Your Top Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to Ontario Duct Cleaning’s FAQ page. Our team of experts has compiled this comprehensive FAQ to address your most common concerns about duct cleaning, indoor air quality, and HVAC maintenance.
Your Top Questions About Duct Cleaning Answered!
Whether you’re wondering about the frequency of duct cleaning services, the importance of dryer vent maintenance, or how to combat winter allergies, you’ll find clear, professional answers here.
Dust mites in ductwork can worsen winter allergies. These tiny creatures thrive in warm, humid environments and feed on dead skin cells. Dust mite allergens can be circulated throughout your home during heating system operation, causing allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and congestion.
Cleaning your air ducts helps reduce winter allergy symptoms by removing accumulated dust, debris, and allergens from your HVAC system. This process eliminates a major source of indoor air pollutants, including dust mites and their waste. With clean ducts, fewer allergens circulate throughout your home, which can lead to decreased allergy symptoms and improved indoor air quality.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends cleaning your air ducts every 3 to 5 years. However, this frequency may vary based on several factors, such as having pets, smokers, or allergy sufferers in your home, recent renovations, or visible mould growth. If you notice any excess dust, musty odours, or a reduction in the efficiency of your HVAC system, it might be time for a cleaning. Regular inspections can assist in determining the best cleaning schedule for your specific needs.
To increase safety and efficiency, it’s crucial to clean your dryer vent. Over time, lint and debris can accumulate in the vent, hindering airflow and making your dryer work harder. This not only increases energy consumption but also creates a significant fire hazard, as clogged vents are a leading cause of house fires. Regular cleaning helps maintain proper ventilation, reduces drying times, extends the life of your dryer, and, most importantly, minimizes the risk of fire. We recommend having your dryer vent professionally cleaned at least once a year to ensure optimal performance and safety.
Cleaning your ducts is essential for healthy indoor air quality and efficient HVAC operation. Over time, ducts can collect dust, allergens, and mould spores, which can worsen allergies and respiratory issues. Clean ducts improve system efficiency, lower energy costs, and extend equipment lifespan. Regular cleaning also helps identify leaks or pest issues early, preventing costly repairs. In short, clean ducts lead to a healthier, more comfortable environment.
From what we see in homes across Kitchener-Waterloo, skipping duct cleaning altogether usually causes more problems over time. Dust, debris, and allergens slowly collect inside the system and get circulated back into your living space. A professional duct cleaning service helps keep your air cleaner and your HVAC system working the way it should.
You can clean vent covers and change filters, but full duct cleaning isn’t really a DIY job. Household vacuums can’t reach deep into the system or safely clean the main lines. This is especially true for furnace duct cleaning, where the wrong tools can damage the system or push dust further inside.
Not at all when it’s done properly. Our equipment is designed to keep dust contained, not spread through your home. The same applies to services like dryer vent cleaning — lint and debris are removed safely without leaving a mess behind.
Preparation is simple. We recommend clearing space around vents, registers, and the furnace area so our technicians can work efficiently. The process is very similar to what’s required for commercial duct cleaning, just on a smaller residential scale.
For most homes, duct cleaning takes about 2 to 4 hours. The exact time depends on the size of the house, the number of vents, and how much buildup is inside the system. Larger properties and complex systems — similar to industrial duct cleaning — naturally take longer.
Spring and fall are popular because your heating and cooling system isn’t running nonstop. That said, there’s no bad time to clean your ducts if you’re noticing air quality issues, moving into a new home, or finishing renovations.
Musty smells, visible dark spots around vents, or ongoing allergy symptoms can all point to mold inside the system. The only way to be sure is through a professional inspection rather than guessing or relying on surface-level signs.
Duct cleaning can remove mold spores and contaminated dust from inside the ductwork, but it won’t solve the moisture issue causing the mold. If mold is suspected, it’s important to address the source of moisture and follow up with proper treatment if needed.