NEW FURNACE – TIME TO CLEAN FURNACE AND AIR DUCTS!
Summer in Hamilton, Burlington, and Oakville tends to be hot and humid, and it’s also when a lot of homeowners tackle renovations. If you’ve just installed a new air conditioner or furnace, it’s easy to assume everything inside is as clean as the unit itself. It isn’t — and that applies to more than just your furnace. Here’s what actually needs cleaning after a new installation or renovation, and why.
New Furnace or AC Installed?
New furnace and air conditioner installations create more debris than most homeowners expect — drywall dust, drill shavings, and construction debris routinely fall into the AC coil and blower fan area during the install itself. Vacu-Man has cleaned plenty of freshly installed systems and consistently found this kind of debris still inside, even on units installed just days earlier. For a closer look at exactly how this happens, see our new furnace cleaning breakdown.
A new furnace or air conditioner is only as clean as what’s actually inside it — and that’s worth checking, not assuming.
New Dryer? Don’t Forget the Vent
A new dryer doesn’t mean a clean dryer vent — the vent and ductwork it connects to are separate from the appliance itself, and often carry over years of lint buildup from whatever dryer was there before. It’s worth having the dryer vent cleaned at the same time as a new install, since lint buildup in the vent is a genuine fire hazard regardless of how new the dryer itself is.
Whether it’s a furnace, air ducts, or a dryer vent, new installations and renovations leave behind more debris than most homeowners expect. We make sure your entire system — new or old — is properly cleaned, not just assumed clean because it’s new.
Our licensed gas technicians handle work that not every duct cleaning company is permitted to touch. It’s worth knowing the difference between two credentials here: NADCA certification is a respected industry standard for duct cleaning technique, but it’s not the same as being a government-licensed gas technician (TSSA licensed) — a credential specifically required to work on gas-fired furnaces and heating equipment. A company can be NADCA certified without having a TSSA-licensed technician on staff, so it’s worth asking which credential you’re actually getting.
Vacu-Man has TSSA-licensed gas technicians on staff serving Burlington, Oakville, and Hamilton for furnace, air duct, and dryer vent cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a furnace and duct cleaning take?
A typical home takes 2.5 to 4 hours for a thorough cleaning. Homes with two furnaces or more than 20 vents and registers can take 5 to 6 hours. Be cautious of any company promising it can be done in under an hour — a proper cleaning takes real time.
Does a brand new furnace really need to be cleaned?
Yes. Installation debris — drywall dust, drill shavings, and construction material — commonly falls into the AC coil and blower fan area during a new furnace or AC installation, regardless of how new the unit is.
Is NADCA certification the same as being a licensed gas technician?
No. NADCA certification is an industry standard for duct cleaning technique. Being a TSSA-licensed gas technician is a separate government credential required to work on gas-fired furnaces and heating equipment. It’s worth confirming which one a company actually has.
Should I clean my dryer vent after installing a new dryer?
Yes. The vent and ductwork are separate from the dryer itself and often carry lint buildup from years of previous use — a genuine fire risk that a new dryer doesn’t fix on its own.