Having had & seen both the $99 rip-off contractors do it and the $300 HEPA. Certified contractors do it, I would caution you that what I’m suggesting for DIY is not for homes that never have had the ducts cleaned, as home-equipment can’t do the full job.
If your ducts have mold spores in them from mold in the basement, spend the money on the certified pros or you will further contaminate the entire house and that will be much more expensive to remediate, trust me. Mold poisoning is debilitating and can be deadly.
If you still want to try this DIY, you can buy a duct brush attachment for a strong shop vac (with extension) and remove (wash & dry) every supply & return grill. Put s HEPA bag in your shop vac so that it doesn’t spew the dust back into the room.
With a N95 mask or higher on, put a new MERV 12 or higher furnace filter in your furnace, turn off the HVAC and reach as far as tub can into the duct work and scrub the sides as you vac. Go slowly. Make sure the bristles are not clogged.
. Turn Off the circuit breakers for the HVAC when wiping down the air handling box and fan shrouds with Chlorox wipes, wearing rubber gloves. If you see signs of the plenum being cut open and duct taped, you’re fortunate.
Spray a lot of real Lysol into the air returns, after you turn the system back on and put it on fan only. Clean the shop vac outside and let the fan run inside for a hour.
If youve freestanding HEPA units, use them 24/7.
This will only get the system about 50% cleaner, because you can’t access all the ducts and don’t have the pro huge/giant duct-sucking exterior-located vacuum system. They also block off the other vents while sucking out & scrubbing one at a time.
I would change out the new MERV12 filter in one day and thereafter, once every 3-4 months, unless you have pets- then every 2 months in the heating months. It’s the cheapest and easiest thing to do for IAQ.
If anyone in the house is immune-compromised, very ill, elderly or a baby, pay the pros to do it and you’ll have a warranty. Look on line for the certification levels and ask the pros what are their credentials?
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Dryer Sheets are great dip them in warm water and wipe. They smell nice and keep the static down too.
Hire a professional. They have the tools necessary to do a good job.
Do you mean ducts?
Having had & seen both the $99 rip-off contractors do it and the $300 HEPA. Certified contractors do it, I would caution you that what I’m suggesting for DIY is not for homes that never have had the ducts cleaned, as home-equipment can’t do the full job.
If your ducts have mold spores in them from mold in the basement, spend the money on the certified pros or you will further contaminate the entire house and that will be much more expensive to remediate, trust me. Mold poisoning is debilitating and can be deadly.
If you still want to try this DIY, you can buy a duct brush attachment for a strong shop vac (with extension) and remove (wash & dry) every supply & return grill. Put s HEPA bag in your shop vac so that it doesn’t spew the dust back into the room.
With a N95 mask or higher on, put a new MERV 12 or higher furnace filter in your furnace, turn off the HVAC and reach as far as tub can into the duct work and scrub the sides as you vac. Go slowly. Make sure the bristles are not clogged.
. Turn Off the circuit breakers for the HVAC when wiping down the air handling box and fan shrouds with Chlorox wipes, wearing rubber gloves. If you see signs of the plenum being cut open and duct taped, you’re fortunate.
Spray a lot of real Lysol into the air returns, after you turn the system back on and put it on fan only. Clean the shop vac outside and let the fan run inside for a hour.
If youve freestanding HEPA units, use them 24/7.
This will only get the system about 50% cleaner, because you can’t access all the ducts and don’t have the pro huge/giant duct-sucking exterior-located vacuum system. They also block off the other vents while sucking out & scrubbing one at a time.
I would change out the new MERV12 filter in one day and thereafter, once every 3-4 months, unless you have pets- then every 2 months in the heating months. It’s the cheapest and easiest thing to do for IAQ.
If anyone in the house is immune-compromised, very ill, elderly or a baby, pay the pros to do it and you’ll have a warranty. Look on line for the certification levels and ask the pros what are their credentials?
Not necessary unless there is a specific reason to do so. See if these help.
https://www.todayshomeowner.com/hvac-duct-cleaning-scam-or-worth-it/
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/should-you-have-air-ducts-your-home-cleaned
Clean or change your filters once a month.