Open up your furnace compartment and check the blower fan, motor and the furnace controls for dust. Examine the air conditioning coil.
If you find dust on it or the housing walls, then your air filter isn't working. Turn off the power to your heating and air conditioning units. Note: Shutting off the thermostat does not power down the unit; you need to turn off power at the breaker panel or power switch on the furnace. Remove the air duct covers and use a brush to clean the grates. Make sure to be thorough.
Use a vacuum to clean out the ducts. A model with a hose will give you the most maneuverability. Want to learn more about your air ducts? Browse through our articles on how to keep your home cool during the summer , how to improve your indoor air quality , and what devices can help you remove nuisance or harmful particles from the air.
How to clean your air ducts Is this a DIY or a professional job? Here's what you need to know. Amanda Push. Make sure the screwdriver is compatible with the screws on the various types of registers in your home. Cleaning cloth. A microfiber cloth works best. Paper towels.
Which vents are which? Step-by-Step duct cleaning Remove the screws from air duct covers and return-air grill plates. Cover up your supply vents those vents that supply heat or air to the rooms with paper towels. Simply lift the supply vents and place a paper towel between the vent cover and the wall or floor. The fan will help move the dust that you loosen while cleaning.
Loosen dust in ducts. Knock loose any buildup of dust in the ductwork. A light tapping will loosen clumps of dust sticking to the inside of the ducts. Simply take the handle of your brush and begin tapping on any accessible ductwork you have in the basement. This will help break up any deposits of dampened dust that may have stuck to the insides of the duct.
Clean supply registers. Now you can begin sweeping out the dust in your supply register. With the vacuum running and the end of the hose near the register, lift the register. Use your brush to scuff loose any built-up dust in the register. Now, using a damp microfiber cloth, reach down into the duct as far as you can and wipe the interior clean. Clean the return registers. Sweep out your return air registers.
Again, brush and sweep as far back into the register cavity as possible. Shut off fan and furnace. Shut the fan off at the thermostat and the power off to the furnace via the service switch or breaker panel.
Clean out blower compartment and return air boot. Like your lungs, the ducts work better with clean air. However there is some dispute as to how clean your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning HVAC ducts need to be. According to the Environmental Protection Agency EPA the light dust found in ductwork is less hazardous than contaminants stirred up by cooking, cleaning, smoking, and even walking across the carpet.
Airborne particles are prevented from entering the HVAC system by furnace and air conditioner filters. This is why your first—and best—line of defense is to replace HVAC filters on a regular basis. Filters are inexpensive insurance against costly problems in the future. If you have mold growing on the sheet metal of your ductwork, you may need to take some additional steps.
An HVAC professional can determine if you have mold in your ducts.
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