Opening and diagnosis
The unit is opened, the model noted, and the condition of the core, filters and drain assessed. If a part is broken rather than dirty — a dead motor, a cracked core — you know before we go any further.
Services
Air exchanger (HRV / ERV) cleaning in Montreal
Since the Quebec Construction Code began requiring mechanical air renewal in new dwellings, the air exchanger has become the appliance that air quality depends on in most recent condos and homes on the island and in the suburbs. It is also the one owners forget most: usually mounted on a mechanical-room ceiling, out of sight, and it makes no noise when it underperforms — it simply moves less air.
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In short
An air exchanger (HRV or ERV) renews the air in an airtight home by expelling stale air while recovering heat from it. Cleaning it means removing and washing the recovery core, cleaning or replacing the filters, clearing both fans, checking the condensate drain and cleaning the distribution ducts and wall registers. A fouled exchanger loses airflow — the single most common cause of window condensation and stuffy air in recent Greater Montreal homes and condos.
When should you call?
- Condensation or frost forms at the bottom of the windows as soon as it gets cold.
- The air feels heavy or damp even while the unit is running.
- Cooking smells linger for a long time.
- Airflow at the wall registers is weak when you hold your hand to them.
- The filters are grey, or have never been removed since installation.
- Water pools under the unit or the drain is dripping.
What's included
- Full diagnosis of the unit before work starts
- Removal and washing of the recovery core
- Cleaning or replacement of the filters
- Clearing of both fans
- Check and unclogging of the condensate drain
- Cleaning of ducts, wall registers and exterior hoods
- Typical duration
- About 1.5 to 2 hours depending on access to the unit and the number of registers.
- Recommended frequency
- Exchanger manufacturers recommend checking the filters every 2 to 3 months and washing the core at least once a year. A full professional cleaning — core, fans, drain, ducts — is generally worthwhile every 2 to 3 years.
How we work
Recovery core and filters
The core is removed and washed, the filters cleaned or replaced depending on type. This is what restores airflow: a clogged core can cost a large share of the ventilation the unit was designed to deliver.
Fans and drain
Both blower wheels are cleared — caked dust unbalances and wears them — and the condensate drain is checked and unclogged.
Ducts and wall registers
Distribution ducts, wall registers and both exterior hoods (intake and exhaust) are cleaned. An exterior grille blocked by lint or a nest cancels out the work done inside.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an air exchanger and a duct system?
A duct network distributes the heated or cooled air produced by the furnace — it recirculates air already in the home. An air exchanger brings in fresh outdoor air and expels stale air, recovering heat in the process. Many Greater Montreal homes have both; most recent condos have only the exchanger.
Will the condensation on my windows go away?
If it comes from a lack of ventilation — the most common case in an airtight home — restoring the exchanger’s airflow often solves or clearly reduces it. If the moisture comes from elsewhere (a damp basement, drying laundry indoors, end-of-life windows), the cleaning helps without fixing everything. We tell you plainly what we find.
HRV or ERV — do you clean both?
Yes. HRV (heat recovery) and ERV (energy recovery, which also transfers humidity) are cleaned on the same logic; only the core type differs. Give us the brand and model on the phone if you have them — it sharpens the quote.
My exchanger is in a condo ceiling — is it accessible?
In the vast majority of cases yes: the access hatch exists for servicing. If the unit was sealed in without a hatch during a renovation, we tell you on site rather than forcing it — opening a ceiling is not our job.
Service area
We provide air exchanger cleaning across Greater Montreal. Pick your city for what changes locally.
MontrealLavalLongueuilBrossardTerrebonneRepentignyBouchervilleDollard-des-OrmeauxPierrefonds-RoxboroCôte Saint-LucSaint-EustacheVaudreuil-DorionBeloeilBlainvilleBois-des-FilionBoisbriandCandiacChamblyChâteauguayDorvalKirklandL'AssomptionMirabelMount RoyalSaint-Bruno-de-MontarvilleSaint-ConstantSainte-ThérèseVarennesWestmount All cities →
Other services
Air duct cleaning
Air duct cleaning removes the dust, debris and allergens that accumulate inside a building’s forced-air system.
Wall-mounted heat pump cleaning
Cleaning a wall-mounted heat pump (mini-split) means partially dismantling it to wash what simply dusting the filters never reaches: the exchange coil, the blower wheel, the condensate pan and the drain line.
Dryer vent cleaning
Dryer vent cleaning removes the lint built up along the entire duct, from the connection behind the appliance to the exterior damper.
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