Cleaning your air ducts is an essential part of HVAC maintenance. This step-by-step air duct cleaning process guide will show you how to clean ducts using a variety of methods.
Cleaning your HVAC system regularly is one of the easiest ways to keep it in good working condition. It’s also probably one of the least glamorous parts of owning an AC unit, but it’s essential for keeping your system clean and functioning at peak efficiency.
With that being said, cleaning your ductwork isn’t as simple as it sounds. The process requires specialized knowledge and a few special tools that can make things a little bit easier (but not much). Once you understand how to go about cleaning your ducts, though, it doesn’t take long at all (usually less than an hour) and you can get started with the maintenance process right away.
Choosing the Right Duct Cleaning Service
Choosing the right HVAC duct cleaning service is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the best cleaning results possible. There are many great companies out there, but the right one for you will depend on a few factors. The main factor involves the customer service rating of the company along with years of experience in that cleaning service.
Plan Your Duct Cleaning Job Before You Start
The first step when cleaning your ducts is planning. In order to get the best results, you’ll want to plan your cleaning job ahead of time and make sure you have everything you need. This will help to ensure you don’t miss any important components or components that are in difficult-to-reach places. If you’re cleaning the main or return ductwork of your AC unit, you’ll most likely have the entire system to yourself.
Make sure to schedule your cleaning job for a time when you know you won’t be interrupted and when your neighbors aren’t home. You can also plan your duct cleaning job for a time when the HVAC system is running at full capacity. This will help to increase the amount of air moving through the system and increase the amount of dust removed from the ductwork.
What Tools You’ll Need for Your Duct Cleaning Job?
Before you start cleaning your ducts, you’ll first want to gather the necessary supplies. These include the cleaning equipment you’ll need and all the various cleaning supplies you’ll need to do the job right. Some of the supplies you’ll want to make sure you have on hand include an air blower, vacuums, rags, ladders, shop towels, dust masks, screwdrivers, and hose clamps. When it comes to cleaning supplies, you’ll need to make sure you have the following on hand:
1. Air Blowers
These blow air so if there are any areas of your ductwork or around wall and ceiling joints and corners that are particularly dirty, you can use them to clean them efficiently.
2. Vacuum cleaners
These are useful for sucking up any loose debris that’s stuck in the ductwork or for removing large amounts of dust from the ductwork.
3. Shop towels
These are incredibly helpful for drying the ductwork after you clean it and are especially helpful if there are any areas of your ductwork that are particularly dusty.
4. Masks
These help to protect your lungs from dust and debris while you clean.
Safety First: Know the Basics Before You Start
Safety is always key when cleaning your ducts and you’ll want to make sure to keep these three rules in mind while you work. First, you should never clean ductwork without a permit and safety equipment. Also, never clean ductwork that is currently in use by the AC or heating system. Finally, make sure to never clean the ductwork if it’s outside of normal operating hours. These three rules should go without saying, but it’s always good to keep them in mind.
Steps Involved in Air Duct Cleaning Process
Remove Duct Coverings
Remove Dust with a Damp Cloth
Vacuum away the Debris
Use the brush to further remove stubborn dust particles
Use an Air blower to remove the remaining dust
Wipe the duct with a detergent
Sanitize the Air Duct to prevent Bacterial Growth
Reinstall the filters
Seal the cracks
For more intense cleaning purposes such as ridding of mold growth, contact a professional HVAC service company for specialized cleaning services rather than trying to tackle it yourself as there could be safety risks involved in tackling more serious contamination issues on your own.
Bottom Line
Cleaning your HVAC system regularly is one of the easiest ways to keep it in good working condition. It’s also probably one of the least glamorous parts of owning an AC unit, but it’s essential for keeping your system clean and functioning at peak efficiency.
With that being said, cleaning your ducts isn’t as simple as it sounds. The process requires specialized knowledge and a few special tools that can make things a little bit easier, but not much. This is why you should hire a professional to do it, BlueGuard offers air duct cleaning all over Canada for just $399.
