Air Conditioner Grate covers

Out of sight, out of mind is how many people treat their air ducts and and grates covering the vents - and I used to be guilty of that, too.

I was in the habit of forgetting (or ignoring) my air ducts, until I noticed my two little darling girls hovering over the vent enjoying a game of "let's drop things in the air duct".

As I checked to inspect what they were dropping down the vent, I was unpleasantly surprised to see a gross little collection of dirt, dust, scraps or paper, bobby pins, barrettes and who knows what else that had been quietly growing inside the vent since the house was originally built.

Now that I knew about it, I couldn't ignore the dirt, dust and grime any longer. I have always liked taking things apart anyway, so I pulled out my cleaning supplies and trusty tools.

Cleaning inside the air duct isn't hard, and "dust bunnies" are less likely to build up on the outside of the intake vents because even a small amount of grime makes it more likely that dust will catch on the edges of the vents.

If you begin to see the tell-tale signs of a dirty air ducts or vents, simply follow my tips and clean it up fast.

You'll breathe easier knowing that your air ducts are clean. I know I did!

Watch Out For Scams

You've probably seen advertisements for professional air duct cleaning services. I know I've received a ton of flyers advertising cleaning for a very low price and often promoting significant discounts for senior citizens.

Before you schedule an appointment for your air ducts to be professionally cleaned, you should be aware that the air-duct cleaning industry has had problems with a decade-long "bait and switch" scam, often targeting senior citizens.

It is important to keep vital parts of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system clean. The vital components are the cooling coils, fans, filters and heat exchangers that can be damaged due to reduced air flow located inside your furnace or air conditioner.

But do your research first and don't be tempted by the ridiculously low price. Know when and why air ducts need to be cleaned and avoid getting talked into expensive cleaning that is not only unneeded, but if done improperly, can be harmful to those with breathing problems.

When To Clean Your Air Ducts

Air ducts are part of a home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC). The duct itself does not move and is usually a square or round tube made of sheet metal. Air ducts' only purpose is to carry cooled or heated air from a homes ventilation system into individual areas in the home.

Cleaning Air Ducts "As needed" means:

• If the air ducts have been contaminated with mold and mildew.
• If the air ducts have been infested with rodents or insects.
• If the air ducts are clogged with EXCESSIVE amounts of dirt, dust or debris.

Mold and mildew grow in damp conditions, and if the air ducts have excessive amounts of dirt or have been infiltrated by rodents or insects then you have a problem that needs to be repaired before you consider cleaning.