There are various reasons why you should carry out vent cleaning in your home. Clean ducts enhance the functioning of your HVAC system. Your heating system is likely to last for a long time. Besides, cleaning the ducts improves the indoor quality, hence reducing respiratory problems among your family members. So, for those family members, duct cleaning is a welcome home improvement.
However, duct cleaning sometimes requires some sophisticated equipment to get the work done the way it is supposed to. So what do you do when you can not hire a professional duct cleaner such as comfort clean to clean your vents? Well, there is a way out; DIY vent cleaning. Sure, if you go the DIY way, you may not achieve 100% results, but you will get rid of almost 85% of the debris and dust from your vents.
Equipment Your Require To Clean Your Vents
Furnace filter- You will require this at the end of the job. Ensure that you choose the right filter for your vents.
Vacuum- heavy-duty ‘shop vac’ vacuum works better, but if you don’t have this you can opt for a decent hose attached household-type vacuum.
Brush- anything resembling a toilet brush will work perfectly for you. However, a stiff-bristle paintbrush or anything similar to that will also come in handy.
Screwdriver- no doubt that some kind of fasteners will fix the registers. So, you will need a screwdriver or a hex driver to remove it.
Paper towels- unless you have a lot of time to spend sweeping and dusting after your vent cleaning, you should use a paper towel to cover the registers as you clean the others.
Steps Involved In Vent Cleaning:
1. Cover Supply Registers
To start, cover the supply registers using paper towels. This is done in order to prevent dislodged dust from getting into the rooms as the work continues. Hold the registers and wrap the paper towel over the top.
2. Turn on the fan
This is done so that the dust that you loosen is blown away. If this option is not viable for you, you can run the heat or install a new thermostat.
3. Check filter
Ensure that the existing furnace filter is in the right place, so the debris and dust that you blow during cleaning the dryer vent don’t end up in the motor fan.
4. Loosen Dust In Vents
Reach the ductwork and knock any buildup of dust. Take the handle of your brush and tap inside the ductwork. This is essential in breaking up any buildup of dampened debris and dust that might have strongly accumulated inside the surface of the vent.
5. Clean Supply Registers
Now is the right time to sweep out any dust in you’re supply registers. With the vacuum on and handle of the hose close to the register, lift the register. Using the hose, trap any dust or debris being pushed out by the fan, and then continue sweeping as far into the register’s piping as you can access. Use the brush to loosen any built-up dust inside the surface of the registers.
6. Clean Return Air Registers
Now sweep the return registers. In most cases, these will be fixed using a screw, and therefore they will need a tool to remove them. Again, clean as far back in the piping as you can reach.
7. Switch Off The Furnace And The Fan
You have completed the main vent cleaning, so you don’t want to keep them on
8. Clean The Blower Compartment And Fix The Air Boot
Now the power is off and safe to remove the panels in order to access the blower compartment and fix back the air boot. Obviously, there will be some dust built up in the blower compartment area and the air boot. Use your vacuum to get rid of it.
9. Replace Furnace Filter
You are now through with cleaning the dryer vent, now return the furnace filter. It is recommended to buy a new filter. This will significantly reduce dust in your home.
