How to clean heating ducts/vents/electric furnace?

Hi Sharon I would take every vent out and clean them thoroughly. I've seen people toss those vents into their dishwashers or just thoroughly hand wash with hot water and dish soap. As for the filters I would replace every one of them or, you could, also wash them but don't install them back until they're thoroughly dried out. The ducts you can vacuum all of them out as far as you can reach with a regular vacuum or shop vac.

How to Clean Air Vents In Your House

https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/cleaning-organizing/how-to-clean-air-vents-in-your-house.htm

Here is more info on cleaning up after a smoker, Sharon.

https://www.softscrub.com/your-house-your-home/how-clean-heating-and-air-conditioning-ducts-yourself/

https://smokefreehouse.com/eliminate-cigarette-smoke-odor-tar/hvac-cleaning/

I had them professionally cleaned. It was worth the money to me.

What we did was remove the vent covers and vacuum the ducts as far as possible, also washed and rinsed the vent covers and let them air dry in bright sun. The furnace filter is the washable kind cut to fit the furnace area, that got washed and dried. Or if you have the regular store bought disposable ones, replace them.

Here's an interesting link on whether or not your air ducts need cleaning:

https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/cleaning/a31115125/how-to-clean-air-ducts-yourself/

I would definitely vacuum, scrub and replace all the filters. Would your landlord lend a hand? Good luck and stay safe!

Hi Sharon. My husband worked with HVAC before retirement. So I asked for his advice on this job. He recommends that you replace all filters with new ones. Clean the vents with a solution of warm water, a splash of vinegar (to kill any bacteria), and a squirt of Dawn dish soap (to remove grease and grime from the smoker). You can clean the ducts as far as your vacuum will reach. Anything past that point should be cleaned by a pro. I hope he was able to help you. Good luck Sharon.

Don't forget the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. Remove the outside covers and inside filters (if there are any) and scrub those clean, then vacuum inside the housings before reinstalling the covers.

Hi Sharon, sorry you are dealing with the nasty smell. Be sure to change the filter and wash the registers. Hope this helps you. Good luck.

www.hunker.com › ... › Ventilation

Whether from heavy indoor cigarette smoke or smoke damage from a house fire, ... Soak the vent covers in a solution of warm water and bleach overnight. ... Turn the air conditioner or heater fan on to circulate the air, and let it run for 24 hours.

Ozone generator. Read the instructions VERY carefully. No pets or people anywhere inside or near a place being treated during or up to 30 minutes to 1 hour after treatment. Very effective. Time consuming if you do room by room, but effective and worth the cost ranging from $120-$200. I’d look on Amazon, that’s where I purchased mine.