Cleaning your air ducts and registers is one of the quickest and most straightforward ways to improve airflow in your home. It is also a great way to ensure that air flowing into your home is clean and doesn't have a bad odor. If you don't clean your ducts and replace your furnace filter on a regular basis, you will definitely start to notice a strange odor. Also, odorless mold can trigger allergic reactions and other serious health issues. So cleaning your ducts on a regular basis is very important. This article explains the best tools and techniques for DIY duct and register cleaning.

Removing and Cleaning the Air Registers

First of all, you need to remove the registers from the walk. Most registers are attached to the wall with just a couple of flat head screws. Use a handheld screwdriver instead of a cordless power drill, so you don't chip the paint off of the screw head. If you remove all the registers off the wall at once, you can quickly clean them together in your sink with dishwashing soap. However, you shouldn't do this if you happen to have wooden air registers. If you do have wood registers, just wipe them them down with a damp rag. Make sure you thoroughly clean in between each individual vent cover on both sides of the register.

Cleaning the Ducts

You can find a simple duct-cleaning attachment that will fit on the end of most telescoping poles. If you do have a telescoping painter's pole, this should work just fine. The pole should have the same type of universal screw-on attachment. You'll also need a flashlight or work light to see deep inside the duct system. Before you start to clean, you should search for any black mold build-up along the side walls of the ducks. Black mold in your ducts is a serious problem, and you should call a mold expert immediately if you notice it.

Otherwise, you should soak the cleaning attachment in a little bit of all-purpose, disinfectant cleaner. Then, you can swab deep into the ducts, hitting all of the walls. When you pull the cleaning device back, take a look at the sponge to see if there is any mold that you might not have been able to see at first.

Whether you are cleaning your ducts for airflow or cleanliness, it is an important job that you should not put aside. For professional help, contact a company such as Dick  Kearsley Service Center.