Clean air ducts are happy air ducts
If you like having clean air inside your home, you need to pay attention to the condition of your ducts. Considering the air from your HVAC system flows through the ducts as it circulates through your home, a dirty set of air ducts could lead to unclean air throughout the house. Performing air duct cleaning methods on a regular basis will help keep the air you’re breathing as clean as possible. Learn about how the air ducts in your home function and your options for cleaning them.
Air ducts are part of your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Air duct cleaning is necessary because it removes contaminants from the ducts, including dust and allergens. After you or professionals clean your home’s air ducts, you’ll enjoy cleaner air and quieter airflow.
Most professional HVAC associations recommend cleaning the air ducts in your home every three to five years. You should clean them more frequently if you notice:
Odd odors in the air throughout the home
Excess dust floating in the air
Reduced airflow from your vents
Unexplained increases in your energy bills
Rattling, buzzing, or flapping noises
You may also be able to solve problems like this by changing a clogged furnace filter. This is an easier and more affordable solution than cleaning the air ducts, so always check your filter first if you notice oddities. Depending on your HVAC system, you may need to change the furnace filter every three months.
Additionally, you may want to clean the air ducts right after you move into a home, unless the previous homeowner cleaned them as part of the selling process. If you perform a major home renovation that involves tearing out walls or generating sawdust, you may want to clean the ducts afterward.
While air duct cleaning hasn’t been proven to prevent respiratory problems, it’s not a scam. While it’s unlikely that dirty ducts are solely responsible for poor air quality, they may be a contributor. Homes with very low air quality or residents sensitive to dust or mold would likely benefit from a duct cleaning.
Ready to tackle cleaning your air ducts yourself? Here are the key steps to follow.
Turn off your thermostat to cut off airflow.
Remove all the grills on the return and supply vents. You can unscrew them easily, and you shouldn’t need much force to pull them loose. Wipe them with a microfiber cloth or soak them in warm water with a little bit of dish soap for up to 30 minutes to remove stubborn stains.
For your supply air vents, which are those where air is moving outward from the HVAC system, cover them with a paper towel sheet just to keep dust from flying outward while you’re cleaning elsewhere. The return air vents, which are those that take air into the HVAC system, should not have paper towels covering them.
Then turn on the “fan only” setting on the thermostat. Do not run heating and cooling cycles while you’re working.
Start by working inside the supply vents. Move the paper towel out of the way while working and replace it after finishing. After cleaning each supply vent with the brush and vacuum, repeat the process on the return vents.
Use a cleaning brush with an extended handle to lightly scrub the vents' walls. You don’t need to vigorously clean them; you just need to knock debris loose so you can vacuum later.
Use your vacuum to remove the debris that you knocked loose. Start by placing the vacuum hose as far inside the duct as you can reach and work backward toward the opening where you’re standing.
After finishing, use a damp cloth to wipe the edges of the duct opening to remove the last bit of dust.
After you finish with the last return vent, replace all the clean grills. Then turn your thermostat back on for normal operation.
To have the most success with cleaning your air ducts, follow these tips.
Use duct tape: If you’re using an extension tool or brush on the end of your vacuum hose, you may want to use duct tape to secure the tool to the hose. Otherwise, you could knock the extension loose while working and leave it stuck inside the vent.
Go slow: Don’t rush when cleaning air ducts, or you could spread dust and debris instead of removing them. Cleaning slowly is especially important when figuring out how to clean flexible air ducts. Going too fast could cause you to puncture or damage the flexible, fragile duct material.
Wear a mask: If you’re susceptible to dust and other allergens, wear a mask while cleaning. You likely won’t kick up a lot of dust when following the best air duct cleaning methods, but people with sensitivities will notice even a little dust flying around.
If you see mold, stop: If you see dark spots or stains on the inside of the ducts, stop cleaning and call a pro. This could be mold.
Grab a powerful flashlight: Using a large flashlight can help you see any debris deep inside the ducts. Don’t just rely on your smartphone’s little flashlight.
If you want to try to do this job yourself, you will need to have some equipment on hand, including a ladder and vacuum. You’ll also need a long-handled bristle brush, mask, and cleaning rags.
To DIY, you need to be comfortable climbing on and working from a ladder, reaching into tight spaces, and working above your head. Expect the process to take at least a few hours.
If you don’t want to tackle this job yourself, do some research into who cleans air ducts in your area. You often can hire a local air duct cleaning service to do the work.
If you hire a professional, the air duct cleaning cost ranges from $270 to $500. Some pros charge by the square footage of the duct system, while others charge by the hour.
Pros will clean the grills for you, too, for about $35 per grill.
You can find a good air duct cleaning company by asking friends and family for recommendations. Online reviews and ratings are excellent resources, too. Once you have a few candidates in mind, check their references and request cost estimates.
You may occasionally notice less air movement from your home’s furnace and air conditioning system. Cleaning air ducts can help with airflow through the HVAC system. However, quite a bit of dust and debris inside the ducts wouldn’t restrict airflow enough that you could feel it. As a first option, try changing the furnace filter to improve airflow.
The best air duct cleaning methods involve removing the debris or dust in the ductwork through the use of a vacuum. Air duct pros refer to this method as negative pressure cleaning. To knock debris loose inside the ductwork, you may need to use a hand-operated brush or a rotary brush. You then can use the vacuum to suck up the loose debris and remove them from the ducts. If mold is present, pros may use a chemical spray to try to kill any bacteria or mold inside the system.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t have any studies that show cleaning your ducts definitely reduces dust levels in the home or prevents health problems. However, the cleaning process can reduce unpleasant odors in the home and may help people with sensitivities to dust and allergens. It also could help you catch any issues where mold may be forming inside the ducts as early as possible.
The primary drawback to cleaning air ducts is that you could damage the HVAC system or the ductwork. If you damage a seam or knock a section loose, you could allow heated or cooled air to escape, which costs you money through reduced system efficiency. It can also be a time-consuming process to clean air ducts if you have a large home or complicated ductwork layout.
