A DIY Guide To Cleaning Your Own Ducts
Posted on: 14 August 2015
If you can learn to clean your ducts on your own, you can maintain your HVAC system and save a little bit of cash. You will not need to call in the professionals just to have a basic cleaning. You can maintain your ducts on your own if you a little bit on ingenuity and the right tools.
How Often Should Your Clean Your Ducts?
There is no set schedule for how often you should clean your ducts if your have central heating and air conditioning. The fact of the matter is, some homes' have duct system that get dirty and dusty much quicker than others. This could be the result of a faulty air conditioner, clogged furnace filters, or just a side effect of the natural pollens and dust in your home. However, it might be worth cleaning your ducts every two years. You should at least take off a couple of vents and look into your ducts with a flashlight to check on the status of you ducts every two years.
Can You Clean Your Ducts on Your Own?
The answer is yes! You just need to get your hands on the right tools. Most importantly, you need a telescoping pole of some sort. You might already have one. A painting extension pole will work just fine. As can a pool cleaning pole if you can remove the net from the end.
The trick is to attach a large rag to the end of your pole. You can just use duct tape to temporarily attach the rag. This might sound like a sketchy set up, but is actually very effective. It is also quite practical because you can remove the rag once it gets too dirty and replace it with a cleaner one.
First, you will need to remove the registers and vents from the wall so you can access your ducts. This usually just means removing a couple of screws (very simple if you have a power drill). Soak the rag in a basic household cleaning liquids and swab the inside of your ducts. You can even tape a flashlight onto the pole so you can see better deep into the ducts. Be sure to do a little extra cleaning around the corners and intersections of the duct system. Also, clean the ridge around the vents and registers (while they are removed) because dust can build up there too.
Final note: If you spot any mold in your ducts, click here for more information and call an HVAC contractor for more help.
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