Cleaning the ducts of your ducted air conditioning system is extremely important in maintaining good indoor air quality. If the air ducts are not cleaned regularly, dust, dirt, and allergens can block the vents and hamper airflow. It can greatly impact the health of your family. We advise hiring a professional for duct cleaning, but knowing how to do it yourself can save a lot of money. Let’s discover how to clean the air ducts of your ducted air conditioning system to improve airflow in your home and commercial spaces.
Why Clean Your Air Ducts?
Before learning how to clean the vents, it is important to understand why duct cleaning is necessary.
Better Air Quality: The internal section of the air ducts will collect allergens, dust, and mold over time. It will make the air quality worse and aggravate the users’ health conditions.
Better Energy Efficiency: The air conditioner becomes less efficient when air ducts are clogged with debris. Clean air ducts will serve improved airflow and enhanced system efficiency.
Increased Life Span: The lifespan of the ducted air conditioning system will be improved if you maintain it with regular cleaning and maintenance.
Removal of Bad Odors: Exhaled air from ducts may contain stale and musty smells due to the presence of dust, mold, or pet dander. Cleaning the ducts refreshes indoor air and removes these odors.
Signs You Need Air Duct Cleaning
Though air ducts don’t need to be cleaned often, there are certain signs that indicate the need for cleaning:
- Pet dander, dust, or other contaminants coming out of the vents
- Mold or Mildew growth on the vents or inside ducts
- Strange odors coming from the house
- Weak air pressure or inconsistent airflow
- Unexplained allergies and respiratory problems
If you notice any of these signs, you may need air duct cleaning.
Tools and Materials Needed for Air Duct Cleaning
Follow these steps to ensure all relevant materials and tools are available before beginning the cleaning process:
- Vacuum cleaner (best with a HEPA filter)
- Soft brush or microfiber cloth
- Screwdriver (for vent covers)
- Duct brush or long-handled brush
- Air pump
- Disposable gloves and dust masks
- Cleaning detergent (optional for sanitizing the vents)
- Flashlight (needed for inspecting ducts)
A Complete Guide for Cleaning Air Ducts
1. Switch Off Power to Air Conditioning
Before beginning the cleaning process, ensure the power to the air conditioning system has been turned off. To do so, find and turn off the circuit breaker that is controlling your system.
2. Remove Vent Covers and Give Them a Clean
Unscrew the vent covers on the wall and ceiling. In larger homes, vents are situated in multiple rooms. After removing the pieces, clean the vent covers gently with warm water and mild soap or disinfectant cleaner. If your vent covers are only dusty, it’s best to use a vacuum with a brush attachment to remove the dirt. Clean or wash the air filter if necessary.
Pro Tip: Always ensure the vent covers are completely dry before putting them back. Any residual moisture could get trapped in the ductwork.
3. Cleaning the Ducts with a Vacuum
Loosely attach a long vacuum hose to the center of the filler neck. Place the hose into the air ducts and slowly withdraw it. Heat registers work best when the hose is inserted as far as possible. This permits the removal of loose dust and debris from the ducts.
For best results, use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter to capture the smallest particles of dust.
Note: If you don’t own a vacuum with a long hose, you should rent one from a local tool rental store.
4. Remove Stubborn Debris with a Duct Brush
The dust and debris in air ducts can sometimes be challenging to remove using a vacuum cleaner. Use a duct brush or long-handled brush to break away the debris. Place the brush in the duct and scrub the interior walls to free the dirt and grime.
You need to scrub the duct walls adequately, focusing on places that seem the most dusty and dirty, particularly areas that seem the most dusty or dirty.
5. Cleaning the Air Return Vents
The air return vent draws air back to the air conditioning unit. This means that, compared to the supply vents, they collect a greater amount of dirt and dust. Clean the air return grilles the same way you cleaned the vent covers, either by vacuuming them or washing them with soap and water.
After cleaning the air return vents, you need to check the filter. Keeping a clogged or dirty filter within your HVAC system will reduce its efficiency. Put in a new filter if need be, or wash it out if it is designed for re-use.
6. Blowing Out Dust with Compressed Air
Use compressed air to clean the areas that are difficult to reach, such as deep inside the ducts. You can use a blower for this job. The nozzle of the blower can be positioned into the ducts and any persistent dust and debris can be cleared using compressed air produced by the blower.
Caution: Use a disposable dust mask when using compressed air so that the dust and allergens that are released do not get inhaled.
7. Cleaning the Registers and Duct Openings
Clean registers or the areas surrounding the duct openings. Use a wet cloth to wipe the vent area. This process will remove the dust that were released during the cleaning process.
8. Reinstall Vent Covers
After you have done with your vent cleaning work, reinstall the vent cover. Use a screwdriver to secure the cover back.
9. Switch the HVAC System Back On
Switch on and let the system run for a couple of minutes to check if the airflow is correct and if everything is running normally.
Optional: Sanitizing and Deodorizing
If you think there may be mold, mildew, or bacteria in your air ducts, a sanitizing solution may be necessary for a deeper cleaning. There are several HVAC-approved sanitizing sprays that can be directly applied to the ducts.
Also, deodorizing products can be used to remove offending smells from the ducts. Make sure that the product used is safe for the HVAC system and will not harm the ductwork.
How Often Should You Clean Air Ducts?
Although there isn’t a set schedule for cleaning air ducts, it is suggested they are cleaned every three to five years. More frequent cleaning may be necessary for homes with:
– Shedding or dander from pets
– Smoke residue from cigarettes
– Respiratory illnesses
– Mold growth within the ducts
– Dust buildup outside the ducts
Frequent cleaning of your duct aircon system’s filters, along with the ducts, is beneficial for system functionality and air quality.
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Ducted Aircon ServicingWhen to Call a Professional
In the case of light maintenance, air duct cleaning can be done personally, but at times it is necessary to hire help. If you have mold, rodents inside ducts, or any other debris that needs more than basic cleaning, you are better off hiring a professional duct cleaning service. These experts come with powerful vacuums, rotary brushes, disinfectants, and more to make cleaning easier.
Conclusion
With attention to detail, cleaning duct air conditioning systems greatly enhances the general air quality and efficiency of the HVAC system. With the tips above, you will not only maintain a cleaner and healthier home environment, but also prolong the life of your air conditioner.
Simple actions, such as air duct cleaning, are important in the regular servicing and upkeep of your HVAC system.
