As you use your HVAC system, its ducts are guaranteed to collect indoor air pollutants, including dust, dirt, pollen, and pet hair. The air duct might sometimes trap larger pollutants as it keeps your HVAC system running smoothly.
All the pollutants trapped in your ducts might affect your system’s overall performance. For instance, dirty ducts wear out their components, and you might need to replace your ducts sooner than later. In addition, less dust in the ducts means clean air, which improves the quality for people with allergies.
Cleaning Your Air Ducts—DIY or Outsource?
With all the benefits of having a clean duct, you might need to take care of yours. You can do it yourself or consider contacting air duct cleaning Milwaukee. These professionals will clean all the different designs of duct systems, including the attic and underground systems. With their high-powered vacuum systems with up to a hundred and fifty-foot hose, professional cleaners come at a great cost.
If you aren’t ready to spend a huge sum, you can absolutely do the cleaning yourself. However, you won’t be able to reach all the nooks and crannies like the professionals, but you’ll still clean eighty-five percent of the dust from the system and improve your air quality.
If you are ready to save yourself some money while still keeping up with maintenance, here is a step-by-step guide to help you.
Collect Necessary Supplies
Most of the supplies needed to clean your duct can easily be found in your home. However, gathering all your supplies is vital to avoid going back and forth when cleaning your duct. As a result, ensure that you have the following;
- Vacuum – Although professionals use industry vacuums, your household vacuum will suffice. Use it with a long hose or attachment to easily reach the ducts.
- Screwdriver, Drill, Or Hex Driver – Use these to uncover your HVAC registers. You need to open the fasteners that keep them in place, so pick fasteners that fit the screws to ease the process.
- Brush – If your vacuum cleaner doesn’t have a brush attachment, you’ll need a stiff-bristled one. This brush will come in handy when scrubbing the grilles and vents. A stiff new toilet brush will work well as an alternative.
- Paper Towels – To cut down on the time used to clean your vents, keep some paper towels on hand. You can use them to cover registers when cleaning the rest.
- Furnace Filter – The chances of replacing your furnace air filter are high if you need your system to start on a clean slate.
- Protective Measures – To protect your lungs and your eyes, make sure to wear a mask, goggles, and gloves that will create a barrier between you and the dust.
Again, if you’re pressed for time and resources and find it hard to gather all those materials, you can turn to professional air duct cleaning services like Totally Clean.
Switch Off Your Heating And Cooling
To keep the power off as you clean your ducts, switch off your heating and cooling. However, don’t shut off the thermostat as it doesn’t turn off the power needed at the unit. Afterward, leave the fan on to keep the airflow that helps you to move the dust. The dust you’ll loosen will be moved by the fan. If your thermostat has a fan option, it’ll be helpful in this process.
Cover Your Supply Register
Your HVAC system has two different vents; supply vents and returns vents. These vents usually cycle air from the home to the air ducts to either be heated or cooled. So, cover your supply air registers using paper towels or a cloth.
By covering your registers, you’ll be able to keep dust from moving through another vent while cleaning.
Deep Clean The Grilles
There are a few ways of going around cleaning the grilles. To start, remove the grille and use the brush to remove the dirt and make it easier when vacuuming. Once the dirt is dislodged, use your vacuum to pick up all the dust and dirt it can by sticking the attachment down the duct.
Once you’ve collected as much dust as possible, use a paper towel to clean off the rest of the register left behind. Cover your grill with a paper towel as you continue cleaning.
Clean Your Furnace And Fan System
With a clean grille, it’s time to clean the fan and furnace. Go in with a vacuum and a cloth to get rid of all the visible dust until it’s clean. Afterward, you might need to replace the filter to cut down on the dust in the home and make the system run better.
Bottom Line
As seen above, it’s possible to clean your air ducts by yourself. Our step-by-step guide outlined the materials you need and the process of cleaning the ducts. However, if your ducts have been neglected for a long while, and you find mold or vermin while cleaning, it might be time to call in the professionals.
