Over time, your air ducts will naturally accumulate dust and debris. When it does, it's important to remove these particles to keep your home clean and safe.
Many assume that to remove dust and debris from air ducts, you should always call the professionals. Unfortunately, since professional duct cleaning services can be costly and a hassle since you have to accommodate people coming in and out of your property, many people opt out and leave their air ducts dirty.
The good news is that there are ways for you to remove dust and debris from air ducts on your own. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Invest in air duct cleaning tools
Investing in air duct cleaning tools such as a dryer vent brush and a vacuum cleaner is a good idea. Having these readily available in your home can remove dust and dirt from your air ducts before they pile up. When cleaning the air ducts, you'll also need a screwdriver and some cleaning towels:
Clean or replace the air duct filter
The main purpose of an air filter is to capture dust and debris so that they don't accumulate much on the air duct. These will be the first components of an air conditioning system that will get dirty. This is why it's important to clean it periodically.
In addition, the filters of your air duct can affect the machine's overall efficiency. Air conditioning systems usually work best with clean filters because their operation does not require much power, allowing you to save on electricity costs.
In some cases, air filters can be very dirty or worn out, so cleaning it won't be enough. In these cases, it's highly recommended to replace the filter. The filters are not really that expensive, and the process of replacing them is fairly easy; you won't need professional help to do it properly.
Protect your eyes when cleaning the air ducts
When cleaning your air ducts it's a big chance for their dust particles to be all over the place. Because of this, it's highly recommended that you wear eye protection to avoid dust particles and debris irritating your eyes. You can use industrial goggles or anything that gives you visibility but fully covers your eyes.
Ventilate the room
Make sure that the room where your air duct opening is located is fully ventilated because when you brush the dirt and debris away, the particles can fly into the air. When the room is sealed tight, it will keep flying around, affecting the overall air quality.
You can improve the air ventilation of the room when cleaning the air ducts by simply opening the windows. Using an electric fan will also help circulate the air better throughout the space.
Be careful when brushing
Brushing is the best way to agitate the dust and debris particles that are on your air duct. However, it's important to use light touches when brushing along the duct's walls if you have crinkly mylar flex ducts because these can be easily damaged.
Meanwhile, if you are removing dust and debris particles on exposed ducts, tapping it several times would help loosen the dirt and debris. This would make it easier for you to clean the inside of the air ducts thoroughly.
Use an extension hose
The hose length of your vacuum might not be enough to reach all the parts of an air duct. When this happens, you can use an extension hose so that the vacuum can reach all the crevices of the air ducts. This way, you can thoroughly remove the dust and dirt particles accumulated inside without hassle.
Don’t forget to clean the blower compartment
The air duct's blower compartment is one of the areas where most dirt and dust accumulate. It's important to clean it periodically as well. You can do this by using a vacuum cleaner but just be careful not to damage the fan of the furnace.
Create a checklist
An air duct has several components where dust and debris accumulate. Forgetting to clean one area means that your air ducts are not thoroughly clean, and the air quality in the room is not the best. To make sure that you clean everything, it's best to create a checklist.
A checklist will help you keep track of the things you have cleaned and the components you should clean next time. It will also help you determine when you should schedule your cleaning. When making your checklist, breaking down the air conditioning system components into categories will make keeping track of everything more manageable.
When to seek professional help
Air duct tips mentioned above will make removing dust and debris from air ducts more manageable. However, for more severe and complex cases when there's too much dust and debris in the air ducts, it's best to look for professional help instead of going the DIY route.
Although calling for professional help might cost money, it can be more convenient and save you from costly mistakes. Also, it's highly recommended to have professionals inspect, maintain, and thoroughly clean your air ducts at least once a year.
Final Words
It's important to keep your air ducts free from dust and debris to maintain clean and healthy air inside your home. Removing accumulated dust and debris on air ducts is usually manageable.
However, it's important to periodically remove the dust and debris so that the accumulation will not be that severe. It's best to remove the dust and debris monthly, then schedule thorough cleaning by professionals at least once a year to keep your air clean and maintain the pristine condition of your air ducts.
Are there still problems with dust and debris from air ducts? Click here to learn more about what you can do to eliminate them.
