Ventilation And Air Conditioning Clean Up: A Guide For Homeowners

A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system has always been a necessity for houses. To keep them well-maintained, doing regular clean-ups is necessary. Without proper cleaning, the HVAC system could end up with dirty filters and coils. When this happens, the home’s air quality and overall atmosphere are affected.  

To avoid HVAC problems from happening, homeowners need to step up their cleaning. Suppose your ventilation and air conditioning have dirty air filters and clogged vents. In those cases, you’d need to clean them immediately and accordingly. 

Here’s a simple guide to help you on how to clean your HVAC properly. Read on! 

Tools For a Ventilation and Air Conditioning Clean-Up 

Ventilation and air conditioning clean-up need a set of appropriate tools and careful planning. This way, the desired results are attained in the shortest possible time. If you want to start cleaning up your HVAC system, here’s a shortlist of tools that you could use: 

• Vacuum 
• Different types and sizes of power brushes 
• Rags or paper towels 
• Screwdriver (flat and Phillips) 
• Blowguns 
• Fogger 
• Handheld mirror 

If you’re in Northern Virginia and you want to know more about the tools and processes, you may ask a professional HVAC installations and repair provider, such as DM Select Services Great Falls, to gain more knowledge regarding ventilation and air conditioning clean-up. 

How It Works 

1. Start with The Supply Registers 

Cover the registers using a rag or paper towel to prevent dust from circulating in the home interior. In addition, the cleaners could focus more on the cleaning process.  

2. Turn on The Fan 

Switch off the heating function first. Then, turn on the fan to blow the dirt and cobwebs out of the ducts. It’ll break down the accumulated dirt in the duct.  

3. Vacuum the Supply Air Registers 

Use a vacuum to suck the dirt out of the registers. For hard-to-reach areas, you may need a longer hose or use brushes with long durable handles to scrape dirt in the interior sides of the ducts.  

4. Clean the Return Air Registers 

Unscrew the locks of the return air register. Then remove the registers. After this, brush the areas that surround where the register is placed. Generally, to reach the deep parts of the duct, homeowners use brushes with long or expendable handles. If you want to have a good look at the unseen areas, you may use a handheld mirror to view the part that really needs super cleaning. 

5. Turn Off the Power Supply 

To avoid electric shock, turn off the power source. In the same way, in most HVAC models, the fan will also shut off.  

6. Remove the Duct Covers 

Unscrew the fasteners of the duct covers. They use a paper towel or rag to clean the gratings. If there’s a grime buildup, you can wash it off using a soap and water solution. 

7. Re-Vacuum The Ducts 

Attach a hose and vacuum the deep spaces of the air ducts. Use the brush with long handles to have a second sweep to the hard-to-reach areas. 

When the accumulation of dust and debris breaks down, use the vacuum again. You may consider using a high-powered blowgun to detach the dirt and debris for the heavily attached dirt. 

8. Clean the Blower 

Remove the panels of the blower compartment. Use the power brush to remove the grime and dirt inside the case. In doing so, gently brush the fans and their nearby parts as they might get damaged, resulting in more complicated blower troubles. 

Be reminded that this is one of the essential components of an air conditioner. Hence, you should clean it carefully. 

9. Replace the Filter 

As part of the ventilation and air conditioning clean-up, you should change the filter, especially if it’s clogged. In replacing the old filter, ensure that you’d be installing the type according to its manual. If you’re not sure what to install, you may refer to professional HVAC installers or someone who has done the same before. 

10. Run A Post-Cleaning Checklist 

To maximize the cleaning, you may look into the following parts and clean them sparingly if dirt and cobwebs are found on them: 

• Access Doors 
• Plenums 
• Cooling Components 
• Heating Components 

11. Deodorize the Ducts 

After cleaning, you may deodorize the ducts and fans using a fogger. As an alternative or just to complement your efforts, you may use a baking soda and water solution for the plastic parts to get rid of unwanted odors. 

DIY Or Professional Ventilation and Air Conditioning Clean Up 

Cleaning a home’s HVAC system may require more than the usual sweeping and dusting. In other words, it requires a bit of skill to make the cleaning successful. Aside from this, HVAC clean-up also needs some tools. For many homeowners, this could be challenging. Yet, they could develop their skills with the help of tutorial videos from the pros and by constant practice.  

On the other hand, professional HVAC cleaners have the skills and tools to do the HVAC clean-up. This way, cleaning the ducts and coils will take a shorter time than DIY cleaning. The pros can also provide other services aside from cleaning. Yet, this comes with a price.  

Suppose you’re torn between choosing between DIY or professional HVAC clean-up. In that case, you may consider assessing your skills. Do you know the basics of using the tools? Is your knowledge of the parts of the HVAC is enough to work on it? Do you have the tools necessary for cleaning?

If your answer is yes, then doing the cleaning on your own could be a viable option. On the contrary, if your answer is no, start contacting an HVAC repair professional that could get the job done. 

Wrapping Up 

Homeowners install HVAC systems to live more comfortably. Yet, to maintain the comfort and the air quality that homeowners enjoy, maintenance is vital. To retain the quality of your HVAC system, homeowners need to understand first that many activities are necessary. One of these is proper and scheduled cleaning.  

If you’re planning to have a ventilation and air conditioning clean-up, you may consider doing it yourself. The points you’ve gained in this article could help you in your cleaning process. If you lack the skills and tools needed, you could just call a pro to clean the HVAC. Either way, your goal is the same: have a clean and well-maintained system.