Cleaning Your Ductwork You can do a basic cleaning of your air conditioning vents using some paper towels, a screwdriver or hand tool to remove your registers and vents, a long-handled brush or broom small enough to fit into your ductwork, and a vacuum cleaner or shop vac.
A shop vac will do quite well with long duct runs. They generate much higher static pressure that a typical DC blower will. For cleaning the cars I hook up a small (1 3/8``) hose that's about 30' long to the shop vac & there's still a ton of suction & volume.
Air purifiers are another great way to improve your home's air quality without resorting to professional duct cleaning services. Air purifiers work by removing toxins and allergens from the air before they have a chance to enter your ventilation system in the first place.
EPA does not recommend that the air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Even if your ducts are dirty, cleaning them probably won't provide any measurable benefits. In fact, the little independent research performed on duct cleaning indicates that the process stirs up so much dust that it creates a bigger problem than it solves.
AC vent cleaning can be done easily using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Make sure you get to the hard-to-reach spots where the dust loves to settle. If you don't have a vacuum cleaner at hand, a damp microfibre cloth can also do the trick to wipe down the vents and the surrounding wall area.
Experts advise having your air ducts cleaned every 2 to 3 years to prevent many maintenance and health problems before they start. However, homes with pets or children with allergies should have their air ducts professionally cleaned more frequently than the recommended average.
Compressed Air Flush
After loosening the contaminants lodged in your air ducts, we blow compressed air through the system to flush all traces of dirt and dust out of your ductwork and into our specialized vacuum system.
Factors Influencing Air Duct Cleaning Costs
Size of Home/HVAC System: Larger homes with more ductwork naturally require more time and effort to clean, leading to higher costs.
Clean ducts ensure smoother airflow, reducing energy costs. Extended System Life: Regular cleaning minimizes wear and tear on your HVAC system, potentially saving you substantial money on future repairs or the need for early replacement.
Vacuum the burners and furnace base using a shop vac or household vacuum with a wand/upholstery attachment. Use extensions if necessary, doing your best to reach the back. Lift the blower door to vacuum the compartment. Keep an eye out for soot, which indicates poor combustion and requires further attention.
To clean your air ducts, you'll need: Shop Vacuum with a Long Hose: Your regular vacuum cleaner should be adequate, but it's important to have a long hose and plenty of attachments to reach all the nooks and crannies. For the best results, you can rent a heavy-duty vacuum from a local home improvement store.
The offer price is most likely per vent pricing and does not factor in the cost of the entire cleaning. While it may seem like a money-saving deal, the final price tag will probably be closer to that $450-$1000 range.
In certain situations, duct cleaning will indeed reduce harmful contaminants in the air you breathe, but, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it might not make a noticeable difference in homes that don't have an identifiable duct system problem.
It's absolutely not a waste of money, as long as it's not performed too frequently. Homeowners usually only need to consider air duct cleaning when visible signs of dust buildup are present, if they've noticed a change in respiratory or allergy symptoms, or if it's been several years since the last duct cleaning.
The best times to have your ducts cleaned is either in the spring or in the early fall, after you have stopped using your HVAC system to cool or heat your property and before you need to start using it again. You have likely experienced that dusty or musty smell when turning on your HVAC system.
EPA does not recommend that the air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
You can vacuum an air conditioning system using or without a vacuum pump. However, most homeowners prefer using the vacuum pump because it makes cleaning easy. A vacuum pump can help remove moisture from your air conditioning system, allowing the AC unit to function effectively.
If you see any build up or dust on the air conditioner filter, it's time to clean it. If your central air filter shows no signs of grime buildup, you can use the hose attachment from your vacuum cleaner or use a handheld vacuum to remove any debris.