If dust is blowing out from the vents in your home's flooring each time that you turn on your central air conditioning system, the quality of the air inside your home may be diminished and it may take longer for your home's interior to cool down. Clean the opening to each duct by completing the following steps. Afterwards, the air system may work more efficiently.

Materials

• screwdriver
• bucket of warm soapy water
• handheld scrub brush
• water hose
• towel
• disposable gloves
• vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
• flashlight
• industrial strength cleaner
• lint-free cloths

Clean The Vent Covers

Turn off the central air conditioning system. Use a screwdriver to loosen and remove the screws from each vent cover. Place the dirty covers in a bucket of warm, soapy water. Use a handheld scrub brush to remove debris from both sides of each cover. Take the covers outside and rinse them off with a steady stream of water to eliminate any soapy residue or dust that remains on each one. Set the covers on top of a towel so that they can air dry.

Remove Dust From Each Duct's Opening And Eliminate Stains

Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Insert the end of a vacuum cleaner hose as far as you can into the opening of one of the ducts. Shine a flashlight inside of the duct to help you locate any areas that are covered with dirt. Suck up loose debris while moving the hose around the interior of the duct's opening. Once you have removed as much dust as possible in this manner, spray some industrial strength cleaner on a lint-free cloth. Wipe the cloth over the interior walls of the duct's opening to remove any dirty residue or surface stains.

Use a cloth that has been dampened with plain water to remove any of the cleaning solution that remains on the interior walls. Dry the interior with another cloth. Clean the openings to the remaining ducts by completing the same steps. 

Secure The Vent Covers And Turn On The System

Line up a covers over each duct opening and insert screws in all of them before tightening them. Turn on the power to the central air conditioning system and adjust the thermostat to one that you prefer. If cool air is emitted through each opening and you do not see any dust particles coming out from them, the cleaning steps were effective. Maintain the duct openings by inspecting them at random times throughout the year and cleaning them whenever it is needed. 

For an HVAC contractor, contact a company such as One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning.