A simple glance around homes that are cleaned regularly will reveal some dirt and dust on flat surfaces. Cleaning may seem like a real chore when those efforts are consistently undermined by a fresh layer of dust every day. If there are people living in the home with allergies, asthma, and other pre-existing breathing conditions, they may have trouble breathing easily. Both of these issues may seem to be separate problems, but they are often connected and the key to solving both lies in the air duct system.

Air Duct Contamination

The air ducts connect the heating and cooling equipment with the rest of the home. The treated air (warm or cool) is distributed via the ductwork and delivered to the rooms through the vents. This network is efficient when the air ducts are clean and the airflow can be maintained. But, this system is also an ideal highway for contaminants to travel around the home. These contaminants may include dust, dirt, mold spores, dust mites, pollen, and other airborne pollutants. The presence of these pollutants lowers the indoor air quality (IAQ) considerably.

Cleaning Your Air Ducts

A deep cleaning of your air ducts is hard when you don’t have the training, experience, and specialized tools. Some people with a strong DIY ethos approach this task with a gung ho attitude, and this can be a disaster. If you’re too rough with the cleaning, it’s easy to cause damage or make any existing damage worse. But, if you’re determined to clean your air ducts, there are seven tips to follow:

1.  Gather the Tools

The last thing that you want to do when you’re cleaning air ducts is to pause the cleaning while you find a tool that you need. Gather the following cleaning tools to make the process easier:

  • A Vacuum Cleaner: The model you use should have a hose and nozzle attachment. This will be essential because you will need extra reach to get deeper into the air ducts.
  • Fresh Air Filter: When the air duct cleaning is complete, it’s a great idea to replace the old air filter with a fresh unit. The full instructions to change the air filter should be detailed in the owner’s manual.
  • A Screwdriver: This will be needed to remove the vent covers to gain access to the ducts and to replace them when you’re done.
  • Paper Towels: These are essential to wipe dust and to cover supply registers during cleaning (more on this later).
  • A Soft Brush: This should be a soft brush with a longer handle to get extra reach into the air ducts. Many people have success with a large paintbrush or a clean toilet brush.

2.  Remove and Clean the Vent Covers

Use the screwdriver to remove the vents covers and consider how you want to clean them. Most covers can be cleaned in the dishwasher, or if they are lightly soiled, they can be rinsed off by hand. When they are clean, set them aside in a safe place and allow them to fully dry before they are replaced later.

3.  Cover the Vent Openings

When you clean the air ducts with the brush and vacuum cleaner, there is a problem. The dirt, dust, and other contaminants that are disturbed will come out of the other supply registers. So, you are getting the air ducts clean and making your home unsanitary at the time. The solution is to cover the registers with paper towels and tape them in place. Use two or three towels to make the paper thick enough to prevent the dust from passing through. As you clean, you will remove the paper towels from the register that you’re cleaning and then replace them when you’re done. This technique will be repeated at every register until the cleaning is complete. This may seem tedious, but it will prevent dust and dirt from blowing all over your home.

4.  Loosen the Dust

Remove the paper towels from the register that you’re ready to clean, and tap the sides of the ductwork to loosen the dust. Wear goggles, a mask, and gloves to guard against touching and breathing this gunk.

5.  Vacuum the Dust

Attach the nozzle and brush attachments to the vacuum hose and suck up all the dusty dirt that you can reach. If there is still dust on the inner walls of the ductwork, you can try to loosen more with the brush and vacuum a second time. If there is still dust left it’s probably stuck in place, and it can be wiped clean with paper towels. This process is repeated at every opening. When you’re done, replace the paper towel coverings and move on to the next register.

6.  Replace the Covers

If the vent covers are clean and dry, it’s time to replace them with the screwdriver. Remove all the paper towel coverings and screw the covers in place.

7.  Change the Air Filter

The cleaning process is almost complete; a lot of dirt and dust have been removed. But, there will still be contaminants lurking in the air ducts where you cannot reach them without specialized cleaning tools. For this reason, it’s a great idea to change the air filter now, and this should further improve the IAQ.

Professional Air Duct Cleaning Services

Cleaning your own air ducts is a process that can be used to improve the IAQ and cleanliness of your home between scheduled cleaning visits. This process is only required every year or two, and you should notice less dust in your home.

The best way to get a deep clean in the air ducts is to contact a local HVAC specialist and ask about air duct cleaning services. Professional duct cleaning is advisable every 3-5 years as needed. This process will improve performance, IAQ, and energy efficiency. When you consider the savings, the cost of air duct cleaning is a bargain in comparison.

If you want to schedule some cleaning for your air ducts, contact your local heating and cooling specialist today.