Duct cleaning in Ottawa: count the vents, compare the quote
Tell us the size of the house, how many vents it has and when the ducts were last cleaned. One independent Ottawa company gets the work order and calls you to price the job.
In short
- 01Ottawa homeowners reported an average of $436 for duct cleaning, with jobs from $100 to $4,000 (HomeStars Ottawa guide).
- 02A Canada-wide guide puts a standard home at $375–$650, at $28–$45 per vent.
- 03Mould removal sits outside a standard duct cleaning quote: about $1–$2 per square foot extra on the same guide.
- 04Selling duct cleaning at your door is restricted in Ontario unless you started the contact.
Typical ranges
Source HomeStars, Duct Cleaning Cost in Ottawa, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026 (built from 404 verified Ottawa homeowner reports). HomeStars, Duct Cleaning Cost, Canada-wide, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. Sales at home: Ontario, Rules for businesses entering into contracts at a consumer’s home, updated 25.09.2024, seen 29.10.2026.
What to ask before you book
- Q1Do you price per vent or for the whole system, and how many vents did you count?
- Q2Are the furnace blower, the return ducts and the dryer vent in that price?
- Q3What equipment do you use, and where does the dust go?
- Q4If you find mould or signs of pests, what happens next, and what does it cost?
- Q5Can I have the price with HST in writing before you start?
Before the visit
- Size of the house and number of floors
- Number of supply and return vents, if you can count them room by room
- When the ducts were last cleaned, and any renovation since
- Pets, allergies, or anyone in the house sensitive to dust
- Where the dryer vent exits the house, if you want it done on the same visit
- Clear access to the furnace and to each vent cover
Count the vents before you call
Most companies price residential duct cleaning per vent or by the size of the system. A count gives you a number to hold the quote to.
Walk the house and note each floor and wall register that blows air, and each return grille that pulls it in. Add the floors, the house size and when the ducts were last done. Mention a recent renovation: drywall dust in the ducts is heavier work.
What a full cleaning should cover
A Canada-wide HomeStars guide prices a standard home with 15 to 20 vents at $375–$650 and says a good company takes the dust out of the house with outdoor ventilation equipment. Ask what the price includes:
- Supply and return ducts, or supply only
- The furnace blower and cabinet
- The dryer vent, which runs $150–$200 as a standalone visit
- Sanitizing or deodorizing, if offered, as a separate line
Two quotes compare only when they list the same parts of the system. A low per-vent price that leaves out the returns and the blower prices a smaller job.
Ottawa prices, as reported
The HomeStars Ottawa guide, built from 404 verified homeowner reports, shows duct cleaning at an average of $436, from $100 to $4,000. Furnace cleaning averaged $486, from $115 to $4,000. The high ends come from large homes and heavily contaminated systems, the guide notes.
Offers at the door
Duct cleaning is on Ontario’s restricted list for sales at home, since 1 March 2018. A business may sell it to you there if you started the contact, for example by calling or emailing to ask for a visit; narrower exceptions apply to a business that already has a written contract with you. If you invite a company and sign at home, the contract needs a signed cover page on your rights, and you have 10 days to cancel after you receive your written copy.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Heating Desk is a request service. We pass your work order to one independent Ottawa company that cleans ducts. That company calls you, prices the job and does it.
Questions
01How much does duct cleaning cost in Ottawa?
Ottawa homeowners reported an average of $436 on the HomeStars Ottawa guide, with jobs from $100 to $4,000. A Canada-wide guide puts a standard home with 15 to 20 vents at $375–$650. Size, how dirty the ducts are and access move the price.
02How often should ducts be cleaned?
The two HomeStars guides differ. The Ottawa guide cites a five to six year interval; the Canada-wide guide says every three to five years, more often with pets, young children or allergies in the house.
03A company called at my door offering a duct cleaning deal. Is that allowed?
Ontario restricts selling duct cleaning, along with furnaces, air conditioners and water heaters, at a consumer’s home unless the consumer started the contact. A contract signed after an unsolicited visit is void, and the business must cover what you pay to remove or return what it supplied.
04What if the cleaner finds mould?
Mould removal sits outside a standard duct cleaning, a Canada-wide guide notes; expect a separate visit or referral at about $1–$2 per square foot on top of the cleaning. Ask the company to show you what it found.