How To Clean Your Air Conditioning Vents

It is normal for air vents to collect a lot of dust, dirt, and debris, which might affect the performance and longevity of your air conditioner. However, there is nothing to worry about. They get dirty surprisingly quickly, but that does not mean that you have to rush out to buy new AC vents. Cleaning them with the help of this quick guide will do the job and help you stop it from negatively impacting your indoor air quality.

Things You Will Need To Clean Air Conditioning Vents:

• Screwdriver
  The type of screwdriver would depend on your vents. However, in most cases, a standard screwdriver does the job.
• Gloves
  Exposing your skin to chemicals like detergents is just a bad idea. These chemicals can strip away your skin's oil barrier and can cause problems like skin rashes.
• Vacuum Cleaner
  A regular vacuum cleaner would be adequate for the job if it has a long hose to reach all of the nooks and crannies. If you do not have a vacuum cleaner, you can rent one from a local home improvement store.
• Dish Soap
  Not using dish soap would take twice the time or even longer. Use this to remove tough stains easily.
• Scrubbing Brush
  Using this would not only make the task more convenient but also efficient. A long-handled brush will be a good pick!
• Water Bucket
  A 26 - 75 litre bucket would be sufficient for this. Just make sure that your air conditioning vents fit in.
• Cleaning Cloth
  A soft and strong cotton cleaning cloth that is used for general purpose wiping and cleaning would do great.

Steps To Clean Your Air Conditioner Vents

1- Turn The Power Off

Safety is a priority! Before cleaning anything, make sure to turn your HVAC system off to avoid short-circuiting.

2- Remove Your AC’s Vents

While some AC vents can be easily pulled off, many require a screwdriver. If that is the case with you, unscrew the AC vents and put them aside.

3- Look For Dirty Air Filters

If your system has permanent filters and they are dirty, just clean them with running water and leave them to air dry completely before reinstalling. However, if it has disposable filters and needs a replacement, you can order new ones for an online HVAC store to ensure perfect air quality.

4- Use Your Scrubbing Brush & Vacuum To Clean The Ducts

After you have taken down the vents, take your long scrubbing brush to reach deep into the ducts and clean them. Doing so is important as it is very likely that your AC ducts are dirty and may have mold and mildew that can compromise your air quality and health. Make sure to clean along the air duct walls and reach as far as you can go. Once you are done loosening all the dirty stuff, use your vacuum cleaner with a long hose to reach all nooks and crannies to suck up the dust and dirt.

5- Dust Off Your Vents

Now it's time you clean the AC vents. Take your scrubbing brush and brush the vents to get rid of all the dirt and dust. Make sure you use a mask to avoid any allergic reaction because of the dust.

6- Prepare Water For Washing

Use a water bucket to take some warm water (not essential, but recommended), and mix in some dish soap. You need to make lather by stirring to ensure the water is sufficiently soaped.

7- Wash Your Vents

Soak your vents in the soapy water bucket for at least 10 minutes. This will loosen any grease or gunk on the vents to avoid the accumulation of dust afterward. After this, wash them with clean water. But avoid leaving them in for any longer than this as vents made of iron or non-stainless steel can become rusty.

8- Dry Your Vents

This is where your cleaning cloth would come in handy. Use this to wipe off all the water residue from the vents. Although slightly wet vents won’t cause any issues to your HVAC system, yet it is advisable to get them as dry as possible.

9- Put Them Back On

Unless you have ceiling vents, putting your vents on should be as simple as taking them off.

After removing the vents, if you find them covered in rust, use a rust remover to get rid of it. Repaint the vents before placing them back on the ceiling or floor.

If you notice that your AC ducts have a heavy amount of buildup, one of our experts at ProServices Supply would be happy to help you out.

Still have any questions? Contact us today at (877) 776 - 8228 or check out our website to speak to one of our qualified technicians today.