Getting your home’s air vents cleaned every few months will greatly help with airflow and air quality. In fact, one of the best ways to be sure your home is clean and dust-free is to clean the air vents regularly, so it could be beneficial for you to learn how to clean vents in the house.
Millions of tiny dust particles exist in your home, including hair, pollen, spider webs, and other allergens. These can get into your air ducts and continuously circulate your home if they’re not cleaned. This can prevent your HVAC system from running optimally and your air filters from purifying your air.
Here are step-by-step instructions to help teach you how to clean your vents at home.
How Do I Clean the Air Vents in My House?
Cleaning the air ducts and vents is not only beneficial to your HVAC system’s health but you and your family’s health as well. Regularly removing built-up dust and dirt particles can help remove health hazards and allow your system to run more efficiently. It will also help increase your HVAC system’s lifespan since it won’t need to work as hard to run optimally.
Can I Clean My Air Ducts Myself?
Yes, you technically can clean your air ducts by yourself… if you have the right tools, skills, and determination.
DIY household projects are becoming more and more popular as homeowners strive to save money. While hiring a professional to clean your air ducts is always an efficient, viable option, cleaning your own air ducts might be incredibly tempting. A DIY air duct clean can save you the money of a professional clean, but keep in mind that you might lack the necessary tools or skills to get the job done at a professional grade.
Here is a guide for how to clean your vents at home, but always know you can enlist the help of a professional if needed, or if you want to make sure your HVAC unit is running correctly.
How to Clean Air Vents in House: Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Gather the Right Tools
If you’re looking for how to clean air vents in the house, then gathering all the necessary tools is critical. Properly cleaning your air vents is not an easy task, and if you don’t have the correct tools for the job it becomes all the more difficult. Here are the tools you will need:
- Vacuum Cleaner. You will need a heavy-duty vacuum with a lengthy hose and an ability to reach tight corners.
- Brush. A dusting brush with a long handle is ideal for cleaning your ducts. Stiff bristles are preferable so you can reach tough spots and deep clean.
- Screwdriver. To clean your air ducts, you will need to unfasten them first. Most air ducts and vents are kept closed with typical screws or some other kind of fastener. A standard screwdriver is usually what you’ll need to open them.
- Cleaning Cloths. You will need to dust your ducts, clean all flat surfaces, and clear air vents. Microfiber cloths or paper towels work well.
- A New Filter. Dirty ducts and duct cleaning can cause your filter to clog so you will need to replace your old air filter once you finish cleaning. Be sure it’s a compatible size for your HVAC unit.
Once you have all the right tools, you’re ready to get to the real work.
Step 2: Cover all Supply Registers and Clean
Use your cleaning cloths to cover all supply registers. This will help keep dust from going into all areas of your home while you clean your air ducts. To properly cover the supply registers, lift the grills, cover with a cloth, and then replace them. Depending on the amount of dust in your ducts, your supply registers may also need to be cleaned. Brush out any dirt and dust, being sure to clean the return air registers as well. Don’t be afraid to clean deep in the register’s pipes and cavities.
Step 3: Turn on Fan
With the supply registers properly covered, go ahead and turn on the fan before cleaning your ducts. This helps loosen debris and move it along as you clean. (Be sure the heat is off.) Run the fan for a few minutes before beginning your duct cleaning.
Step 4: Turn off Power
Once you’ve allowed the fan to run for a few minutes and the dust has loosened, turn off the power to your HVAC system. Leaving the power on while deep cleaning your ducts presents big safety risks.
Step 5: Unscrew Duct Covers
Air ducts are kept fastened with screws or other fasteners, so you’ll need to use your screwdriver to open the covers and grills. Clean all the grills with your cleaning cloth to get rid of dust and dirt. (You may need soap and water to properly clean the grills.)
Step 6: Clean the Air Ducts
While all the previous steps have certainly been work, here’s where the true work begins. Grab your vacuum cleaner, grab your cleaning cloths, and get ready to deep clean. You should vacuum out your air ducts thoroughly, going over every surface, corner, and nook and cranny. Use the brush to scrub difficult spots and pay attention for signs of mold and mildew. Use your cleaning cloths to wipe any surface you can reach.
Be sure to clean the blower compartment before turning the power to your unit back on, taking extra safety precautions around the furnace so you don’t damage it or injure yourself.
Step 7: Replace the Filter
Once you’ve finished cleaning your ducts and grills and replaced all the air duct fasteners, you should replace your air filter.
Ready for a Deep Clean?
So now you know how to clean vents in your house! Clean air ducts and air vents greatly improve your home’s air quality and allow your HVAC unit to operate more efficiently. However, this only works if the air ducts are thoroughly cleaned.
If you miss any spots or don’t scratch off all mold and mildew, more dirt can quickly collect. To skip the hassle of cleaning and be sure the job is done well, consider bringing John C. Flood in to get the job done right. You can call us at (703) 214-5611 or contact John C. Flood certified HVAC technicians online to schedule your cleaning.
