Table of Contents
Steps To Clean Your Air Conditioner Vents Intro To The Guide. Remove the vents. Vacuum the ducts. Dust off your vents. Prepare some soapy water. Soak your vents for up to 15 minutes. Dry your vents with a towel and put them back on. Replace your air filter & turn your HVAC system back on.
What is the easiest way to clean air vents?
Remove the vent covers by unscrewing the corners, then place them in a sink of hot, soapy water or water mixed with basic household cleaner. Let them soak for only a few minutes, clean them with a microfiber cloth, then rinse them off with cool water.
Can I clean my air ducts myself?
When it comes to the nitty gritty, cleaning air ducts is not a do-it-yourself job. It requires tools, such as a high-powered vacuum and rotary brushes, that you don’t have lying around in the garage. If there’s a lot of dust, unscrew the grills and hose out the visible interior of the ducts.
How often do AC vents need to be cleaned?
According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, homeowners should have their air ducts cleaned every three to five years, but the timing really depends on the region in which you live, how often you use your HVAC system and whether you have family members that have respiratory problems.
What is the black stuff coming out of my air conditioning vents?
The black dust on your AC vents could be mold. Mold is commonly found in AC systems, particularly in the indoor AC unit. If mold is present, the air that passes through the indoor unit can carry mold spores to the ductwork, where it can grow near your vents.
How do you clean AC ducts yourself?
DIY Air Duct Cleaning Steps Remove vent covers and wash them. Remove your vent covers with your screwdriver. Cover vent openings with paper towels. Cover the openings to your supply registers with a few paper towels. Loosen the dust. Vacuum it up. Change your air filter. Replace vent covers.
How do you get dust out of air ducts?
Remove dust and vacuum your home regularly. (Use a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner can take. Vacuuming can increase the amount of dust in the air during and after vacuuming as well as in your ducts).
Why does my house get so dusty?
Dust accumulation in your home is a product of airflow, either because too much dirty, dust-filled air is floating around your home or because not enough air is spreading through the home, allowing dust to settle.
Is heat duct cleaning a waste of money?
They are not long enough to clean every inch of the ductwork down to the main trunk line. Even if you find a bait-and-switch company that cleans ductwork properly, if you don’t pay their hefty sum to clean all the ducts, the cleaning will have been a waste of money.
Can dirty air vents make you sick?
Dirty air ducts causes the “sick building syndrome” – When the air ducts are not cleaned, pet dander, dust, pollen, and other allergens get stuck in the ducts. Breathing this polluted air may not cause allergies to some people but in the long run, it may cause other severe respiratory disease.
How often should I change my AC filter in my house?
Here are averages that may help you know how regularly you should get a new air filter at your residence: Vacation house or one occupant and no pets or allergies: every 6–12 months. Ordinary suburban home without pets: every 90 days. One dog or cat: every 60 days. More than one pet or if anyone has allergies: 20–45 days.
Does cleaning vents help allergies?
While a professional duct cleaning is the most effective way to eliminate most allergens from your home, there are several ways you can minimize your exposure to allergens: Clean vent covers and change air filters to prevent the spread of dust. Use a dehumidifier in warmer months.
How do you remove mold from AC vents?
Bleach Mix together one part bleach with 16 parts water. Turn off your air conditioning or heating. Vacuum the air vents with a HEPA vacuum. Dip a rag into your bleach solution and scrub the air vents. Unscrew the air vents and dip it into the bleach solution.
Why is it black around my ceiling vents?
Although there is cold air flowing out of the air conditioning system, the warmer air that is around and inside of the unit can cause small water droplets to form around and inside the air ducts and vent. Therefore, moisture and dust are what causes black dust surrounding your air vents.
Can I use a shop vac to clean air ducts?
Vacuum: When choosing a vacuum to clean your air conditioning vents, you want to make sure that you use a Shop-Vac or a vacuum which might get damaged. Many sharp elements like screws that tend to rest at the bottom of the air ducts get sucked up which may damage the hosing to the unit.
Can a shop vac clean air ducts?
An air duct system, or an HVAC system, is where many people’s indoor allergies come from, so leaving the heating vents dusty and filled with allergens can make things worse. Clean duct work seasonally to avoid unnecessary build up. With a shop vacuum, you’ll clean them out in no time.
