Air Ducts play a significant role in circulating conditioned air from your HVAC system into rooms, providing home comfort and energy efficiency. After a long hustle and bustle throughout the day, fresh conditioned air at home feels like heaven. But are you worried that the air around you in your home is contaminated?
At times, many dust particles, debris, and other contaminants accumulate in these ducts and act as barriers to fresh, cool air. These deteriorate the system’s efficiency and compel it to consume more energy with less output.
With just a few routine practices, you can eliminate the dust and contaminants from the ducts, help your system operate efficiently, and create a robust atmosphere at home. Take a tour of this guide to explore a step-by-step guide on how to maintain a sustainable air duct.
Turn Off Your HVAC System
The first step in maintaining a clean and efficient air duct is to turn off your HVAC system completely. In the middle of the cleaning process, the movement of any electrical components can be risky.
This step averts the flow of dust particles around the room while you are working and also helps you conserve energy during the process. More importantly, you can approach the cleaning with the peace of mind of not being at any risk, and feel safe, knowing you are creating a safer and pollutant-free environment at your home.
Inspect The Ducts
This step involves close monitoring of any signs of holes, molds, rust, and cracks that prevent the steady and smooth inflow of air into your rooms. Along with this, keep an eye out for shabby and dirty air ducts. If you notice a foul odor or a damp smell, it points to the presence of mold.
Frequent monitoring of your ducts allows timely solutions and increased efficiency. This step is crucial to decide whether your system needs proper air duct cleaning or just a simple touch-up.
Clean The Vents
A clean duct allows the HVAC system to filter the air efficiently and circulate a breeze of clean, cool air throughout. To ensure proper cleaning of the vents, you can use a microfibre cloth or a tool with soft bristles to dust off the accumulated allergens. If your vents appear to be extremely clogged with dirt, it is advisable to use a vacuum cleaner for intense cleaning.
This routine task keeps the dirt away from your home and ensures better airflow into your rooms.
Replace Air Filters
For an improved flow of air inside your rooms and to lower the energy usage of your HVAC systems, you should replace the air filters from time to time. A clogged filter restricts the airflow and stresses the system.
It is advisable to replace the filters once in three months, depending on factors like filter type, usage, and home environment. This routine task is an essential step for creating a healthier environment at home and for maintaining the sustainable use of your cooling system.
Seal Leaks
Leaks in the air ducts compromise your HVAC system’s effectiveness by allowing air to seep out.
Experts usually locate the seals using tools like smoke pens to detect the exact spots, especially in attics or crawl spaces. You can seal the gaps and drafts using mastic sealants or foil-backed tape. Advanced methods like using Aeroseal to release sealant vapors into the ductwork are also preferred.
Properly sealed ducts prevent any dust particles from entering the ductwork, ensure even temperature throughout the room, and maintain energy efficiency.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Making use of eco-friendly methods for cleaning the ductwork is a feasible and sustainable solution. Natural cleaning products like baking soda, white vinegar, citrus-based solutions, and steam cleaning are safer alternatives to chemical-based cleaning practices.
Natural cleaning practices are not only gentle on the environment, but also a safer option for your health. It leads to improved air quality with maximum breathability.
Consider Professional Cleaning
For a deep cleaning of your ductwork, or for ducts that have not been wiped down for years, expert service delivers the best results.
Professionals use a layered system of actions for cleaning. They make use of advanced tools and techniques to clean the hard-to-reach duct spaces for removing allergens, molds, and contaminated dust particles.
Getting your ducts professionally cleaned ensures the long-lasting efficiency of your system and improves the air quality in your rooms.
Maintain Humidity Levels
Managing the moisture levels during the cleaning process is essential for minimising the accumulation in the duct. Higher humidity leads to the growth of mold and mildew, whereas dry air can trigger discomfort in your skin and lungs.
You can make use of various ways to balance the indoor humidity, like a dehumidifier, and proper ventilation. A humidity range of 30%-50% is ideal for your indoor space.
Regulated humidity keeps your cooling system efficient and supports the air quality in your room, and minimizes health concerns.
Check Insulation
During the cleaning process of ducts, it is important to assess the insulation for any impairment, like tears, deformation, and spotting. It is essential in maintaining the health and effectiveness of your HVAC systems.
Defective insulation leads the conditioned air to escape and makes your unit work harder and use energy excessively. Replacing the insulation promotes consistent air, energy efficiency, and reduced moisture levels in your home.
Complete Your Air Duct Maintenance Journey for a Healthier Home
Cleaning your ductwork does not sound as fascinating as renovating your house, but the difference it creates in your day-to-day life is exceptional.
During your routine practices of home upkeep, giving regular attention to duct cleaning can improve the indoor air quality, cut down the allergens, and save you money by making your system energy efficient.
After learning about the comprehensive guide on cleaning the ductwork in this blog, I hope you will not worry about your inefficient HVAC system anymore. Implement these steps regularly for a healthier indoor environment.
