DIY Furnace Duct Cleaning

[zendriver]

Anybody attempt it?

Glad they did or wish they hadn't?

Small, two bedroom house. Long rectangular hot air plenum with small round ducts to the rooms. One cold air return. Nothing spectacular. Looking at $800 to have it done professionally. No problem with investing some for tools to knock it out of the way.

Thanks

 

[gpiggaz]

What equipment is needed? I was able to reach about 5 ft into my air returns and vacuum them out but I'm sure there is more stuff beyond that. Not sure what approach to take on a DIY solution, but I'd hesitate to pay someone $800 to do it for me- but that's just me. In true GJ fashion what's the equipment list I need to purchase

 

[zendriver]

Thinking about something like this on a stout air hose.

Nikro Six Whip Nozzle - 861497

Nikro Six Whip Nozzle - 861497 The Nikro Six Whip Nozzle - 861497 is a specialized compressed air cleaning tool designed for thorough cleaning of metal ductwork. Ideal for HVAC professionals and industrial maintenance teams, this air duct cleaning equipment efficiently reaches all corners and...

www.jendcosafety.com

Then maybe go big on the other end with some type of dust collector that I can use for later projects.

35 Gallon, 2 HP High-Flow High-Capacity Dust Collector

Amazing deals on this 35 Gallon 2Hp Hi Flow Dust Collector at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[M6erfan]

Flex or rigid duct?

 

[pcmeiners]

"Small round ducts"

Piece of 1/8 pipe on the end of a fairly stiff hose with a ball valve, 2hp compressor. The volume from a 2hp compressor will dislocate any dust.

Like the idea of the 2hp dust collector , have it outside with a long hose. You get a free tool and save hundreds.... take that back...get a free tool and have hundreds for more tools

 

[zendriver]

Flex or rigid duct?

rigid

 

[Tostal]

$800?
How do the professionals do it?
What equipment do they use?

 

[Tostal]

Would the hot air plenum be large enough to allow a robot vacuum cleaner (like a Roomba but there's much cheaper versions available) to be put inside and left to do it's thing? This won't clean the sides or top of the plenum but presumably most of the dust etc. will be on the base.

 

[Tostal]

Any small children in the house?
If not, could you borrow some?

 

[zendriver]

$800?
How do the professionals do it?
What equipment do they use?

wife got the quotes

Had it done another house 25 years ago - truck mounted vac whole bunch of hose and brushes ,compressed air etc.

Cut a big round hole in the duct to hook in the hose

 

[PoorUB]

Pros have a huge dust collector and all kinds of wiggly things to knodust loose.

I knew I guy that built his own cleaning equipment. He had a larger air cooled rngine. About 20 HP, but I horstly don't remember for certain. But the engine was hooked up to a large dust collector fan, a compressor and generator. He would run large flex duct, like 15 inch into the houseand cut into the supply and returns, then take the air tools and run down the registers and cold air returns.

The only issue with a smaller 2HP dust collector is you can do only one 6 inch duct branch at a time. You can't move enough air to keep the dust and debris suspended if you try do more than one duct.