Living in Peace and Wisdom on our Planet

If you are running a climate control system in your home, you must learn how to clean your central air vents, as doing it yourself will save you a lot of money. In addition, letting your vents sit there dirty can make your home unsafe, as it is possible for accumulated dust to catch on fire.

In addition, you will find that the dirt and mold from your air vents will be blown through the vents and into your home, which can cause additional health problems. If you have children or elderly people living with you, the respiratory problems that arise can be deadly, so taking the time to clean your central air vents should be a top priority for any homeowner.

Equipment
You will begin by ensuring that you have the right equipment around the house. When you go to the store, pick up a facemask, as this will protect your face from dust and mold. Even if you cannot see any mold around the vent, it could still be there. If you inhale this mold, it could lead to health complications for years to come, so it is best to use caution before you begin this project.

You will also need a screwdriver, a bucket, some cloths, tape, a vacuum with an attachment that will reach into the vent, some liquid soap and some bleach. All of these items will ensure that you get your air vents cleaned thoroughly, as you would not want to go through with all of the work, only to have you bring in a professional later on.

Opening the Vent
You will begin by using the screwdriver to take the cover off the vent. This is relatively easy, as the vent will pop right off once you have removed the screws. Make sure that you put the screws in a safe place, so that you will have them when you need to reattach the vent cover. At this point, you will want to wash the covers, as they will probably have dust and mold on them.

Soak these covers in a bucket of warm water and soap. If you have a disinfecting soap, you should definitely use it, as there could be bacteria growing that you need to kill. If you see mold on the cover, add some bleach to the water, as this will help kill everything that is growing.

Filters
If your central air system has filters inside of the ducts, you will need to remove them as well. Once they have been removed, you can clean the area around the vent opening thoroughly. This is important because this is the last line of defense before the air is released into your home, so you want this area to be as clean as possible. This area can be difficult to vacuum, especially if there is a lot of buildup, so cleaning it beforehand is an absolute must, as it will help you to improve the area.

Vacuum
Once you have cleaned everything with a cloth, you can begin vacuuming the inside of the ducts. Begin by taping the attachment to the vacuum, just to prevent it from falling off. If you lose the attachment down the vent, it will be almost impossible to retrieve. Reach as far as you can down the vent with the vacuum, as this will provide a deep clean. If you have an attachment with a brush, use it to scrub deep inside your central air vents, as there will be a lot of buildup all the way through.

Reattach Vent Covers
You can now reattach your vent covers with the screwdriver, which you will do in the same way that you detached them. Make sure that you complete this entire process every year, as this will prevent dirt and mold from building up in your central air vents. Many people run into problems when they forget to clean their vents for a year, as they can often become too dirty for you to clean on your own. An even better strategy is to clean your vents before the first time you turn your air conditioner on every year. That way, all of the dirt and dust that has accumulated over the last few months will be gone before you use the system.

Warning
If you find that you have mold present every year, it could be the sign of a larger problems. In these cases, it is recommended that you call a professional to do a thorough clean, as well as a possible repair. You will want to begin by having your air conditioner services, which will ensure that nothing else is significantly wrong with the system. The repair person that can clean the ducts out using specially-designed equipment, which can save your ducts. If that does not work, you might need to have your ducts replaced, since recurring mold is a major problem that can cause health issues for your family.

Conclusion
As you can see, it is possible to clean your central air vents quickly and easily, as long as you know what you are doing. Make sure that you do a good job once a year, as it can prevent you from having to spend thousands of dollars replacing your air ducts. Make sure that you repeat this process on all of your vents, as this will ensure that your entire system remains clean throughout the summer months.

Bio: Hasic M is writing for AirPurifierWiz.com where he shares honest air purifier reviews and ratings.