What HRVs, Duct Work and Duct Cleaning Cost in Metro Vancouver (2025-2026)
An HRV or ERV typically costs $1,500 to $4,000 installed in Metro Vancouver, more with a full dedicated duct system, and duct cleaning for a typical house $400 to $900. Duct sealing and repair is quoted by the job.
Ventilation matters more in Metro Vancouver than almost anywhere in Canada: months of damp weather and tighter houses trap moisture, which shows up as window condensation and mould. Summer wildfire smoke has made filtration a second reason to look at the ducts.
What you will actually pay
Typical Metro Vancouver ranges for 2025-2026.
- HRV or ERV, installed $1,500 to $4,000 More with a full dedicated duct system
- Duct cleaning, typical house $400 to $900 Worth doing after renovation dust or pests, not on a fixed schedule
- Duct sealing and repair Quoted by the job Leaky returns in crawlspaces and attics are the usual target
- Diagnostic visit $120 to $250 Airflow, static pressure and filter check
What moves the price
An HRV is simplest in a house that is already open, during a renovation, or where it can tie into existing ductwork; a finished older house needs dedicated runs, which adds labour. An ERV also moves moisture and suits homes that run dry with a heat pump. For ducts, a single cold room or a musty smell usually points to leaky or undersized returns rather than dirt, so an inspection is the better first step than cleaning. Be cautious of very low-priced duct cleaning offers.
Permits for this job
New wiring for an HRV or ERV may need an electrical permit. Seven Metro Vancouver municipalities issue their own electrical permits: the City of Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, West Vancouver and Maple Ridge. Everywhere else, including Richmond, the electrical permit comes from Technical Safety BC. In the City of Vancouver, HRVs and other ventilation that does not heat or cool do not need a mechanical permit.
Before you sign
The quote should show
- The HRV or ERV model and its rated airflow
- The number and location of supply and exhaust points
- Ductwork, insulation on ducts in unconditioned spaces, and exterior hoods
- Commissioning and airflow balancing
- Any permit, and the warranty on parts and labour
Ask the contractor
- Whether the system will be balanced after install, and how
- Whether an HRV or an ERV suits your house better
- For duct cleaning, what equipment they use and what is included
- WorkSafeBC coverage
- Whether the price includes any electrical work
Quick answers
Do I need an HRV?
Many damp, tight Metro Vancouver homes benefit from one. Good bathroom and kitchen exhaust ducted outside is the first step in an older house.
How often should ducts be cleaned?
Not on a fixed schedule. Clean them after renovation dust, a pest problem or visible debris, and fix leaky ducts first.
Want this done at your place?
Tell us what you have now and what you want, and we'll get you a real quote from a local Metro Vancouver HVAC contractor. We send it out to local contractors for you. Free, no pressure.
HVAC IQ answers behind these figures
- Adding an HRV to an older Kitsilano house, what should that cost?
- Is duct cleaning actually worth the money in Metro Vancouver?
- Is black mould around the vents a sign of a duct problem in Surrey?
- What should a ductwork design plan include for a house renovation near Commercial Drive?
- Which furnace filter helps most during wildfire smoke season in the Lower Mainland?