Overview: Air Duct, Dryer Vent & Chimney Cleaning
This heading covers separate jobs. Sweeping a chimney or a wood stove flue. Cleaning the ducts on a forced-air furnace. Clearing lint from a dryer vent. Plenty of companies list all three, and few are equally good at each.
Book the flue for late summer, before cold snaps fill every calendar. Ontario's government advises having chimneys, vents and fuel-burning appliances cleaned and inspected by professionals before cold weather sets in. The province's fire code also requires carbon monoxide alarms outside sleeping areas and on every storey in a house that burns fuel or has an attached garage.
Wood heat brings your insurer into it. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says an insurer may want a wood stove inspected. Ask whether the person coming holds WETT certification. WETT, a non-profit training association, certifies individuals rather than companies, and it doesn't act as a regulator.
Our listings show what each sweep and duct cleaner states on its own website. Browse the province and city lists to find crews who brush flues and clear vents where you live.
Air duct and chimney cleaning costs in Canada
Choose the system first. Duct cleaning, dryer-vent cleaning, chimney sweeping and a written inspection report are separate purchases.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Ducts and dryer vents | ||
| Whole-home ducts and blower cleaning | C$330–C$500per forced-air system | One furnace, about 15–20 supply and return vents, and blower cleaning with ordinary equipment access.Ask for the complete vent count and blower-cleaning total; a low duct-only package can exclude the blower.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Supply and return duct cleaning; Furnace blower cleaning Budget separately or confirm: Additional systems, difficult access and extra vents; Dryer vents, HRV service and AC-coil cleaning |
| Dryer vent cleaning | C$160–C$300per vent run | One accessible dryer exhaust route, with its length and exterior termination identified.Standalone visit price. Long, concealed or rooftop routes and moving a stacked dryer may cost more; a same-visit add-on is a different rate.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Vent cleaning; Airflow check Budget separately or confirm: Vent replacement; Roof access equipment |
| Chimneys and inspection reports | ||
| Chimney sweeping | C$195–C$325per flue | One accessible wood-burning flue with ordinary soot and creosote removal.One accessible flue. Heavy deposits, extra flues and repairs can cost more; a written inspection report is a separate service.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Sweep and debris containment Budget separately or confirm: Masonry repairs; Written inspection report |
| Wood-burning system inspection and report | C$300–C$500per appliance and venting system | Visual inspection of one accessible wood-burning appliance and its venting, with a written report.Confirm the report your insurer or buyer needs. Cleaning, repairs and opening concealed areas are separate from a visual inspection.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Site inspection; Written findings Budget separately or confirm: Cleaning; Repairs |
What changes the price
- Number of forced-air systems and included openings
- Roof access, long vent runs and heavy deposits
- Whether blower cleaning and written inspections are separate
Ask before accepting a quote
- For ducts, does the total include every supply and return vent and the furnace blower?
- For a dryer vent, are the full exhaust route and exterior termination accessible at this price?
- For a chimney, how many flues are included, and is the written report a separate service?
Check the complete booking
- Confirm each system and any same-visit discount; do not assume a chimney or dryer vent is part of duct cleaning.
- Ask what visible condition justifies any extra treatment before approving it.
Canadian context
If an insurer requests a WETT inspection, confirm its requirements and price the written report separately from sweeping.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
How often does a chimney need sweeping?
It depends on the fuel and the hours you burn, not the calendar. A stove that heats the house all winter fills its flue much faster than a fireplace lit on a few holidays, and green wood makes it worse. Oil and gas flues still need a look. Ask the sweep what the deposits looked like, and set your next visit from that.
Is air duct cleaning worth paying for?
Sometimes. Renovation dust, mice in the ductwork and debris blowing out of registers are the honest reasons. A furnace with a filter that gets changed doesn't need its ducts done on a schedule. In Ontario, a duct cleaning deal struck by an uninvited door-to-door seller is void, and you can keep the service without paying. Ask whether registers come off and how far the equipment reaches.
What tells me a dryer duct is blocked?
A dryer that needs extra cycles, a load that comes out hot but damp, a laundry area like a sauna, and lint collecting around the outside hood. In winter the hood flap can ice shut, and drifting snow can bury it. Ontario's carbon monoxide advice includes keeping the dryer vent clear of snow. Long runs, extra elbows and crushed foil hose are where lint packs in and catches fire.
Can I still use my wood fireplace in Montreal?
Only if it's certified. The City of Montreal bans solid-fuel stoves and fireplaces unless they meet a tight particle limit, shown by EPA certification or the Canadian CSA standard. During a smog warning, even certified ones have to stay cold, unless the power has been out for hours. Every appliance must be declared to the city, used or not. Check the label before you book a sweep.
Who handles a gas fireplace or its vent?
The burner, the gas line and the vent connector belong to a gas technician, not the sweep. In Ontario that means a contractor registered with TSSA, sending a technician who holds a gas certificate. A sweep can still clear a blocked chimney serving a gas appliance and report on the flue. If a gas appliance is spilling fumes or the CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside first.
