Air vents can get dirty and clogged with dust, pet fur and other debris. Cleaning them regularly can help keep the air in your home fresh and clean.

Here are some tips for cleaning air vents:

Disconnect power before cleaning. If you’re cleaning a furnace or air conditioner, disconnect the power source first. Turn off the circuit breaker or unplug the unit. Wait at least 15 minutes to allow any residual energy to dissipate before handling the appliance.

Use caution when cleaning dryer vents. The lint inside dryer ducts can be very hot and flammable, so use caution when cleaning them. If you have an older dryer that uses a separate lint filter on top of the dryer cabinet, make sure it’s free of lint before removing it from its housing to clean inside it; otherwise, you could risk burns from sparks or embers flying out as soon as you remove it from its housing. Work slowly and carefully to avoid injury from sparks or embers getting into your eyes or mouth if they fly out unexpectedly from inside your dryer vent ducts during this procedure.

Start with an inspection tour first; then clean in sections if necessary.

This article’s conclusory statement: By regularly cleaning your air vents you can help minimize the presence of household pests in your home, and improve air quality through better circulation. An added benefit is that your HVAC system will continue to run efficiently and effectively.