How to Clean Air Ducts in 6 Easy Steps
Maintaining clean air ducts is important for the HVAC system and home preservation. Over time, dust, hair, and other debris accumulate inside the ducts, and if moisture is present, mold can develop.
Pests like insects and rodents can also affect the system’s efficiency and indoor air quality. This guide will show you how to clean air ducts in 6 easy steps, ensuring your system runs smoothly.
What Are Air Ducts?
Air ducts are a series of interconnected tubes that carry heated or cooled air throughout your home through the HVAC system. These ducts can be round or square and made of metal, fiberglass, or flexible plastic.
Larger ducts are visible in basements or vertically through homes, while smaller ducts weave through walls, floors, and ceilings.
There are two main types of ducts:
- Supply Ducts: These ducts deliver air from the HVAC system to the rooms.
- Return Ducts: These ducts carry air from the rooms to the HVAC system.
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Screwdriver
- Shop vac with extension hose
- Dryer vent cleaning brush
- Cleaning brush extension pole
- Nylon bristle brush
- Electric drill
- Flashlight
Materials
- Dish soap
- Duct tape
- Replacement HVAC filter
Instructions on How to Clean Air Ducts in 6 Easy Steps
An HVAC maintenance expert, Kassidy Barber, says, “Air duct cleaning takes an average of five to seven hours for most households. You can make the job go quicker by removing any obstacles around your HVAC entry points, like furniture.”
Remove the Air Duct Covers
First, turn off your HVAC system at the thermostat or circuit breaker to prevent any loose dirt and debris from being blown into your home. Next, remove the supply and return the vent grilles. Some grilles may be secured with screws, so you’ll need a screwdriver or drill to take them off.
Clean the Supply and Return Grilles
Wash the grilles with warm water and dish soap, using a soft nylon brush to remove dirt or debris. If the grilles are too large, this task can be done in a kitchen, laundry sink, or outdoors with a hose. After cleaning, set the grilles aside to dry.
Inspect the Air Ducts
Attach the duct-cleaning brush to the extension pole and use a flashlight to look inside the air duct. This will help you understand the duct’s size and orientation, as some ducts may split off in different directions (tees).
Loosen Air Duct Debris
Insert the cleaning brush and extension pole into the duct, following its path until about 1 foot of the pole remains outside. If your extension pole can connect to a drill, use it to rotate the brush.
Otherwise, manually rotate the brush. Slowly pull the pole out to dislodge dust and debris. For ducts with tees, repeat this process for each branch.
Clean the Air Duct
Use a shop vac to vacuum up the loosened debris. Attach the extension hose to the vac, secure it with duct tape, and insert it into the duct.
Turn on the vacuum and slowly pull the hose back out, moving it back and forth to clean thoroughly. Repeat for each duct in your home.
Turn On the HVAC System
After cleaning, reinstall the grilles and turn on the HVAC system for 20 to 30 minutes. This will help trap any remaining debris in the filter. Finally, replace the filter and turn the system back on.
When Should You Clean the Air Ducts?
According to research done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There’s no concrete evidence to suggest that cleaning air ducts has any impact on preventing health issues. Research also hasn’t definitively proven that having unclean air ducts leads to higher levels of particles like dust in homes.
This is because a lot of the dust within ductwork tends to stick to the ducts themselves and isn’t likely to spread into the areas where people live. But you should clean your air ducts if you notice:
- Excessive dust and debris
- Signs of mold growth
- Pest infestations
- Unpleasant odors
- Reduced system efficiency
Cleaning your air ducts can improve your HVAC system’s efficiency and enhance indoor air quality, promoting a healthier living environment.
By following these six easy steps to clean air ducts, you’ll ensure that your HVAC system operates smoothly and efficiently, providing cleaner air for your home.
