Cleaning your home is important for long-term health and comfort, and your HVAC system is no exception. Dirt, debris, and dust can build up in your air ducts and vents, which can decrease indoor air quality and lead to musty smells and blocked airflow. The best option to fix this problem is getting a professional HVAC company to clean your ducts and vents during routine maintenance. However, sometimes excess buildup can make it necessary to clean the ducts and vents yourself. This article will teach you the basics of how to clean the air ducts and vents of your home.
Equipment
You will need some tools in order to clean out your air ducts and vents. The following are recommended:
- High-powered/shop vacuum
- Screwdriver or power drill (to remove screws from vents)
- Stiff cleaning brush
- Safety eyewear
- Face mask
- Ladder
- Air filters
- Flashlight/phone flashlight
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- Paper towels
Step-by-step guide
The following is an outline of the process for cleaning air ducts and vents.
- Turn off the air conditioning system. This can be accomplished using your home’s thermostat. Make sure that both heating and cooling is turned off. Switch the setting to “fan on.”
- Use the screwdriver/drill to remove the screws from the air vent grates and remove said grates. Wipe them down with the microfiber cloth to remove any dirt or dust.
- Cover the supply vents with paper towels. A supply vent is a vent that provides air to a room, and can be identified by whether you feel air blowing out of it. Covering these vents ensures that you won’t be accidentally blowing dust and debris into different areas of the building. You can remove the paper towels from a given vent to clean it, but make sure to replace them after vacuuming.
- Using the stiff brush, insert into the duct/vent and scrub the inside walls to loosen the dirt/dust buildup. Pull the brush out slowly, and have a trash bag ready to catch the loose debris that will come out with the brush.
- Put on any safety eyewear and/or face mask.
- Insert the hose of the vacuum into the duct/vent as far as it can extend. Turn on the vacuum and begin cleaning the inside. Start as far out as the hose allows and take your time, moving the hose toward you as you clean. When finished vacuuming, use the microfiber cloth to wipe down the inside of the ducts to get any remnants of dust.
- Remove and throw away the paper towels used to cover supply vents.
- Turn off the fan setting.
- Lastly, use a regular vacuum and/or a broom to clean up any debris that might have dirtied the area.
Ask the professionals
The most efficient way to ensure your air ducts and vents are cleaned correctly is by getting them cleaned by a professional HVAC company. If you are located in southeast Alabama, Long Heating and Cooling is the HVAC company for you. We provide high-quality, highly rated service to the Wiregrass area. Give us a call at 334-790-0977 to book service, or click here.