Along with the air your HVAC system pushes through the ducts and vents, the air inside your home can lead to a dusty buildup — especially if your air conditioner recirculates dirt, pet fur, or other debris. This means the exterior cause of your vent's dirty situation may actually come from an interior problem.
The exposure to liabilities are too high. The biggest reason that people's ducts are dirty inside, is because the ducts are leaking, and pulling in attic or crawl space dirt and contaminates by Venturi vacuum. If you don't get the ducts sealed, cleaning them is utterly pointless.
Use your vacuum cleaner's hose attachment to clean the return's interior and surrounding areas. Then use a soft-bristled brush to clean the grille thoroughly. Wipe down the grille with your microfiber cloth and cleaning solution before reinstalling.
Just like any other HVAC system, air ducts require regular maintenance to ensure maximum efficiency. As a general rule of thumb, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends air duct cleaning every 3 to 5 years.
Localized Dust Control: If some areas of your home produce more dust, adding a filter to the return vent in that area can limit debris from entering your system. During Renovations: Return vent filters prevent construction dust and debris from entering your system.
Reduced airflow
A dirty filter could be to blame. When the air filter is clogged, the airflow in your HVAC system is reduced. This makes it harder for the system to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. This can lead to uneven or inadequate heating and cooling.
– The general consensus is that you should be replacing the air filter in your home every 3 months, or 90 days.
To identify a return vent, take a piece of paper and hold it up to the vent. If the paper is drawn towards the vent, then it's a return vent. Return vents are usually larger than supply vents, and they usually don't have adjustable slats to direct airflow since the air is going into the ducts instead of out.
If you see dust and dirt both inside and outside — especially by the vents that blow cool air out — your ducts most likely need to be cleaned. To prevent future dust buildup, make sure you replace your HVAC system air filters frequently. You can also run an air purifier.
Return vents tend to be bigger than supply vents, and you won't feel any air coming from them. When an HVAC system delivers air to a room, it increases that room's air pressure. Return vents exist to remove the extra air.
Reduced efficiency: Your HVAC system will work less efficiently if you block a return air vent. This will make the units use more energy and will raise your utility costs.
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space.
Alternaria - This is another extremely common air duct mold strain. It takes on the appearance of velvet-like fabric and is usually green or brown in color.
Along with the air your HVAC system pushes through the ducts and vents, the air inside your home can lead to a dusty buildup — especially if your air conditioner recirculates dirt, pet fur, or other debris. This means the exterior cause of your vent's dirty situation may actually come from an interior problem.
Use a brush to loosen any buildup of dust in the ductwork. Lift register and insert vacuum hose as far into the piping as it can go. Turn the vacuum on to capture as much dust as possible that the fan is pushing through the ductwork.
Air duct cleaning typically costs about $270 to $500, with an average cost of $388.
While return vents don't always require filters, adding them provides additional filtration, improving indoor air quality and keeping dirt and debris out of your system. However, there are pros and cons to consider.
Can You Have Too Much Return Air? Too much return air coming through your system isn't much of an issue because the fans and ductwork working to get that air back into the system only pull with so much force to make the HVAC system work correctly.
When the thermostat's fan setting is set to “ON” the indoor blower will run 24/7, constantly circulating air over the air filter. So now the filter is constantly catching airborne contaminants, causing it to quickly get dirty. Furthermore, your energy bills are higher because running a blower nonstop isn't cheap.
The cost to add a return air vent is between $200 and $750 per vent, with the average cost being about $350. Adding a return air vent can be a valuable upgrade to your home's HVAC system, improving air circulation and overall comfort.