DIY - Clean Your Air Heat Vents

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  • Опубліковано 15 січ 2014
  • Duct Spray Cleaner ........................................ amzn.to/3fjrLzx
    Vent Cleaning Brush ...................................... amzn.to/2YxcogK
    Furnace Filter ................................................. amzn.to/2I7j3Tk
    Craftsman 6 Gallon 3 HP Shop Vac ............. amzn.to/2pKT6S7
    Magnetic Vent Cover .................................... amzn.to/2pHgoJp
    Leaf Blower ................................................... amzn.to/2GudcdF
    BLOG: davewirth.blogspot.com/2014/01...
    There are several video's on youtube of companies that clean air heating vents, but there are none that show how you can clean them yourself. This is a video i made when i decided to try and clean my air ducts by myself. I used a shop vac and a leaf blower to do the entire job.
    (Disclosure Note: Please note that the Amazon link(s) above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link.)
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 707

  • @DaveWirth
    @DaveWirth  9 місяців тому +2

    Duct Spray Cleaner ........................................ amzn.to/3fjrLzx
    Vent Cleaning Brush ...................................... amzn.to/2YxcogK
    Furnace Filter ................................................. amzn.to/2I7j3Tk
    Craftsman 6 Gallon 3 HP Shop Vac ............. amzn.to/2pKT6S7
    Magnetic Vent Cover .................................... amzn.to/2pHgoJp
    Leaf Blower ................................................... amzn.to/2GudcdF

  • @daaper
    @daaper 9 років тому +1355

    It's funny reading all the replies from the pros; throwing around buzz words like HEPA and negative pressure. The guy is cleaning dust out of his vents, this isn't rocket science. Could it have been done better? Sure, but I bet they're still cleaner than when he started and it solved his problem. You HVAC guys work so hard to keep your business shrouded in secrecy. Quit belittling his work and let us discuss how to clean ducts without spending $600.

    • @roseannmelcarek4287
      @roseannmelcarek4287 8 років тому +49

      +daaper I was reading all the comments and thinking the same thing. Personally, we have a 100+ year old house, ducts are a mess for sure because when I vacuum regularly it's bad. Just a dusty old house. Paying for a duct cleaner will be part of our tax money... with kids and all other costs and wanting to keep your family healthier... you do what you can.

    • @mattyboyahoy2326
      @mattyboyahoy2326 7 років тому +11

      ignorance at its finest

    • @jakev1972
      @jakev1972 7 років тому +27

      daaper i agree that hvac professionals who dont care about the customer will shroud the trade in secrecy. as an hvac tech heres why this was ineffective and will probably cause more troubles. a shopvac is not nearly powerful enough to collect any of the debris he is disturbing. it is not causing any negative pressure. with all that he disturbed as soon as he turns on the furnace it is going to be collected in the filter, clogging the filter causing no airflow. this Will cause a no heat situation and no cool. all that he disturbed in the supply side will be pushed back into the home and breathed in. its better to call a company you trust and have it done right.

    • @daaper
      @daaper 7 років тому +48

      Jake V Can't you then just change the filter?

    • @jakev1972
      @jakev1972 7 років тому +24

      You can, but what about all the dust and debris that was in the supply side? It doesnt go past the filter and is pushed right into the air you're breathing. Also by the time you realize there is a no heat or cool situation, you have been putting access stress on the blower motor which can lead to it failing or the start capacitor failing. Thats why i say its safer to call a company you trust because its done right the first time. And this method of duct cleaning isnt even cleaning 5% of whats there. 10-20% is being way to generous. Personally I am all for diy on things that are inexpensive. But never a furnace, ac or the ductwork. Hvac techs schooling and training isnt something that can be learned in youtube videos or in a google search. I go to so many calls where the home owner diy the furnace or ac and it always ends up costing them way more in the end because of the damage they did to the system.

  • @sharkb0078
    @sharkb0078 6 років тому +39

    only suggest one idea as I do clean ducts, it is my profession. I would use some type of agitating brush, to agitate the dust off the corners. As a professional, I provide before and after pictures. Dave you did a great job, hope it helped. make sure to change your filters as well.

    • @sorenUhl
      @sorenUhl 2 роки тому +1

      Good for you! A tradesman who is honest and helpful.
      If you’re good at your job all you have to do is tell your client what you’re going to do and 9/10 they will say that’s why I’m hiring you. If it’s a young guy who says” hell I can do that”…hire him

  • @robininman5643
    @robininman5643 6 років тому +34

    Great job! I'm sure your wife is so proud of you and is so thankful! I bet your entire family feels better. Thanks for sharing.

  • @Maxid1
    @Maxid1 10 років тому +53

    A few tips if you're going to attempt this:
    1. Don't use fiberglass insulstion in your vents to block air. It has styrene in it and will cause the very symptoms you're trying to remedy. Cardboard(to hold it) and some duct taped plastic across the inside vent will do the trick. (Don't use duct tape on wood or painted surfaces, use painter tape on painted surfaces. Don't use any tape on shellac surfaces, it will peel it off.)
    2. When you go to remove your register covers, run a razor knife around the vent to cut the paint first if it's been painted to avoid tearing the paint.
    3. Some painters tape and either plastic or paper will seal the vents. Putting something on it without taping it will just cause the fine dust to blow into the room.
    4. There's a good chance you won't be able to do this easily if you're HVAC has been properly installed in the last 10 years. They insulate the ducts so you'll have to cut the insulation to access the duct at the furnace/AC.
    What doesn't get done doing it this way:
    Duct cleaners use brushes so far more fine dust is removed.
    After that I guess you'll have to decide whether or not your time, 4 hours, and the possibility of doing more damage is more or less valuable than $200.
    No, I don't clean ducts or install HVAC for a living. But I've made all these mistakes.

    • @callbackdons
      @callbackdons 6 років тому +5

      This seems like a fair, objective reflection on this vid +1

  • @janemorriss3037
    @janemorriss3037 6 років тому +40

    Thank you SO much for this great video Dave. I have been researching the whole HVac thing and while it might be the way to go for some folks, I'm leaning strongly in the direction that us diyselfers can handle this task just fine in many instances. I am a contractor also and often show my potential customers how to "do it yourself" on things that they can. I really appreciate your presentation....concise, not a lot of jibber jabber that is not necessary; informational, lots of great tips that I wouldn't have thought of; humble, a genuine attitude of simply wanting to help and share your successes and things you did wrong but figured out the right or better way. I liked when you showed to bang on the duct with your hand to help loosen things. So, now I am all set to clean the ducts In the 90's double wide mobile home we just purchased in an investment deal. I would not have thought to use the leaf blower/vac method. Was just thinking to get a long hose and reach as far as possible, which isn't that far in a mobile and one story. You have definitely made my upcoming work easier and if I could, I would give you a hug. :) You are APPRECIATED!!

  • @dicarwells
    @dicarwells 8 років тому +169

    I have to agree.....I think we were all waiting to see how much dust/dirt you collected. How much did you get?

    • @BAGINAZARD
      @BAGINAZARD 3 роки тому +6

      It would be something to see what they actually got in the vacuum.

  • @carlf4275
    @carlf4275 4 роки тому +14

    This may be an older video but I'm glad I found it. Gives me a little more confidence to clean my own system. Only I'll be using a 2HP dust collector that I have for my garage workshop. It has a 4in hose and a lot more strength, but still the same concept. And I'll be using a rotary brush with about an 8ft reach

  • @blackbeauty71872
    @blackbeauty71872 9 років тому +190

    I had a horrible musty smell whenever I turned on the central air that made me literally feel sick. I thought it was coming from my vents. I tried everything you could think of to get rid of it. Spent hundreds of dollars on products that didn't work. I even had the whole system cleaned out by a hvac professional but the smell still remained.
    I was changing my filter one day when I saw water pooling in the back of the unit near the drainage pan and alot of other yucky crap. It took me about 30 minutes a wet/dry vac, lots of rags, some warm water, soap and alot of patience to get rid of it all. You wouldn't believe the stuff that builds up in the drainage pan and coils and can cause foul smells and a host of other problems. I also sprayed everything down with Concrobium Mold control after cleaning. Smell is completely 100% gone and It smellls like I am in a fresh new place.

    • @turboflush
      @turboflush 6 років тому +4

      blackbeauty71872
      Good idea to have the coils serviced every 1-2 years. Ducts are way longer as long as filters are doing their jobs.
      The yuk is dust on coils, then water clings to it and falls into the pan. This moistness will also breed some bad stuff.

    • @jackywong77777
      @jackywong77777 5 років тому +11

      Do u mind making a video?

    • @bosstone700
      @bosstone700 4 роки тому +4

      Where did you spray the concrobium? Directly into the a/c unit (coil)?

    • @yeawayned
      @yeawayned 4 роки тому +2

      How much did it cost to get system cleaned

    • @joeysplats3209
      @joeysplats3209 3 роки тому +1

      @@shaun4bigblocksllc you are so awesome and knowledgeable and perfect. Will you please come criticize my efforts to do something useful while you launch snarky personal attacks on me? Thanks!

  • @xaviertrimble5886
    @xaviertrimble5886 Рік тому +3

    I respect you. Most people would've never took air duct cleaning as far as you did.

  • @JayBlendz
    @JayBlendz 7 років тому +157

    I wish I could've seen total accumulation in the shop vac.

    • @daviddram6523
      @daviddram6523 7 років тому +19

      There wasn't any, that's why he didn't show it

    • @MasQueVencedorEnCristo
      @MasQueVencedorEnCristo 3 роки тому +6

      Whatever he collected is better than to have left it as it was..

    • @MoeToOFFeR
      @MoeToOFFeR 3 роки тому +7

      Lol in 2021 this service is now $500...80 i wish

    • @doyourbst
      @doyourbst 2 роки тому +1

      @@MoeToOFFeR it is a rip off. Just change your filters every 2 to 3 months

  • @tylerpylesfishing4653
    @tylerpylesfishing4653 9 років тому +42

    Nice job, I use a foam ball with a string on it to do my round duct. Shop vac and blower to blow/ suck the string and them pull. Works like a charm

  • @leadersuccess3761
    @leadersuccess3761 5 років тому +20

    I found the skeleton remains of Jimmy Hoffa and $50 million in my vent.

    • @ymg200
      @ymg200 3 роки тому

      Two more reasons to DIY.

  • @yingchen6236
    @yingchen6236 3 роки тому +3

    Thanks for the video, well explained. I did this myself as well but in a different way. I don't have leaves blower, I used the vent cleaning brush similar to the one you put the link, and instead of blow everything to the bottom, I used the brush to get dust up to the floor vents and collect there.

  • @DavidSmith-mk7qo
    @DavidSmith-mk7qo 8 років тому +41

    Your results may not be considered acceptable by those who make their living doing this. But at least you cleaned them. Many homes go 40 to 50 years without cleaning. One can only imagine what is living in there.

  • @ValiousTV
    @ValiousTV 3 роки тому +8

    Bro, I'm cleaning my ducts too.
    Just a friendly tip, if you want better air flow. You need to use an aluminum foil tape along all your duct seams and connections.
    Anywhere there are screws also.
    Just sealing the furnace hood, has increased my heat distribution.
    A lot of hot air was leaking before the fan kicked in. Also saving me on my gas bill.
    I would also recommend if you have open ceiling ducts in your basement, to use a duct wrap insulation on all your exposed ducts. I'm using one called reflectix (looks like bubble wrap with foil on both sides). It helps with thermal loss in your ducts.
    When your furnace goes on, do you get cold air first?
    It's because of the thermal loss from the cool basement air against your ducts. About 30% of your furnace heat is lost just warming the ducts.
    So let's say, just taping the seams gives you 10% better heat. Plus the wrap gives around 20- 25% less heat loss.
    Bro, that's around 30- 35% better efficiency of your furnace.
    That adds up over the year.
    The tape costs around $25.
    The wrap cost around $40.
    $65 today, saves you hundreds in a year.
    I would also add, if not already there.
    Dampers on all your duct lines.
    They help with the amount of air that travels per duct.
    Let say you have a room that you hardly use (spare bedroom). It gets 100% heat from the duct, if you adjust the damper (not vent) you can reduce the heat flow to 30%, the rest 70% will now travel to other rooms.
    Work smart, not hard.

    • @FatNebraskaMom
      @FatNebraskaMom Рік тому

      I was just thinking about this as well. The vents in this house are absolutely awful.

    • @fhqwgib
      @fhqwgib Рік тому

      Great advice! Thanks for sharing!

  • @midoritukichi4088
    @midoritukichi4088 5 років тому +12

    I can say we had our house done. The equipment they used cleaned the residue off of every inch of the ducts. Once they were done the ducts were treated to kill any mold and dust mites that might still be living in the duct work. With asthmatics in the house we we decided that having some not guessing at the job and pulling it all out side was much cleaner and safer.

    • @NYG5
      @NYG5 2 роки тому +1

      Plus, how much time did you save yourself not having to bungle your way through a DIY jon

    • @tiaturnbullchampionscoachi9587
      @tiaturnbullchampionscoachi9587 Рік тому +1

      That sounds great how much did they charge you to do that?

  • @CJWarlock
    @CJWarlock 5 років тому +2

    I've just found this channel and I like its content. Congratulations on the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the presented ideas! :) Subscribed.

  • @rawellman
    @rawellman 8 років тому +26

    Good ideas, thanks for your video.
    Here are details inspired by your approach. I have a long hose that originally was a swimming pool vacuum hose. I use it for many tasks. For example when I annually clean my 6" Stainless steel chimney liner I attach the pool vacuum hose to my shop vac. Then place the shop vac outside so that it's exhaust doesn't blow collected fines all over the inside of the house. Shop vac filters are Not particularly good at stopping very fine particles -- certainly not remotely close to HEPA.
    For my furnace ducts I will snake the long pool filter hose into all ducts and perhaps attach an appropriately sized soft brush to mechanically dislodge the material. Will use another section of pool hose on the exhaust side of the shop vac so that the exhaust side of the shop vac delivers outside the house.

    • @DaveWirth
      @DaveWirth  8 років тому +3

      +Ronald Wellman Those are both good ideas

  • @markbaustian9503
    @markbaustian9503 8 років тому +44

    As another note in reference to the stuffed up head, check the humidity level in your house. In cold areas with the furnace running with no humidification, humidity levels can drop to around 10%. Even with my whole house humidifier mounted on my furnace, I can only get it to about 35%. So I bought a whole house console unit to augment my furnace mounted humidifier. By humidifying your house, you can actually lower the thermostat a few degrees and with the added humidity it will feel warmer. This will also save your hardwood floors and furniture from shrinking, help prevent colds by keeping your mucus membranes moist.

    • @DrAlexanderHamilton
      @DrAlexanderHamilton 2 роки тому +1

      this is good info as I'm having a huge humidity problem in my basement. I've been wondering if a whole house dehumidifier will work

    • @richardrussell4065
      @richardrussell4065 2 роки тому

      Easy to install, too!

  • @jacksp8452
    @jacksp8452 4 роки тому +8

    As an HVAC tech this is a really good idea! I would not have thought of that!

  • @11green11
    @11green11 7 років тому

    kudos for being proactive for your familys health concerns man ! Anything you do in terms of cleaning your duct system is worthwhile

  • @ncooty
    @ncooty 3 роки тому +2

    Thanks. Would've been nice to see the inside of that shop vac and another peek into the trunk line.

  • @addonnisjoseph4819
    @addonnisjoseph4819 Рік тому

    Wow thank u the most thorough video for cleaning the duct system $80.00 8 years ago it’s starting @ $500.00 now depend on the technician thanks again have a bless

  • @joshbaker6488
    @joshbaker6488 2 роки тому +1

    Dude you're truly a life saver I need to do this badly and after this I am confident I can accomplish this in a weekend just need a leaf blower. Going to check out your link!!

  • @Daniel-kh8bw
    @Daniel-kh8bw 2 роки тому

    Dude I literally had the exact same idea and then I UA-cams DIY vent clean out and you did the same thing! Excited to try this thanks for sharing.

  • @isaacragland4935
    @isaacragland4935 9 років тому

    Ingenious, well improvised. There is a little captain in you.

  • @ffffmmmmllll
    @ffffmmmmllll 6 місяців тому +1

    You kno the procedures that’s all that matters. Well done

  • @SuperUtube53
    @SuperUtube53 8 років тому +6

    Hey kudos for trying :) Yours was the first site I saw on the subject. Such is the spirit of the DIY guy. We've lived in a farmhouse for 44 years. Never had duct cleaned, heated with wood for years :( Then oil, then wood. Can you imagine what a mess ours are? Thinking I need a professional, but I just had to see what was out there :) Love projects like this.
    Here's the thought I've been rolling around, creating a big nylon net poof thing like you use in the shower and dragging it through the duct work, while having the shop vac in basement to receive dust...lol

    • @jdowies
      @jdowies 8 років тому +2

      +SuperUtube53 Great idea!..... except, there's sheet metal screws sticking out and sharp edges where the pieces fit together and that scrub net thing would snag on them and now, how are you going to get it out when it's stuck 10 feet down a duct?

  • @choltz2020
    @choltz2020 5 років тому +12

    Great video man. I fix alot of things around my house the same way, its nice to see videos of DIYer figuring stuff out and trying it.

  • @paulnoms1902
    @paulnoms1902 9 років тому +20

    Thanks for this video. I have dogs that don't like people much so I can't really have strangers running loud machinery throughout the house and it is too expensive to board my dogs AND pay for someone to do this. I understand that I won't get things as clean as a professional service, but if I do this every once in a while it will do wonders.
    Great video to follow.

    • @sgtkrazykramer
      @sgtkrazykramer 5 років тому +3

      Get rid of the dogs. Simple

    • @ClearReception
      @ClearReception 5 років тому +2

      @@sgtkrazykramer 👎

    • @tmst2199
      @tmst2199 5 років тому +3

      Can't you just stick the dogs in a room for a couple of hours?

    • @oshelenews436
      @oshelenews436 5 років тому +2

      The dogs are not good excuses to deprive yourself of good and professional services. Health is wealth. Dog is animal

    • @vickyandersen8660
      @vickyandersen8660 4 роки тому

      You can also put them outside or cage them for a bit. It won't harm your dogs.

  • @johng2116
    @johng2116 2 роки тому +1

    good video - thanks. were you able to determine how much dust was removed from the ducts? did you start with a new or clean filter and empty vacuum container where you could see everything pulled from the ducts?

  • @krissymus
    @krissymus 8 років тому

    Looks like I have a new job detail to complete. Thank you for your insight.

  • @mattosterlund
    @mattosterlund 9 років тому +45

    I was waiting for the big reveal of all the dust in the ShopVac. Brilliant idea. I think I'm going to do the same, but use my air compressor.

    • @ihavehotmail2
      @ihavehotmail2 6 років тому

      I don't think an air compressor would have enough volume - let us know how it works

    • @jacobkudrowich
      @jacobkudrowich 6 років тому

      ihavehotmail2 he means to blast out dust particles

    • @jrbonner100
      @jrbonner100 6 років тому +3

      I was wanting to see the dust as well..

    • @jonathonbang3186
      @jonathonbang3186 4 роки тому

      Use it like a wild fire hose with a brush attached on the end feed it in turn the valve on let it flip flop round as you pull it back out when you run out of air stop let it fill continue then run the leaf blower shop vac or do all 3 at once

  • @starlight2371
    @starlight2371 Рік тому +1

    For all you Home Builders: PLEASE BUILD US A HOUSE WHERE WE CAN CLEAN THIS KIND OF STUFF EASY!! GOOOODDDNESS!!

  • @RioOro555
    @RioOro555 4 роки тому +10

    Lots of useful information in your video. Well done! Thanks! Would have been interesting to see what you collected in the vac bag. I'm going to clean the vents in an older mobile home. I plan to use insulation around the leaf blower to keep air from blowing back and somewhat pressurizing the vents.

    • @general67
      @general67 Рік тому

      Yes I was gonna say the same,,,,would have been cool to see how much dust he collected

  • @marandiahinkle8015
    @marandiahinkle8015 10 років тому +1

    Thank you very much cross your fingers and hope this works Its going to be a spring cleaning weekend project We are going to use an air compressor see how that works out

  • @adamUDavies
    @adamUDavies 3 роки тому +20

    I had mine professionally cleaned in 2017 , opened my return trunk last week . Stick to doing it yourself , they did a half ass job. Screw you so called professionals. Goes the same to stanley steamer , they upcharged my 83yr old mother over $1,000.00 for a 3hr job. Freakin crooks.

    • @luddeo4354
      @luddeo4354 2 роки тому

      you forgot some decimals

  • @jeffphillips7372
    @jeffphillips7372 6 років тому +1

    This is great! Thanks so much for uploading this was very helpful!!

  • @mrmogreedy
    @mrmogreedy 4 роки тому +45

    I use a dust buster and determination. Never underestimate the will of the American Spirit!!!

  • @osito021
    @osito021 2 роки тому

    Best video I've seen so far. Thank you.

  • @edmonds7796
    @edmonds7796 9 років тому +1

    Congratulations Dave Wirth on standing up to all these 'professionals' who have so much to say about YOUR house. Personally, I'll only hire a 'pro' after I can't do something or totally break it. Then, at least I'm getting ripped off for fixing what I broke rather than ripped off for what I didn't even try to fix. You learned your lesson abt the insulation right and you won't do that again, family is cool, system works...screw the haters and DIY.

  • @LoufulMM
    @LoufulMM 9 років тому

    Any Suggestions on Flex Ducting? Blowing a leaf blower won't tear or pull apart flexible hose ducting?

  • @jayg473
    @jayg473 8 років тому

    Fantastic idea! Thank you!

  • @hanil405
    @hanil405 10 років тому

    Thanks! I just got a quote for cleaning 17 vents and some fogging for $1500 what a steal....in Boston MA

    • @neilsecor4916
      @neilsecor4916 8 років тому +1

      +hanil405 that's the right price.. smfh... facepalm

  • @airductspecialistsinc7870
    @airductspecialistsinc7870 6 років тому +7

    Well, you've done a better job that many duct cleaning"professionals" out there :)
    You can lightly clean the system annually by yourself, that will extend a cleanliness of your ducts. At least, vacuum out cold air intakes, and change air filters every 2-3 month. But please, don't put this type of insulation inside of your duct system :) and be careful when you run a shop vac hose through the return vents like that..you can damage wiring (thermostat, alarm, etc..)
    But I would recommend to let professionals thoroughly clean it for you at least once in every 7-10 years...just make sure they really are professionals. This job should cost around $450, not that big of an investment for 7-10 years :)
    Good luck!

  • @jessicah3450
    @jessicah3450 3 роки тому

    I have a really long vacuum attachment made to clean clothes dryers and refrigerator coils. Cleaned pretty far into my ducts and returns with it today. I had to empty my vacuum twice, so I'm happy. Our house is 25 years old, and we've had cats the entire time. I think this is the second time someone's cleaned them. First time they were cleaned, we found garbage like soda bottles left over from the workers who built the house in the intakes.

    • @DaveWirth
      @DaveWirth  3 роки тому

      I think that what you did is probably the best way to clean the vents. The traditional method requires a super high air flow.

  • @drky1x827
    @drky1x827 4 роки тому +5

    I’m having the same problem whenever I turn on my heat or Air. I’m wondering if it helped. I called hvac and they told me $400 for a 3 bedroom apartment. $80 sounds more affordable

  • @DebCnbfre
    @DebCnbfre 8 років тому +2

    Thank you for the video.. Will be doing this with my air ducts.. : )

  • @BrAtMaN77
    @BrAtMaN77 4 роки тому +7

    Thanks for being normal and using normal stuff .

  • @BudgetPhil
    @BudgetPhil 3 роки тому +1

    I recommend using a camera and flashlight to inspect inside the ductwork before and after cleaning. I used my cell phone and couldn't believe all the dust and debris I found. It's important to know if it's clean or not because the dust can mold if the humidity gets high enough. Thank you for sharing.

  • @cari0021
    @cari0021 8 років тому +1

    Great video, very helpful, thank you!

  • @monkeyboy4746
    @monkeyboy4746 8 років тому +1

    I agree with King X and eracer350 here, are you sure that the relative humidity is correct for the house during the heating season? I think it should be around 40-55%, do you have a humidifier on your system and is it working?

  • @Cladd347
    @Cladd347 Рік тому

    Great video! I would've loved to see what you pulled out in your shop vac. Thanks for sharing!

  • @FernandoRodriguez-ds5ri
    @FernandoRodriguez-ds5ri Рік тому

    I’m not a pro but would it work best if the leave blower and shop vac would trade places or, won’t you want the dust to be pushed away from the furnace instead of blowing it back into the ductwork.
    Just my .02

  • @richardlorith6936
    @richardlorith6936 Рік тому

    I do not have a furnace living in NC ,but i am wondering if i might have blocked vents on my A/C unit looking to clean out vents ,very hot in the bedroom

  • @dennisjohnson2726
    @dennisjohnson2726 8 років тому

    Thanks for the video. I'm not sure if I understand this, but I thought with the air coming in from the other direction it pushed all the dust into the heat exchanger. Am I wrong on that? I would clean that after cleaning ducts to make sure.

  • @markbaustian9503
    @markbaustian9503 8 років тому +5

    I ran a duct cleaning service for several years. $80 is super cheap. But remember, you get what you pay for. When I did it, it was a two man job. An average house would take about 5 hours to do it right. That included cleaning the evaporator coil. When cleaning the duct work, a lot of debris will fall onto the evaporator coil. Once you turn the system back on, much of debris will blow right back into the duct. The remaining debris will fall into the condensate drain pan at the bottom of the evaporator coil and plug it up preventing it from draining properly and allowing water to drip into the furnace and corrode the heat exchanger and other parts of the furnace. Simply blowing air into the duct work will not effectively clean the duct. Some type of agitation must be used in conjunction with the vacuum system. Also, a shop vac isn't near as powerful as a duct cleaning vac moving 5000 cfm/min. with a HEPA filtration system as the final filter.

    • @Bee-jm7tr
      @Bee-jm7tr 5 років тому +1

      Lol I am a furnace tech and it takes 1 person to do any typical house 45 mins to an hour doing it PROPERLY with professional equipment. This guy is not cleaning out his ducts, he is cleaning the start of his duct system which is basically a waste of time

  • @adkerpepe309
    @adkerpepe309 4 роки тому

    I used your video to clean out my own ducts, and I got a big long dryer vent cleaning brush from Menards to loosen all the dust out and put in a new filter when I was all done. I don't think I got it all cause there is more dust blowing out than before. What can I do about that?

  • @carrotcake1955
    @carrotcake1955 Рік тому

    Good job! I have not done this. Thinking of investing in cleaning kit to hook to my drill. Thanks!

  • @jakethev
    @jakethev Рік тому +3

    $80 to clean the vents! That's amazing I paid $400 to get mine cleaned

    • @fadym.23
      @fadym.23 2 місяці тому

      I know right. I’m going to let the company it’s going to cost $375. They are just going to clean it they are not going to sanitize it. Did the company do the cleaning did they sanitize it or they just clean it?

  • @seniorblanco4126
    @seniorblanco4126 4 роки тому

    Gonna try this! Thanks for the video

  • @christophergeoghegan5719
    @christophergeoghegan5719 8 років тому

    great idea, I will try it myself, my father was in the heating and air-conditioning business so I know a little more... thx, great video, chris

  • @Luckime313
    @Luckime313 4 роки тому

    Thanks for this video so so helpful thank you so much and I’m going to use your method

  • @eracer350
    @eracer350 9 років тому

    Suffed up? Do you have a humidifier on the furnace and if so what is the relative humidity in the house? Can be very dry air in the winter time.

  • @MsGrace1012
    @MsGrace1012 2 роки тому

    you are fantastic!I respect someone who will take on a challange!

  • @aurelienyonrac
    @aurelienyonrac Рік тому +1

    I wish i could see the result becaus you did a great job showing the durs in the pipe

  • @LieutenantDanHere
    @LieutenantDanHere 6 років тому

    So what did it look like inside the shop vac afterwards

  • @jrbonner100
    @jrbonner100 6 років тому

    Thanks Dave... I'm in Florida, the scam capitol of the world, so I aim to try to do this job myself...

  • @landongendur
    @landongendur 8 років тому +63

    Wow, $80 to clean ducts in your area? It's like $400+ to get a company to do it here in Canada :(

    • @jaceanderson6449
      @jaceanderson6449 8 років тому +3

      +LandonGendur ya bro its not cheap to clean vents anywhere... 80$ is a total rip off, they probably come in with a vacuum and suck out what they can. a good company will charge around 3 to 400$. you get what you pay for, just do you research on feedback and shopping around is a must when getting this work done. ive been cleaning vents for 12 years and this is not the way to do it.

    • @illuzionz3404
      @illuzionz3404 4 роки тому +1

      500 for 16 registers in Nw of usa

    • @walkermom100
      @walkermom100 4 роки тому +1

      I was going to say the same thing. That's cheap.

    • @JurassicJolts
      @JurassicJolts 3 роки тому +4

      In the Midwest I’ve heard it’s around $25 a run plus a trip fee. In a large house it can be hundreds of dollars. I definitely cringed when he said $80 was a scam.

    • @MasQueVencedorEnCristo
      @MasQueVencedorEnCristo 3 роки тому

      @@jaceanderson6449 then share us a video on how to do it.. after all sharing is caring..

  • @pro8bud
    @pro8bud 7 років тому +1

    I love the insulation you put in the hole. I bet you're enjoying breathing that.

  • @lindak.2077
    @lindak.2077 9 років тому +18

    You should have emptied your shop vac before starting, then you would know how much dirt you actually collected.

  • @virtualgrace251
    @virtualgrace251 4 роки тому

    I want to fog my HVAC with Concrobium. But my coil is in a metal case that is only 1 inch away from the cabinet. How do I introduce the fog into the HVAC enough that it pulls it all through the system with all the vents closed but the furthest away, when the only time I get any air suction is when the filter is in place?
    I would be SO GRATEFUL if you could tell me what I should do. We are pretty desperate here.

  • @mikescott803
    @mikescott803 6 років тому

    Great Idea, I would have love to see the inside of shop vac to how much
    dust you accumulated.

  • @garyarcher8440
    @garyarcher8440 2 роки тому +1

    Did you start with a clean vacuum so you could tell if you sucked anything at all after you were finished?

  • @3613jeremy
    @3613jeremy 2 роки тому

    I'm gonna try cleaning mine but I plan on using a clean cheap air filter and turning on the furnace fan to suck the dust to the filter that my shop vac doesn't get at least for the return vent

  • @christined8989
    @christined8989 4 роки тому

    I like this guy. He broke it down and not talked down at his viewers like my dumb lazy landlord. As you can see it's early and this landlord I got seriously is a piece of work he should have came here. My air ducts are not only filthy but rusted past it's time. Smh

  • @Whokikiwit
    @Whokikiwit 10 років тому +1

    Great video! Thanks

  • @carriejanesim58
    @carriejanesim58 5 років тому +1

    Curious on how much dust and dirt you got

  • @homeservices6754
    @homeservices6754 4 роки тому

    Thanks for the video on duct cleaning

  • @maggy313
    @maggy313 6 років тому +3

    Thank you for all the tips, i'm going to give this a try, i like to do the cleaning jobs myself , so i know its done right. I have a coal furnace , a pretty large house so i will let you know how it went, as soon as Spring rolls around
    maggy

    • @513kkimmy
      @513kkimmy 2 роки тому

      Did you get a chance to do this??

  • @wendyeesue
    @wendyeesue 6 місяців тому

    thank you very much, much appreciated

  • @Dchase133
    @Dchase133 10 років тому +1

    Thanks for the video. It'll be a great help as I am going to do the same in my house for the same reasons as you stated. Did it remove a lot of dirt/debris. Would have been good to show it. Also did it solve the dry stuffiness feeling you experienced each morning when you woke?

    • @DaveWirth
      @DaveWirth  10 років тому +5

      It definitely helped. The cold air returns were 4 times worse than the heat vents. Although after looking at video's of some peoples vents, mine weren't that bad. Some video's show the vents totally full of dust, mine just had some clumps here and there.
      At the end i was kind of disappointed with how little there was in the shop-vac. I thought it'd be full but there wasn't much, though the filter was totally covered.
      As far as sleeping better, ya a little.
      I'd definitely recommend getting help though, running up and down the stairs 30 times over 3 hours got old real quick.

  • @ronbattiston2468
    @ronbattiston2468 5 років тому

    Excellent ideas thanks!!

  • @duceduce863
    @duceduce863 8 років тому +2

    i would appreciate his efforts. at least he stood up and did something instead of paying a bunch of scammers. and for your kind information the scammers say they will do it for $50 but make a bill of $200 in the end.

  • @k.b.woodworker3250
    @k.b.woodworker3250 4 роки тому +5

    I have one of those kits with a brush on a long metal handle that can be bent for my dryer vent. I think that might be useful to dislodge the dust along with a shop vac. I like the idea in the comments to exhaust the shop vac outdoors with a second hose, or an old pool hose. They don't cost much.

  • @davedoyle3662
    @davedoyle3662 10 років тому +59

    not sure if stuffing fiberglass insulation in your ductwork is the best idea,im sure when you turned on your heat you blasted thousands of tiny fiberglass fibers throughout your duct system and in turn your house.

    • @OWK000
      @OWK000 4 роки тому +1

      YEAH!! What's worse than fiberglass dust? Not much.

    • @chuckcrowley6427
      @chuckcrowley6427 4 роки тому +5

      Put insulation in trash bags

    • @CookieManCookies
      @CookieManCookies 4 роки тому

      Agreed, he should have disassembled all the piping cleaned them in a tub for a few hours, then put it all back together. You got it Dave!

  • @MrFlyinbrian6988
    @MrFlyinbrian6988 6 років тому

    so how much dirt or dust did you get in your shop vac. ?

  • @Synchrimedia
    @Synchrimedia 11 місяців тому

    how much dust was in your shop vac when you were done? was hoping to see how effective it was.

  • @ThatdudeinPhilly
    @ThatdudeinPhilly 2 роки тому

    Great video man thanks!

  • @golgothingaming4719
    @golgothingaming4719 8 місяців тому +1

    I would have liked to see how much was in the shop vac after.

  • @ruthoneal4607
    @ruthoneal4607 Рік тому

    Did you take a photo of the dust in shop vac? I’m going to try this.

  • @crazykuup9271
    @crazykuup9271 5 років тому

    How. Much stuff was in the shop vac???

  • @mike9jc
    @mike9jc 8 років тому +1

    How were the results when you were complete? I'm debating trying something like this or paying $400 to get it done with a higher powered vacuum/agitator brush. Do you notice a difference in the air flow?

    • @iosgaminggeek5395
      @iosgaminggeek5395 Рік тому

      It depends on what you’re after. What he’s done is good enough if you’re in a pinch and your air quality really did degrade and you have stuffy nose. But if you want longer lasting and actual thorough cleaning, not just sucking the stuff out, you hire a professional.

  • @ritamariekelley4077
    @ritamariekelley4077 2 роки тому

    Your vid is the best yet.

  • @kathiejl1
    @kathiejl1 6 місяців тому +2

    I would have liked to see inside the shop vac Before and After.

  • @startingwithnothing5423
    @startingwithnothing5423 3 роки тому

    I done the same with a shop vac and long hose. Shoved my cammera down them and they look clean. Cant stress enought now important the return air vents are to clean as that your air intake. I could here the vac suck god knows what from return vents up to about 8 feet in. Also change your filter and clean interior of furnace. I also ran a 1 micron shop filter in all the rooms with vents for 24/7 for one day while running the "cleaned" vents. 1 microns not hepa but it gets close to it.

  • @germainmallet778
    @germainmallet778 5 років тому

    lots of dust inside your hvac when u were done ?

  • @wyattspop
    @wyattspop 5 років тому

    Advice please? I was shocked when I removed the main intake grate near my front door for my furnace ( 6 times larger than all my registers). There was a layer half an inch thick of grey puffy dirt/dust. It was not just on the floor of the flex duct, but stuck to the inner top of the duct. I vacuumed all I could reach, say 5 feet, how can I suck out the remaining 8 feet I can't reach that leads to the furnace (it ends at the air filter in my furnace Thanks much

    • @DaveWirth
      @DaveWirth  5 років тому

      Well you could rig-up some longer vacuum hose. Maybe use a PVC pipe or something to reach the other 3 feet. Or you could try blowing it out from the other end, at the nearest register with a leaf blower. Or you could just turn the furnace fan on and see if the furnace will blow the loosened dust up to the register?

  • @GeekBoy03
    @GeekBoy03 7 років тому +1

    In the future, maybe use a high quality air filter for cleaning the air, not that bad basic one which is just to designed to protect the equipment. Those Arm and Hammer ones are great, as well as the 3M ones, or a electrostatic filter. It will certainly help keep dirt, and mold out of the vents