Cleaning air ducts is an essential task that should not be taken lightly. It is important to ensure that the air in your home is free of dust, dirt, and other particles. While it is possible to clean air ducts with a shop vac, it is important to understand the process and the tools needed to do it properly. Before starting, you must make sure to disconnect the power to the oven.
You will need a vacuum, a leaf blower, an electric drill, an old pillow, and a respirator to prevent inhaling the elements. Begin by unscrewing the return vents with a screwdriver and thoroughly vacuuming the outer plate. Use a damp sponge to remove any small dust particles that the shop vac may have left behind. Clean both the inside and outside of the ventilation grille. Once all of the vents inside the house are clean, it's time to start deep cleaning the inside of the air ducts.
Depending on the size of your air cooling system, you'll determine how many holes you'll need to clean your ducts properly. Turn on the shop vacuum and clean as much dust as possible to the inside of the duct, as far as it can reach with the hose. Work from the top floor down so that any dust that accidentally gets into the duct floats downward and is eventually cleaned by the lowermost rack. Afterwards, you can remove all the covers from the vents and do one last vacuum to remove any residue that has come off the leaf blower. At this point, you can turn on your air cooling system and let it work as usual.
If you see dust in your home, call an air duct cleaning specialist. It's true that you're a skilled guy and you've done some great DIY projects that have saved your family a lot of money, but it's okay to hire a local air duct cleaning company if this task is out of your abilities. Studies show that most homeowners who hire professional services to clean their air ducts are satisfied with the results and notice an improvement in air quality, as well as in their allergies. Nationwide, it's recommended to clean air ducts at least every three to five years, though this can vary from home to home.
