. The HomeStars Ottawa guide says crews may charge extra when the ducts are hard to reach from the basement or utility room, and that custom-designed ductwork with unusual grilles or fans takes longer.

A house with an HRV or ERV has another set of ducts and a core of its own; the HRV service page covers that visit. A furnace tune-up is a separate visit: Ontario requires fuel-fired appliances to be maintained by TSSA-registered contractors with certified gas technicians.

Who handles your request

Ottawa Heating Desk sends the details you enter on the form to one independent local duct cleaning company. That company calls you back, looks at the system, gives you its own price and does the work.