How to Clean Air Ducts

The ducts that circulate hot or cold air inside a home typically snake their way through crawlspaces, attics, basements, and ceilings. Over time, some of the dust in these areas finds its way into the ductwork contaminating the air flowing inside. Although ducts have filters to trap dust or any other contaminant, these do get dirty as well. The good news is you do not have to hire a professional to clean dirty ducts. You can do it on your own over the weekend.

To start with, check the grills that cover air ducts to determine whether they really need cleaning.

Grills that have lint or any other type of dirt show that the ducts are dirty and need cleaning. In some cases, checking the grills alone is not enough. You might still find that the filters are dirty when you peek inside. Just remove the grill and look inside the ductwork. Signs of dust show that you need to clean the duct.

At the same time, you will require tools such as a screwdriver, gloves, vacuum cleaner, rags, and soft brushes. Make sure you turn off the air conditioning unit before you start cleaning the ducts. Proceed to remove the air filters and replace them if they are dirty. In general, you should replace filters every six months.

After this, use a screwdriver to remove vent and duct covers. Use a soft brush and a rag to clean the covers. A vacuum comes in handy when you have to clean hard to reach areas in an air duct. However, vacuum gently to avoid dropping some cleaning elements inside the ductwork.

Remember dirt can accumulate on the cooling coils of an air conditioner or heater fan blades. However, cleaning these requires one to remove the fan and cooling coil covers. It is advisable to hire a professional to carry out this part of air duct cleaning. You do not want to damage your HVAC system. When you have finished cleaning the ducts, replace the vents and ducts.