How to Clean Air Ducts Yourself

Did you know that, on average, a household in Australia produces around 40 tonnes of dust every year? Most of this dust gets stuck and lodged in your air ducts and HVAC ( heating, ventilation and air conditioning) vents. These microscopic airborne particles are less than 2.5 to 10 microns in size and can thus get lodged in your bloodstream when inhaled. This can cause a lot of health hazards as well as allergies like asthma. These microscopic dust particles also affect Australia’s national air quality standards, called the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure. Therefore you must clean your air ducts and vents at least during the spring and summer seasons when there are a lot of dust particles around. You can also get a more thorough cleaning done once or twice a year by hiring professional bond cleaners in Townsville. Here are the different air ducts you must clean and how you can do it on your own:

Different Air Ducts

There are two types of ducts in your home, a return duct and a supply duct.

A return duct: This duct brings air from your house into the HVAC system. You can identify this duct quickly because it will stick when you place paper towels on it.

A supply duct: This blows hot or cold air into your home, depending on whether it is a heater or air conditioner. When you place paper towels on these supply air ducts, they will not stick.

Why Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?

If you neglect your air ducts, the dust, dirt, debris, pet hair, pollen and mould from your hair can get lodged in them. Thus, when you run your HVAC system, all these harmful pollutants and odours will circulate back into your home and environment and spoil your health. Thus, it is necessary to keep cleaning your air ducts to get rid of all these pollutants in your home and improve your indoor air quality. If you hire quality bond cleaners in Townsville, they will do a deep cleaning and get rid of dust particles and mould lodged deep in your system. This will make it easier for you to clean and maintain these air ducts once in a while to eliminate the loose dirt.

Gather Your Supplies

Now that it is time to start cleaning your air ducts, you must gather your supplies first. Here is a list of the things you will need:

Vacuum with a short nozzle and hose

Air filter

Microfiber cloth

Paper towels

Vinegar

Large toilet brush

Screwdriver

Dish soap

Water

How To Clean Your Air Ducts

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to clean your air ducts on your own:

You should start by removing all your duct covers and cleaning them. You should use a screwdriver to loosen the cover if your duct covers are screwed on. Most floor ducts will come off quickly if you lift them.

Use a large toilet brush and dip it in dish soap and water to scrub the covers. Make sure you are not too rough or will damage the surface.

If you have plastic air ducts and want to whiten them, quality bond cleaners in Townsville recommend that you clean them with dish soap and water. Then put them on a baking sheet, sprinkle hydrogen peroxide, and let them dry for an hour.

After an hour, wash them with dish soap and water, then let them air dry.

While the covers are drying, you should clean the insides of your duct.

It is an excellent practice to place paper towels on each duct to close them while you clean other openings so that the dirt doesn’t come out of these vents.

Next, take your large toilet brush, push it inside, and tap the sides to loosen all the embedded dirt and dust on the sides of your air ducts.

Once all the dirt has come off from the sides, use a vacuum with a hose and short nozzle to suck up all the dust from inside your vents.

Close each vent cover after you are done so the dust doesn’t return.

You should then spray eco-friendly products like white vinegar on a microfiber cloth or paper towel and wipe the sides of all your vents. This will get rid of stubborn dirt as well as keep the sides clean.

Now, run your air filter for 30 mins to collect any dust in your ducts. Then replace this air filter with a new one and screw the covers back on so you can breathe clean and fresh air.

A clean filter will also remove any bad odours in your environment and make your home smell good.

Conclusion

Thus, you can see why it is essential to clean your air ducts from time to time so that you can breathe good air in your home. Following the above step-by-step guide and cleaning your air ducts will enjoy the fresh air. If you find mould or stubborn dust that won’t come, you can always hire expert cleaners who offer bond cleaning Townsville to help you out in this regard.