Last Updated on August 13, 2022
Like other appliances and parts of your home, air ducts and vents also require regular cleaning. If you ignore these tasks for longer, the only result of such negligence will be the need for replacement.
Several harmful pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi will get into your home through dirty ventilation pipes. Reports have shown that people taking care of the cleanliness of air ducts have better health. It is good to keep air ducts clean To check for allergies and respiratory issues.
You can hire a professional to do the task if you don’t know to clean air ducts yourself. To cut repair costs, you can also do it yourself by following some of the important tips shared by our experts.
How to Know If Air Ducts Need to be Cleaned
EPA has recommended cleaning air ducts occasionally under certain circumstances. If you find mold or mildew growth inside the vents or dust, you must clean the air ducts. In case you hear noises coming out of ducts, it could be due to rodents present in air ducts.
All these situations make it necessary to clean the air ducts because any delay will lead to more severe issues. You need to examine the ducts, grilles, vents, registers of the unit, and drip pans. Any discoloration or unusual smell shouldn’t be left unnoticed. Any inconsistency or reduction in airflow will also show signs of cleaning air ducts.
Follow Steps On How to Clean Air Ducts Yourself
Before initiating the procedure to clean air ducts yourself, some essential tools are needed. You must gather all tools and assemble them to use at the right time.
Gather Tools & Equipment
- Long Broom
A long broom will be required to reach far-off areas of the vents as it won’t be easy to climb inside vents to pick the dirt.
- Vacuum Cleaner
A vacuum cleaner with an extended wand will provide ease for cleaning the hard-to-reach parts of the air ducts.
- Screwdriver/Power Drill
Any of these tools will help unscrew or fasten the nuts and bolts of the duct system.
- Dust Rags/Towel
After cleaning, there will be a need to wipe all the dirt and debris left in different spaces. This task will be better performed with old rags or paper towels.
- Hard Brush
The possibility of stubborn stains is higher if rodents or other invaders are present in the vents. A brush with hard bristles will be required to handle the job to remove such stains.
- New Filters
Experts suggest replacing air filters once a year. Also, maintaining their cleanliness is also important.
Turn Off Power
After collecting the supplies, you must turn off the power supply or thermostat to shut off the cooling or heating system. The risk of electrocution or fires will reduce when all power sources are turned off.
Start With Vent Covers
Whatever type of grill or cover is present in your air duct system, you need to remove it using screws. A screwdriver to unfasten it manually will be useful, or you can use a power drill to take it out in no time.
After removing the covers of vents, reach towards the old filter and examine its condition. If the air filter isn’t in a bad state and can work properly after cleaning, then clean it with a vacuum or rags.
Also, clean the covers and other areas by dusting and wiping.
Cover Supply Vents
Take the dust rags and use them to cover the end of each HVAC vent present in your home. Before doing this, shut down the HVAC system. Use different pieces of clothes to cover the inner sides of vent covers,
You need to place clothes or rags in such a way as to seal the inner portion of the vent cover from each side.
Clean Interior of Ducts
To clean the interior of air ducts, you should turn on the system’s fan mode to help loosen the dust and debris for easy removal. Keep the fan on for at least five minutes.
- Start by using a long broom to clean the interior of vents from all sides, top to bottom. Use a brush to remove extra dust that can’t be removed by broom.
- Bring the dust to the opening of ducts to pick it up. Look into the top panels to find if any dirt is located there. Remove every single piece of dust to get the best outcome.
- After sweeping and brushing, turn on the vacuum cleaner to pick remaining dirt and debris through its suction pump.
- In the end, take a clean towel to wipe the dust from accessible areas.
Inspect Fan & Furnace For Cleaning
After dusting the vents/ducts or grilles, turn towards the furnace and fan of the system. Turn off the fan and other power supplies. Open the blower system by removing the screws from the cover.
Eliminate all dirt present around the fan by vacuuming and using paper towels or clothes until all dirt is removed. You can also clean dirt out of supply registers.
Dislodging Contaminants
You can reduce the cleaning effort by installing high-efficiency air filters to ensure good air quality. You should buy only air filters recommended by the cooling and heating system manufacturer. This way, the risk of contaminants accumulation will reduce, and no spread of allergens will occur.
Replace Filters & Grille If Needed
If you feel indoor air compression, you must replace previous filters. The health hazards will enhance with dirty air filters, and you can minimize the risk ten folds by just installing new filters.
If other parts such as the grille need changes, make them abruptly. Use some insulating material to protect the air ducts from getting any damage.
How Often Should You Clean Air Ducts
For better regular cleaning maintenance, you should clean air ducts at least once or twice a year. Professionals recommend cleaning at the beginning of spring or end of fall.
Ignoring the cleanliness for more than a limited period will result in several problems.
How Much Does it Cost to Clean Air Ducts
Are you wondering if air duct cleaning is a waste of money? Professionals for HVAC usually charge $600 to $2000 for removing mold and mildew. The overall fee for cleaning ranges from $100 to $1000 due to the need for special accessories and equipment. You can cut all these costs by just buying some tools and doing all the cleaning by yourself.
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