Why is my return air vent so dirty?

Here are some of the most common culprits: Your air ducts are leaking. Cracked or damaged air ducts can allow contaminants to enter your system and cause your filter to clog up. They can also significantly increase your energy bills.

Why are my return vents dirty?

If you see dirt and debris around your air vents, there is a good chance that your ducts have increased blockages. They could have a large number of contaminants flowing through the system. This can escalate allergy problems and other respiratory illnesses, which is another sign of its own.

How do I keep my AC return clean?

Should return vents be cleaned?

Why Should You Clean HVAC Return Vents? Keeping your return vents clean helps your HVAC system run more efficiently, but there's more to it than that. Clean return vents reduce the allergens in your home and keep the furnace filter cleaner, longer (so it can trap more dust and allergens).

Should I put filters in my return vents?

In general, it is recommended to have an air filter in every return vent (as long as you choose the one of the right size and thickness). The filters will improve the air quality in your house and will protect the HVAC equipment from dust, pollen, pet dander, and hair.

YIKES! Here's How to Fix a Loud AC Return Vent - AKA The Noisy Air Vent!

Can dirty air vents make you sick?

In homes with dirty air ducts, occupants may experience symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of allergies, including coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Mold, dust and other contaminants lurking in your ducts could also cause sore throat, headaches and even dizziness.

What causes excessive dust in a house?

It is often dirt, skin cells, or fabric fibers, but could be more or less anything that could dry and flake off. Books, carpet, rugs, upholstered furniture, fireplaces, and pets all contribute to the dust load. Dirt, pollen, smoke, exhaust, sand, and many other things may bring in dust from outside.

Why is my house so dusty?

Both low humidity and high humidity play a role in why your house is so dusty. When the air is dry, your air can be extra dusty. But when it's too high, it can feed mites and promote mold growth. If your air is dry, run a humidifier so that you can reach a comfortable level.

What does a return vent look like?

You can identify return vents by turning on the system fan and holding your hand or a piece of paper up. If the paper is pulled toward the vent or you feel a suction effect, it's a return vent.

How do you remove return air grille from ceiling?

How do you clean house vents?

How does dirt get in vents?

Dirt streaking around the supply registers and up the wall or ceiling may be amplified when excessive moisture is in the airflow. Moisture causes particles to become sticky and can cause grimy dirt to gather on the vents and other surfaces.

Do air purifiers get rid of dust?

As of now, air purifiers with a HEPA filter tend to be the best for filtering dust from your space. According to the EPA, HEPA filters can remove 99.97 percent of dust particles that measure 3 microns in diameter.

How do I stop my house from being so dusty?

How did Grandma eliminate dust?

Emily White, owner of Two Maids and a Mop, was taught by her grandma to use a pillowcase so you can catch the dust in it, then dump it in the trash afterward. "You just stretch the entire case over the blade and wipe off the dust inside," she says.

How do you get dust out of air ducts?

Does cleaning air ducts really make a difference?

Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning.

How do I know if my vents need cleaning?

If you see dust and dirt both inside and outside — especially by the vents that blow cool air out — your ducts most likely need to be cleaned. To prevent future dust buildup, make sure you replace your HVAC system air filters frequently. You can also run an air purifier.

How often should you clean the vents in your house?

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, homeowners should have their air ducts cleaned every three to five years, but the timing really depends on the region in which you live, how often you use your HVAC system and whether you have family members that have respiratory problems.

What happens if you don't clean your ducts?

Over time, without proper air duct cleaning and maintenance, the moisture will start to grow mold and mildew. The real problem here is due to what your ducts do: disperse air throughout a structure. If you have moldy air ducts, that mold is going to be blown all through your home or business.

Do vent filters really work?

But, the quick answer to the question if vent filters really work, the short answer is yes. Vent filters do work, and they do fulfill their job of removing impurities from the air that enters your home through the central air system. However, they are more effective if HVAC filters are used as well.

Should every room have a return vent?

Does Every Room Need Air Return Grilles? While it is a myth that air return grilles are required in each and every room in the house, it is definitely necessary to have more than one of these grilles installed at strategic places in the house. The most important place to have these would be the bedroom.