How to Clean a Soft Flexibility Air Conditioning Duct
Soft flexible ducts save on material and labor costs when installed as part of a home HVAC system. They are typically found in the last few feet between your supply air ducts and your supply air registers. They allow you to make gentle twists and turns in the supply air duct without the need for extra elbows and short pieces of duct. But the added benefit comes a with few drawbacks: One of these drawbacks is that flexible ducts tend to trap excessive dirt and dust due to their non-smooth interior. This dirt and dust will need to be cleaned out periodically to maintain the efficiency of your HVAC system. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Use a wire cutter and snip the plastic panduit strap on each end of the soft flexible duct. Each end will have one strap around the outer insulation jacket and one strap around the inner jacket.
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2
Pull the flexible duct gently off the hard duct to prevent dust and dirt from spilling out. Keep it horizontal, if possible, to ensure the contents stay inside.
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3
Take the flexible duct outside and shake it out. Wipe down the interior of the flexible duct with a clean rag. Make sure you get in-between all the reinforcement wires.
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4
Reconnect the flexible duct to the hard ducts. Slide the inner jacket two inches over the hard duct. Wrap a panduit strap around the inner jacket (where it overlaps the hard duct) and pull it tight. Slide your panduit gun over the panduit strap and squeeze the handles to secure the strap tight to the duct.
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5
Slide the outer insulation jacket over the duct. Pull it just past the panduit strap that secures the inner jacket. Wrap a panduit strap around the outer jacket and pull it tight. Tighten this strap with your panduit gun.
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6
Connect the other end of the flexible duct to the other hard duct by following steps 4 and 5 above.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear gloves when working on and near hard sheet metal ducts. The edges are sharp and will cut your bare skin.
