Cleaning your air ducts is crucial when it comes to improving your home’s air quality. If you or someone in your household suffer from allergies, then all the more reason to pay attention to this – cleaning your air ducts can work wonders. Every so often, your air ducts will need to be cleaned professionally. Why? Well, most homeowners don’t have the necessary tools or the expertise that is needed togive ducts a thorough cleaning. But with that said, there are a few things just about anybody can do to keep them clean in the meantime. We’re going to take a guess and say that you probably have these four items lying around your home:
A Vacuum
You’ll need a vacuum to suck up dust and dirt from your air registers. Any vacuum will do the job, although we do advise that you use a heavier-duty vacuum if you got one handy. We recommend unscrewing the vents, vacuuming them off thoroughly and pushing the hose into the duct as far as it will allow in order to suck any loose dust or dirt. This is an important first step, so make sure that you use a vacuum before getting into the details of cleaning.
A Brush
You’ll use the brush to dislodge any debris that may be stuck to the vents or duct walls. Something that resembles a toilet brush will work well, but if you don’t have one of those handy, a stiff bristled paint brush will do the trick. Using a brush to clean your air ducts is good for making sure that areas harder to reach are cleaned properly.
A Screwdriver
A screwdriver will come in handy when it’s time to unscrew the vents for cleaning. You may also need to use it to gain access to dirty return registers. Remember, it’s important to clean both the outside and the inside components. An expert will make sure that all parts of your vents are cleaned thoroughly as well, so that way you won’t have to worry about unscrewing and your vents when it’s time to clean.
Paper Towels
You probably don’t want to do more cleaning when you’re already finished cleaning. To make the most of the time, make sure that you have paper towels handy – they will be very useful. Use the paper towels to cover supply registers to prevent dust from shooting out while cleaning. A good idea is to dampen them, to make it easier for you to pick up loose dust that may have escaped during the cleaning process. If you prefer not to use paper towels, a cloth towel will do the trick as well. Again, just make sure to slightly dampen the towel in order to make the most of your cleaning.
How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?
Studies show that the majority of 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. It is nationally recommended that your air ducts are cleaned at least every three to five years, although this can vary from household to household. For example, of you or someone in your home suffers from allergies or respiratory problems such as asthma, it is best to clean your air ducts every two to five years, rather than every three to five years. Another instance in which homeowners will want to clean their air ducts more often is in situations in which their homes are located in humid climates. Humidity can cause your air ducts to become moldy, and this affects the air that you breathe. Hiring a professional to do the job will ensure that your air ducts are cleaned thoroughly, and correctly.
Looking To Really Improve Your Home’s Air Quality?
Simply call Rusk Heating & Cooling today to learn more about energy efficient,comfortable, environmentally friendly and low maintenance heating and cooling solutions for your home.