If you’ve left them neglected, your HVAC air vents might look a lot like your dryer’s lint screen. Thick accumulations of dirt, dust, pet dander and other particulates can quickly build up on these components. Worse still, these contaminants may eventually get blown off by your HVAC system’s fan and circulate throughout your indoor air. Fortunately, it’s easy to clean the HVAC air vents in your Gonzales, Texas home. Read on to find out how.
1. Shut Your HVAC System Off and Gather Your Supplies
Before performing any work on your HVAC system, be sure to shut your heating and cooling equipment completely off. You can do so at the thermostat or at the circuit breaker box. Take note of the location of all HVAC air vents throughout your home so that none are missed. Next, gather your supplies. You’ll need a:
- Vacuum cleaner with hose attachments
- Pair of rubber or vinyl gloves
- Bucket filled with water
- Microfiber cloth
- Towel or drop cloth
- Multi-head screwdriver
Add a drop or two of dish soap to your bucket to create a warm, soapy solution. To protect your carpeting or other flooring, you can also lay a towel or drop cloth down.
2. Use Your Vacuum Cleaner’s Hose Attachment to Suction Up Loose Grime
If your HVAC air vents are excessively dirty, use your vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment to capture loose dust and grime. Clean the exterior of each vent grille thoroughly before attempting to remove it. This will help keep dust from being disturbed and released into the indoor air. It will also keep accumulated debris from being forced back into your ducting.
3. Remove the Vent Grilles
After you’ve finished removing buildup with your vacuum cleaner, wet your microfiber cloth in your bucket, wring it out thoroughly, and use it to wipe down the vent, the wall around the vent, and any hardware holding the vent in place. Next, unscrew the vent grille and remove it. Wipe it clean using your microfiber cloth and the soapy water in your bucket. If necessary, you can also use a soft-bristled brush to eliminate stubborn grime. When finished, let the vent cover air-dry on your towel or drop cloth before screwing it back on. Repeat this process at all vents throughout your home.
4. Stay on Top of Air Filter Replacements
HVAC air filters should be checked each month and changed if they’re dirty or at least every three months. Factors such as owning indoor pets, living near open construction areas or a busy freeway, or other scenarios may require changing them more often. If your HVAC vent grilles are constantly coated in dirt, lint or other elements, you may even want to upgrade to a higher rated filter. An HVAC air filter with a higher maximum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating help remove more contaminants from conditioned air before it’s pushed through your home’s duct work.
5. Take Steps to Boost Your Indoor Air Quality
You should clean your HVAC air vents at least twice annually. If you anyone in your household suffers from a chronic respiratory illness, you may want to clean them more often. Aligning your vent cleaning schedule with your filter change schedule will help keep large accumulations of debris from ever developing.
You may take other measures to improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) also. In addition to changing your HVAC air filters once every one to three months and cleaning your air vents, you might:
- Add turf or another ground covering to any areas not landscaped on your property
- Seal up air leaks at all windows and doors
- Clean your range hood vents and bathroom exhaust fans
- Keep your dryer vent and hose clean from lint build up
- Consider an IAQ product like REME HALO® and MicroPure® Total Home Active Air Purifier
GVEC sells and installs both REME HALO and MicroPure systems. These systems use UV light and an ionization process to help eliminate mold, mildew, dust, dander, pollen and other aggravators from the air and even on surfaces.
We help residents of Gonzales, Texas improve their indoor air quality and enjoy optimum levels of home comfort. In addition to offering AC/heating and IAQ products and services, we provide home energy audits and HVAC maintenance plans. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at GVEC Air Conditioning & Heating today.