Having your heating ducts professionally cleaned removes particulates such as pet dander, cigarette or wood smoke that can aggravate respiratory conditions.

Many customers report a noticeable difference in the amount of dust that settles on their furniture. Air ducts naturally accumulate debris over time which then recirculates in the air you breathe. If you notice that dust accumulates quickly even after cleaning, it is likely a sign that your ducts need to be cleaned.

There are a few things you can check yourself:

1. Check the air filter. Whatever debris is on the filter may only be a small portion of what could actually be in your return air duct. If the filter on your air handling system is dirty, that’s an indication that duct cleaning is required.
2. Check inside the return air ducts. Generally the return air ducts are the larger vents located in the central area of the house. If the air ducts are located on the floor, remove the vent cover and look inside with a flashlight. If the ducts are attached to the wall, they are usually held in place with screws which are quite easily removed. The return duct system draws the air from inside the house, then brings it back to the furnace where it is filtered and re-conditioned before recirculating inside the home. The return ducts usually contain the most dust and debris.
3. Check your supply/heating vents as well. These are almost always located on the floor. Inspect the interior of these ducts to see how much debris is accumulating. If you find them dirty, then duct cleaning should also be considered.

Every home that has central heating or HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) requires duct cleaning at some point, so it’s not a matter of if your ducts need to be cleaned, it’s a matter of when. There is some maintenance that you can check yourself to get an idea of the general condition of your air handling system. If your system needs to be professionally cleaned, Oliver’s Power Vacuum & Chimney Sweep has state-of-the-art power vacuum equipment, and over 3 decades of experience in the HVAC duct cleaning industry so you can be sure you’re getting the highest quality of workmanship and expertise possible.

You may also want your ducts cleaned if you notice unpleasant odours, poor airflow or abnormal amounts of household dust.

Yes, removing the debris from your ducts often solves that problem. We also have duct deodorizing options that will eliminate persistent duct odours.

Some people who experience headaches or sinus problems such as nasal congestions report improvement in symptoms after having their ducting cleaned.

In most cases, no. We normally recommend deodorizing HVAC ducts when a customer specifically mentions that a persistent odour is coming from their ducts. We also recommend deodorizing duct work if the heating system in the home has been changed from oil heat to gas as the odour of soot is common. The duct deodorizing product we use is actually a deodorant/sealant which coats the inside of the ductwork and actually becomes the new surface. Any particles of dust left in the system after cleaning are sealed in permanently. We have been using this product for about 10 years, and have had excellent results.  Ask us for a quote if you think deodorizing your duct work would improve your indoor air quality.

We use an industrial truck-mounted vacuum unit in conjunction with high pressure compressed air which drives a variety of pneumatic tools. Our technicians will put the system under heavy negative pressure by connecting an 8” or 10” vacuum hose from our truck to your ducting, ensuring that proper air filter protection is in place. Our technicians then clean the system in two sections. The supply and return ducts are sealed and cleaned individually to maintain the highest degree of vacuum on each section of ducting. Utilizing 230 psi of compressed air, each individual register has the dirt, dust and debris blown into the main ducting. After all the debris has been pushed into the main duct, high pressure air is used to drive a flail system that loosens attached particulates from the interior walls of the ducting. Next, all particulate matter is pushed back to the vacuum truck by using a reverse blowing jet. Once the air ducts have been cleaned, our technicians clean all of the air handling components in the HVAC Unit. All the access holes that were created are covered and properly resealed according to SMACNA code.

We recommend that you have your air handling system ducts cleaned every few years. Some of our customers schedule duct cleaning as part of their annual home maintenance, some every two years, and some even less frequently. If any member of your family suffers from asthma or dust allergies, then more frequent cleanings may be preferred. If you’ve recently done some home renovations or if you’re moving into a new home, we highly recommend HVAC duct cleaning.

Yes, make sure that the duct cleaning technician can easily access the HVAC air handling system and all of the duct openings.

Oliver’s Power Vacuum provides this service for oil furnaces only. An oil furnace cleaning has a separate cost from duct cleaning. Please ask us for details.

Our technicians open the HRV unit and remove all of the filters. They then install the suction from our power vacuum and cover the unit. We use highly compressed air to blast all of the venting and use a reverse blower in all of the main ducting runs. Next, we clean the interior of the unit, cleaning all filters and reinstalling them. We also check and clean the air intake and exhaust vents.

Oliver’s Power Vacuum & Chimney Sweep operates from Campbell River to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island as well the smaller outlying communities between. We also provide commercial duct cleaning services on a contract basis to many areas within BC.

Yes, in some cases we are able to do light masonry repairs, chimney crown repair and chimney relining. Chimneys with significant damage require a certified tradesman, and we are happy to recommend the services of professionals we have worked with.

A Level 1 inspection of a wood stove, fireplace and/or chimney is done to verify building code compliance. The appliance and chimney will be assessed for clearances to combustibles, integrity and proper use. Inspections are done at the request of a homeowner’s insurance company, during the sale of a house, or after a chimney fire.

Building code requires that a chimney have a flue liner of masonry or stainless steel. If the masonry flue liner of your chimney is code compliant (uncracked, mortared, in alignment), there is no need to replace it. If, however the masonry liner is deficient, a stainless steel replacement is recommended.

It is not always required, but one is often recommended especially in our west coast environment. Rain caps do more than just keep out the rain, some types can help prevent down drafts. Screened caps will prevent pest entry such as birds, and act as a spark arrestor. Any manufactured chimney or steel lined flue must have a rain cap installed or the risk is run of early deterioration.

Even if your chimney is clean, you can get smoke spillage or even just a sooty smell from “cold downdraft at standby”. This happens because the air in your home is warmer than the chimney. The colder air in your chimney is dropping and displacing the warmer air in your home, bringing odour or smoke with it. You can reverse the draft by lighting a quick hot fire, or by opening a downstairs window to provide your house with another access for displacement air.

Oliver’s Chimney Sweep operates from Campbell River to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, as well the smaller outlying communities in between. We also provide commercial duct cleaning services on a contract basis to many areas within BC.