Tips On How To Clean Your Southern
Oklahoma Air Conditioning Vents
Learn The Importance Of Regular AC Home Maintenance
Besides getting regular air conditioning maintenance checkups by a professional HVAC company each year, it’s also important to regularly clean your Southern Oklahoma air vents to ensure maximum output. AC vents take very little time to clean proper care can yield noticeably positive results.
Cleaning your air conditioning vents keeps your AC unit working smoothly and circulating air as it should. By doing this simple act once or twice a year, you’ll give your AC unit better efficiency, breathe cleaner air, and see lower utility bills.
Regular cleanings also lower the safety risk in your home. Depending on how many vents you have in your home, the task can be a little time-consuming, but it’s well worth the effort!
Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Gather The Proper Tools
- Screwdriver (either flathead or Philips, depending on your specific vent plate screws.)
- Vacuum Cleaner with extension hose (a heavy-duty vacuum is best)
- Scrub Brush
- Paper towels
Take Safety Precautions
It’s recommended you wear plastic gloves and a face mask or respirator before starting. Gloves will keep you safe from hazardous skin contact, while a face mask prevents you from breathing in dust and debris. It’s also not a bad idea to wear safety goggles to avoid any debris getting into your eyes.
You can typically find all of this protective gear at home improvement stores and even some big box stores like Wal-Mart or Target.
Steps To Cleaning
- Turn off your HVAC system safety – this can be done by finding the proper flip switch in your main electrical box.
- Unscrew the vent cover with the screwdriver.
- If there’s a lot of dust, shake it loose from the vent cover.
- Vacuum up loose dust and any other dust you can from the cover and inside of the air duct as much as possible. There may be mold or mildew inside the duct, so be cautious of inhalation.
- Scrub the vent cover clean of any extra dust or debris. (A scrub brush removes any smaller, harder-to-reach debris pieces hiding between the vent gills.)
- Wipe down the vent cover and inside the air duct around the opening.
- Place the air vent cover back over the opening and screw it on.
What About Air Filters?
If you’re cleaning an air conditioning vent that has an air filter, it’s best to replace the filter while you’re cleaning the vent. Depending on the size of the filter, you should change out air filters every three to six months. Smaller filters need to be replaced more frequently, while larger ones need to be replaced a little less often.
When purchasing a filter, be sure to know what size you need and which kind you want, as there are various options. Depending on your household’s needs, you might want a different filter, such as HEPA, activated carbon, electrostatic, and pleated.
Certain filters also help minimize the presence of different allergens, micro-particles, pet dander, and other microscopic annoyances in your interior air.
Should You Be Concerned With Air Ducts?
Regular air duct cleaning is highly recommended to see the best results from your air conditioner. Like clean AC vents, clean air ducts help circulate air more efficiently throughout your house, leading to better comfort.
Frequent air duct cleanings can also help free your air of unwanted allergens and even cigarette smoke. Fresher air is essential for respiratory health and the general safety of your household.
Air duct maintenance is also vital to ensuring ducts are properly sealed and installed. Any breaks or leaks in your ducts will let air seep out, leading to warmer homes and higher energy bills.
How Else Can You Get The Best Indoor Air Quality?
Besides getting regular air duct cleaning and performing air vent cleanings, many products are available to help improve the air quality in your home. These include Polarized-Media Air Cleaners, UVC Systems, UVV Systems, and Dual Remote UVC Systems.
Hiring a professional who can install these products gives you and your family better overall health. Eliminating air pollutants helps alleviate the possibility of sicknesses like hay fever, sinusitis, and chronic bronchitis.
Breathing clean air allows you better cognitive health and works overall to give you a better quality of life in your home environment.
Choose A Reliable Southern Oklahoma HVAC Company
For Your Air Conditioning Maintenance
Any bit of love and attention you give your air conditioner, the better, but it’s also essential to bring in the Southern Oklahoma professionals. At Robinson Air and HVAC, we’re ready to assist you with all your air conditioning needs, from new unit installation to regular maintenance.
We even clean air ducts! Join our VIP Comfort Club to receive regular air conditioning inspections and tune-ups!
Contact us today for a free estimate! We’re here 24/7!