Having clean air ducts and dryer vents in your household is essential to maintain the ideal air quality and keep your home safe as well.
It’s necessary to keep the air ducts free of dust, debris, and other air pollutants such as molds or vermin droppings. On the other hand, keeping the dryer vent clear of lint can help save energy and prevent fires.
There are some air duct cleaning & dryer vent cleaning and maintenance steps you can do on your own, depending on your knowledge and skill level. However, there are cases where you’ll need to hire expert cleaners.
This way, you can ensure the ducts and vents will be thoroughly cleaned without incurring damage. For instance, you can book the professional services of companies that offer air vent cleaning & dryer vent cleaning in Brookfield, WI.
If you’d like some tips and tricks for cleaning the air ducts and dryer vents in your home, here are a few suggestions you may find helpful:
Air Duct Cleaning
It’s generally recommended to hire professionals for air duct cleaning. This task requires special equipment and skills to ensure all the parts are cleared of harmful pollutants.
There’s also a risk of damaging the air duct and its components if they’re not detached and reassembled correctly.
Before hiring a professional cleaner, do an inspection to identify the issues that need to be addressed with regards to the air ducts:
1. Check for Clogging and Debris
One of the leading causes of poor air quality and ventilation is having a clogged air duct. It could cause dirt and other pollutants to circulate in the house, which may cause irritation and breathing problems for the occupants.
So, it’s best to have the air duct cleared of dirt and debris regularly.
It’s not enough to clean the surface of your air duct. Extensive cleaning is usually required to improve the air quality in your home.
Given this, it’s essential to take note of any clogging or debris and inform the professional cleaners about it.
2. Assess for Signs of Mold
Before hiring expert cleaners, you’ll need to identify any signs of mold within or around the air duct area. Here are some of the common signs:
- Musty smell around the house
- The home occupants experience coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose that quickly disappear when they leave the house.
- Black or white debris buildup around the ducts
Some molds can be toxic and may cause serious respiratory problems if not removed promptly. This is why it’s best to consult a professional to address mold problems immediately.
3. Inspect for Possible Infestation
Air ducts can also attract rodents, and a vermin-infested air duct can cause serious health problems if not resolved right away. Rodents can build a nest in the air duct, polluting the air with urine and fecal matter.
In this case, you’d better ask the professional cleaner to add protective features to the air duct to prevent rodents from entering.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
The dryer vent needs to be cleaned at least once every six months for households with more than four occupants and annually for smaller families.
You can clean the interior vent on your own, provided you have the right tools and equipment.
Also, you’ll need to ensure the dryer and the duct will be disconnected and reassembled correctly to avoid damage. However, you may need to hire professional services for the exterior vent, particularly if it’s situated in a hard-to-reach area.
Here are some tips on how to maintain the cleanliness and functionality of your dryer vent:
4. Clean the Lint Screen
Before placing a load of clothes in the dryer, clear the filter of any particles that may cause buildup. In the long run, you’ll be able to protect your dryer vent from clogging and prevent damage or fire hazards as well.
5. Remove Debris on The Lint Trap
The lint trap is where the filter is attached, and this dryer component needs to be cleaned from time to time. To do this, you can use a small brush to remove the leftover lint.
This way, you can prevent buildup that may eventually go to the vent if not removed promptly.
6. Clean the Vent Hose and Pipe
You can clean the exterior parts of the dryer vent using a vacuum cleaner with the hose attachment. To do this, you must first unplug the dryer or turn off the gas valve and detach the duct from behind the machine.
After cleaning the vent’s surface, you can clean the inner portions using a long rod with a brush attached to the end. This can help you clear the lint in the interior with more ease and efficiency.
Conclusion
Proper air duct cleaning & dryer vent cleaning should be conducted periodically to ensure your home’s cleanliness, comfortability, and safety.
The air duct and dryer vent are essential features in your home, and it’s crucial to keep them functional and protect them from damage.
Thus, it would be helpful to inspect both from time to time and see if any issues need to be addressed.
