Question 1

Which furnace filter helps most during wildfire smoke season in the Lower Mainland?

Accepted Answer

For wildfire smoke, a MERV 13 filter is the practical target for most forced-air furnaces in the Lower Mainland. It captures fine particulate matter in the PM2.5 range that carries the most health risk, without the airflow restriction of a HEPA or MERV 16 panel filter that can damage an older blower motor.

Choosing the Right Rating

MERV 11 is a reasonable minimum if your furnace is older or has a smaller blower. It removes a meaningful share of smoke particles and is widely available at hardw

Question 2

What should a ductwork design plan include for a house renovation near Commercial Drive?

Accepted Answer

A ductwork design plan for a house renovation in the Commercial Drive area should cover eight core elements, and getting them right before a contractor starts cutting holes is what separates a comfortable, efficient system from one that needs expensive corrections later.

What a Proper Duct Design Plan Covers

Start with a room-by-room heat loss and heat gain calculation (Manual J or equivalent). This is the foundation. Every duct size, every register location and every equipment capacity follo

Question 3

Is black mould around the vents a sign of a duct problem in Surrey?

Accepted Answer

Black or dark staining around supply and return vents is one of the more common complaints in Surrey homes, and it usually points to a combination of duct leakage, poor filtration and condensation rather than a single dramatic failure. The good news is that a duct inspection and air quality assessment typically runs $120 to $250 for a diagnostic visit, and duct sealing or cleaning, if that is what is needed, usually falls between $400 and $900 for a typical Surrey house.

What Is Actually Causi

Question 4

Is duct cleaning actually worth the money in Metro Vancouver?

Accepted Answer

Duct cleaning runs about $400 to $900 for a typical Metro Vancouver house, and whether it earns that money depends almost entirely on your specific situation, not on a general rule.

There are clear cases where it is worth doing. If you have just finished a renovation that opened up walls or ceilings, construction dust, drywall particles and fibres will have settled into the ductwork and will circulate every time the furnace runs. The same applies if you have moved into a home where the ducts ha

Ductwork, Ventilation & Air Quality

Which furnace filter helps most during wildfire smoke season in the Lower Mainland?

What should a ductwork design plan include for a house renovation near Commercial Drive?

Is black mould around the vents a sign of a duct problem in Surrey?

Is duct cleaning actually worth the money in Metro Vancouver?