5 Steps To Clean Your Ducted Air Conditioning System By Yourself

Movies like Mission Impossible lead you astray in scenes where a spy crawls through the air vents of a building, and they’re totally spotless. Sure, most of the dust and debris gets blown away, but over time, dust and dirt still build up in these vents and on the filter, which is why they need regular cleaning. Can you clean your ducted air conditioning system yourself, though, or do you need a professional to do it? If you’re asking the same question, keep reading to find out the answer. 

What is a Ducted AC System?

A ducted air conditioning system runs as a central AC that distributes a network of vents throughout a building to cool or heat each room. Ducted AC systems utilise one AC unit that cools the entire building. However, one bonus is that some systems allow each room to independently control the temperature, allowing for more versatility and making it more convenient for larger buildings. 

How to Clean Your Own Ducted AC System

Ducted air conditioning units come with many benefits. However, some of these benefits rely on the AC system being clean to work properly. For example, the air filter on the duct pulls dust, debris, and other pollutants from the air as it passes through. Over time, the dirt on this filter can build up, leading to it no longer working properly. To avoid this, follow the tips below on how to clean your ducted AC unit:

1. Turn it off

Before doing anything else, ensure your AC is turned off. Now, you may need to get to the AC to switch it off at the wall, which could be difficult depending on where it has been installed, or you could turn it off at the mains, which will most likely turn off all the plugs on that circuit. Ideally, as a precaution, you want there to be no chance that your AC is connected to power while you’re working on it. 

2. Find the return air grill

Generally, the air filter will sit behind the return air grill on your walls, ceilings or flaws where the duct is. You need to remove the return grill to get to the air filter. 

3. Remove the filter

Some people try to clean the filter while it’s still installed by just dusting it off. We don’t suggest doing this, though. By simply dusting the filter off a little bit, you aren’t giving it a thorough clean, meaning that it’ll need to be cleaned again sooner. 

Instead, remove the filter so that you can either throw it away to replace it with a new one or so you can clean it thoroughly. You may want to check what type of filter you have before you try to clean it. You get two types of filters: disposable and reusable filters. Disposable filters will last you for some time and need to be replaced, while reusable ones can be cleaned and reused. 

4. Clean or replace the dirty filter

If you own a disposable filter, throw it away and install a new one. However, if you have a reusable filter, you’ll want to give it a good clean. First, get all the dust off by bruising it or wiping it with a microfibre tile. Once you’re sure it’s dust-free, wash it in warm water with a little detergent and let it dry. 

5. Re-install the filter

When you can see that it is dry, re-install it into the filter. It’s as easy as that. Also, don’t forget to turn the AC’s power back on at the mains and the plug if you have them off there. 

The Benefits of Keeping Your AC Clean

As you can imagine, keeping your ducted AC system clean comes with some benefits, like:

• Reducing the build-up of dust and odours developing in rooms and offices 
• Improving the lifespan of your AC. Dirt and debris can pose a challenge to how well your AC runs, potentially causing damage through wear and tear and reducing its life span
• Newer filters and cleaner vents result in better air quality because the filters can do a better job of catching pollutants in the air as they pass through
• With a ducted AC, you’ll have better thermal control over every room in the building, unlike split ACs that need a unit per room with their controls

What is the Process for Installing a Ducted AC System?

When installing a ducted AC system, the procedure starts with choosing an appropriately sized AC for the building or home you’re installing it. Depending on the most convenient option, the ducts will then be run from the central AC unit to each room on the ceiling, walls, or under the floor. 

The indoor and outdoor units will be connected using refrigerant lines and plugged in, and then the technician will charge the system with refrigerant. Once that’s done, the system will be ready to use. If you still want to know more about how ducted air conditioning installation works, consider checking out the link provided. 

Final Thoughts

Keeping your ducted AC clean ensures that you save on energy consumption, experience cleaner air, and, in the long run, improve its lifespan and performance. With that in mind, follow the steps above to keep your AC clean, and remember, consistency is key. The more often you clean your AC, the better it’ll perform.