There are a number of factors affecting the efficiency of your home’s HVAC system. A dirty filter reduces heating and cooling efficiency and adds unnecessary wear and tear to the system. Dirty air registers can impact its efficiency as well, making it important to clean them on a regular basis. Keep reading to learn tips for cleaning the air registers in your Atlantic Beach, Florida, home:

The Downside to Having Dirty Air Registers

Over time, the air registers get dirty with dust and other debris. Even pollen can stick to the air vents. As air blows through the vents, it combines with the dirt and makes its way into the air that’s circulating throughout the house. As a result, it aggravates allergy and asthma symptoms. If the air registers are dirty, they’ll reduce your HVAC system’s energy efficiency, which leads to higher heating and cooling expenses.

How to Clean Your Home’s Air Registers

Fortunately, it’s fairly simple to clean the air registers. You can clean them yourself or have a professional contractor clean them for you during a regular preventative maintenance session.

Start by removing the air vents. You’ll likely need a screwdriver to do this. Next, take a handheld vacuum or one with a hose and suck up the dirt that’s inside the vent hole. Use an old toothbrush to clean the inside walls of the vent hole. Reach down into the "neck" of the vent hole, as this is where most of the dirt and dust cakes up. Scrub as good as you can, and vacuum again to suck up any loose particles you’ve scrubbed loose.

You can run metal vents through the dishwasher to clean them. For wooden and plastic vents, use a toothbrush along with warm soapy water.

Ocean State Air Conditioning & Heating specializes in a variety of HVAC maintenance services. To learn more about cleaning your home’s air registers the right way, call us at (904) 574-5619.

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