How to Clean Furnaces & Air Ducts
A thorough air duct cleaning calls for cleaning all return-air grilles, the air ducts themselves and the inside of the furnace. It's very important that you keep both your furnace and air ducts in excellent condition because they can severely affect the air quality in your home. No one wants dust and allergens being blown through the house, especially if it can be avoided. Here are some simple steps that will detail how to clean your air ducts and furnace. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Gloves
- Scrubbing brush
- Rag
- Vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
Instructions
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1
Remove the air duct covers or return-air grill plates with your screwdriver and put on your gloves.
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2
Clean the walls inside the air duct, whether they have filters or not. If your walls are filter-less, use your rag to wipe the walls clean of dust and dirt. If your air duct walls have filters, use the scrubbing brush to gently remove the dirt.
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3
Clean as far down into the air duct as you can, using the hose attachment of your vacuum cleaner. Suck up any dust or debris that may be inside. You won't be able to reach all the way into the duct using the vacuum cleaner, but go as far back as you can.
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4
Vacuum up any debris that has accumulated around the furnace, making sure to brush clean any filters that may be located inside
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5
Clean the air conditioning pump that usually coils inside of the furnace by vacuuming it and wiping it clean with your rag.
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6
Place the air duct cover or return-air grill plates back on by screwing them into place and then vacuum the outside of them to ensure that you get any drifting dust particles.
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Tips & Warnings
You should consider running a disinfectant through the air duct system to ensure all the bacteria, mold and dust mites are destroyed. This is something professionals do when cleaning air ducts. If you are concerned that most of the dust and debris being blown into your home is located in an area of the air duct you can't reach with your vacuum, you may want to consider calling in professionals to do the job.
Never use your vacuum cleaner to clean the walls of your air duct, especially if it's covered with filters. The sucking force of the vacuum can ruin the filters.
