How To Clean Air Ducts: DIY Guide For Beginners

Cleaning the house is essential, without which a comfortable life would be impossible. Although this is not the most obvious fact, did you know that systems in your house need to be cleaned regularly? So, such a system is the air ducts in your home.

If you’ve noticed that it’s getting harder to breathe at home, your HVAC system has likely accumulated too much dust, dirt, cobwebs, and other small debris that can be hard to see with the eye, but such dirt puts a lot of strain on the lungs.

Breathing these things is not only unpleasant but also dangerous to your health. However, the solution to this problem is quite obvious – you must clean your ventilation systems. Professional services can cost a fortune, so that you can do the cleaning yourself. This will require a few tools and a few hours of free time.

Get ready to breathe fresh and clean air again, and our article will tell you how to do a quality cleaning.

Steps of Vent Ducts Cleaning

To clean your air ducts, you need to collect some must-have tools:

1. A vacuum cleaner. It is needed to suck up dust and dirt.
2. Brush.
3. Screwdriver. Match the type of screwdriver to the screws on the cover of your duct.
4. Paper towels.
5. New air duct filter. Just in case you can’t wash the old one.
6. Water.

So, once you have collected the necessary tools to work with your air outlets, you can start cleaning vent ducts.

Turn off the Power

Before you poke around in your vents, you must ensure you can’t hurt yourself during the cleaning procedure. If you have electronic systems, you should turn off the power. However, you have nothing to worry about if you do not have an electronic air outlet system.

Remove Covers

Using a screwdriver, remove any covers in the way of the pipe. Wait to start cleaning the hole. Take the lid and rinse it in water and leave it to dry. Now you can start working with the air outlet.

Brush Work

Now you need a brush. The best tool would be a drill with a brush. Find the registry in your duct and open it. Now your task is to clean it from the inside. Thoroughly clean the entire surface of the walls of the register and its lower part. Once you’re done with that, you can put the brush away and get your vacuum cleaner out.

A Vacuum Cleaner

Now you need to remove all the remaining dirt. Insert the vacuum cleaner into the air outlet and turn it on. Vacuum the entire inside of the hole gently. Working with a vacuum cleaner is very important, as it can remove all the dust, dirt, and cobwebs that may have accumulated in your air ducts for years.

Repeat One More Time

Once you have finished vacuuming, turn off the device and take the lid you washed in the first step. You can wipe it with dry towels and insert it into the air outlet if it is still wet.

Now you must repeat all the steps with every vent in your house.

Final Touches

So, once you’re done with all your ducts, you can cover the last one and turn on the power if you have electric ones. Perhaps you may have a little dust, but this is normal, and it can be removed after a couple of minutes as it settles.

How Much Does It Cost?

Cleaning vents in home is a costly procedure. Prices will vary by company, location, and the amount of work that will need to be done on your home. On average, the price will range from 300 to 700 dollars for one trip. However, some jobs will cost you up to $1,000.

If you clean the air ducts yourself, you will need to buy some tools, some of which you most likely already have in your home use. The total amount will vary depending on what you have of the necessary tools, but it is unlikely to exceed a couple of hundred dollars. In any case, you will be able to compensate for the purchase by the fact that you can regularly clean your duct without involving a service.

How Often Should You Clean Air Ducts?

To always have fresh air in your home, you should have your air outlets cleaned no more than once with the help of a professional service, and you can clean the air ducts occasionally, for example, once every two months.

Why Should One Clean Air Ducts?

If you have never had your air ducts cleaned, you may be wondering why it is such an important home maintenance task. After all, isn’t the HVAC system responsible for keeping the air in your home clean? While it is true that your HVAC system plays a role in maintaining indoor air quality, there are several reasons why regularly cleaning heating vents and other systems is essential. 

The buildup of dust and dirt in your air ducts can have many negative consequences: 

1. First, it can cause your HVAC system to work harder than necessary to move air through the ductwork. This wastes energy drives up your utility bills, and puts unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC system, which can shorten its lifespan. 
2. Second, the buildup of debris in your air ducts can lead to poor indoor air quality. When your HVAC system runs, the dust and dirt in the ductwork get circulated throughout your home, which can aggravate allergies and respiratory conditions. Regularly cleaning vents in home helps remove this debris buildup and improve indoor air quality. 
3. In addition, regularly cleaning your air ducts can also help improve your HVAC system’s efficiency by removing any blockages that may have formed in the ductwork. 

As you can see, there are several good reasons to ensure you regularly clean your air ducts. Not only will it save you money on your energy bills and extend the lifespan of your HVAC system, but it will also improve indoor air quality throughout your home. So, if you have never had your air ducts cleaned or it has been a while since they were last cleaned, now is the time to call a professional to get the job done right.

How to Prevent Dirty Air Ducts?

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent your air ducts from getting dirty in the first place. This blog post will cover some of the most effective methods for cleaning your air ducts. 

Furnace and other duct cleaning is generally affordable and only takes a few hours to complete. However, the frequency with which you need to have it done may vary depending on the size of your home or office and the number of people who occupy it. 

By following these tips, you can ensure that your ducts will stay clean and that your indoor air quality will remain high.

Change Your Filters Regularly

One of the best ways to keep your air ducts clean is to change your filters regularly. Most HVAC systems come with a filter that needs to be changed every few months. However, if you have pets or live in an area with a lot of dust or pollen, you may need to change your filters more frequently. 

If you’re unsure how often you should change your filters, consult your HVAC system’s owner’s manual or contact a professional for guidance. Once you’ve determined how often to change your filters, set a reminder, so you don’t forget. You can use a physical calendar or set up a recurring reminder on your smartphone. 

Clean Your Vents and Registers

Another way to clean your air ducts is to clean your vents and registers regularly. Vents and registers are the openings through which air enters your ducts. Over time, they can become clogged with dust and other debris. As a result, cleaning heating vents and other vents periodically is essential to prevent this buildup. 

To clean your vents and registers, remove them from their respective openings and vacuum them with a soft-bristled brush attachment. Once they’re free of debris, replace them and move on to the next vent or register. This process may take a few hours to complete depending on your home or office size. However, it’s worth taking the time to do it right to keep your air ducts clean. 

Schedule Annual Duct Cleanings

In addition to changing your filters and cleaning furnace and other ducts and registers regularly, you should also have your air ducts cleaned by a professional at least once per year. This will remove any dirt, dust, or debris that has built up over time and is difficult to reach with DIY air duct cleaning methods. 

The average air duct cleaning cost is reasonable, and it only takes a few hours to accomplish. The frequency with which you must get it done, however, may change according to the size and population of your home or business.

When You Need a Professional Help

In case of cleaning any of your systems such as ventilation systems, home AC ducts or other devices through which air passes, you should be extremely careful. The fact is that such systems require special care and can break at the slightest mistake during disassembly. In case you decide to clean up such a system on your own, you should examine the model of your system, look at the available tutorials on the Internet, and only then get to work.

Otherwise, you can damage your ventilation system, and repair costs much more than calling a master at home. If you are not confident in your knowledge and skills, you should seek the help of a professional.

Although this procedure is not the cheapest and can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,000, calling a master is recommended when your skills are poor so that this price does not become even higher.

Conclusoin

While there are many ways to clean your air ducts, hiring a professional is best. They have the tools and experience to complete the job quickly and efficiently. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try cleaning your AC ducts yourself. Just be sure to follow all safety instructions and use proper ventilation when doing so.

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