Everything you need to clean like a pro
Experienced DIYers might already have the know-how and tools to clean air ducts.
Hire an HVAC pro if you are unsure how to use tools like air compressors properly.
Air ducts should only be cleaned as needed or at most every three to five years.
While it’s important to have your HVAC system serviced regularly (every few years), cleaning your air ducts is a task that should be done only on an as-needed basis, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An HVAC pro can certainly do the job when the time comes, but a handy DIYer with the right tools can also tackle the task. Here’s what you need to clean your air ducts yourself.
Here is a basic list of the tools you’ll need to clean your air ducts on your own and their average cost. These items are readily available at most home improvement stores. However, if you have recently done any home improvement projects, there’s a good chance you already have these tools and supplies in your toolkit.
Protective eyewear: $18
Dust mask: $5
Vacuum with attachments: $200
Cleaning brush—specific air duct brush or even a long-handled toilet brush: $10
Screwdriver: $10
Paper towels: $3
Painter’s tape: $7
Microfiber cloths: $5
Air filter: $20
Keep in mind that you may be able to rent some of these items, such as commercial-level vacuums.
The following tools are totally optional and are ideal for advanced DIY air duct cleanings. In fact, if you hire a professional HVAC technician to do the cleaning for you, they may use these tools to do the job:
Inspection equipment, including periscope and/or camera: $22–$250
Compressed air tools, including blowguns and air whips: $35–$125
A periscope is an instrument that allows you to peer around corners and into tight spaces without having to remove or take apart your ductwork. Likewise, a camera can be inserted into places to either take a picture or bring the view closer into focus. HVAC pros might use either to assess the ductwork situation before fully diving into a cleaning project.
Compressed air tools such as blowguns or air whips gently yet forcefully remove dust and other particles that have long been stuck on the inside walls of ductwork. Each tool injects a steady stream of compressed air into the ductwork. In the case of an air whip, the compressed air powers a brush that also works to clean out the ducts.
To clean air ducts yourself, you’ll first need to remove the vent covers. Then, use painter’s tape to secure paper towels over the HVAC registers to prevent dust and debris from flying out of the open registers while you clean.
Turn on the heating or cooling mode at your thermostat and run the fan to release some of the dust stuck in the duct, which will make it easier to clean.
Then, it’s time to clean. Put on your protective eyewear and dust mask. Use a cleaning brush to gently brush and tap the sides of the duct to loosen up the dust.
Use the brush attachment on your vacuum hose to reach in as far as you can and gently vacuum out that loosened dust. Dampen a microfiber cloth to wipe the walls of the duct.
Once everything is clean, you can replace the air filter and reattach the vent covers.
Air duct cleaning may seem like a simple DIY job, but there are several reasons it’s well worth the money to hire a professional air duct cleaner near you for this job.
Professional HVAC contractors have specialized, often expensive tools needed to get clean air ducts quickly and repeatedly for many different customers. And even if you wanted to invest in your DIY repertoire, remember that you aren’t trained like these HVAC professionals are to use them properly.
To comply with most warranties, you’ll need to commit to a service and cleaning schedule with experienced pros with your particular HVAC system. Even if you have the best intentions of keeping to an air duct maintenance schedule of your own, if you damage the HVAC system while cleaning it yourself, you could lose out on any free system replacements promised under the warranty.
Cleaning your air ducts isn’t like baking a birthday cake at home, where the results could still be delicious even if your kitchen and the cake itself look like a hot mess. If something goes wrong while you are cleaning your air ducts, you could put your HVAC system out of commission when you need it most. You’ll have a much better chance at optimal results by hiring an air duct cleaning pro near you—plus, the job is going to be completed much faster.
Now that you know how to clean them, you might wonder how often you should clean your air ducts. You only need to clean them every three to five years.
But if you find that the surfaces in your home are dustier than usual, or if members of your household are experiencing unexplained allergies or other health problems, it’s worth it to call in an HVAC pro to check out the ductwork. While dusty ducts may not directly cause these symptoms, there could be something else to remove, such as odors, mold, or even pests lurking in the ductwork.
In these extreme cases, you should contact a mold remediator or an exterminator to treat each problem accordingly in conjunction with your HVAC pro.
Professional air duct cleaning costs an average of $380, but the price can range anywhere between $150 and $780. The total price for your home will depend on the cost of labor in your area, as well as the type of ductwork you have and the number of vents. Note that the larger your home, the more ductwork you have, which will drive up the price of air duct cleaning.
If you DIY the work, you could save between $200 and $500 if you already have most of the necessary tools. However, you’ll spend several hours of your time doing this job—not to mention elbow grease. Also, if you don’t have the necessary skills for the project, your ducts will not end up as clean as they would with a professional cleaning.
