Lower Your Energy Bill With These Tips on How To Clean Your Air Vents & Save Energy
Looking for ways to cut costs on your energy bill (and all your bills!)? Did you know that keeping your HVAC system clean can save major dough?
It can! Routine maintenance of air vents and ducts can drastically improve efficiency, air quality, and energy savings.
We will explain how cleaning the vents and system ducts saves on energy, how often to clean them, and answer all your questions about optimizing savings by maintaining a clean HVAC system.
Table of Contents
- Does Cleaning the Vents Save Energy?
- When To Have Your Air Vents Cleaned
- 4 Tips for Keeping Your Vents Clean To Help Save Energy
- Is It Better To Keep Air Vents Open or Closed?
- Let AAA Heating & Cooling Help You Reduce Energy Costs by Handling Your HVAC Maintenance Needs
Does Cleaning the Vents Save Energy?
Yes! Cleaning your air vents makes your system more efficient, which in turn saves energy. When they’re clean of dust, pet dander, and other debris, they don’t have to work as hard to push air through. This also helps lessen the wear and tear on the system.
Vents and air ducts are both important parts of your HVAC system. Cleaning both the vents (the parts you can see in your living spaces and the ducts (the tubes that the air travels through) is critical to improve the energy efficiency of your system.
In the first-of-its-kind comparison study of full-scale HVAC cleaning as an energy intervention, published in 2025, significant energy savings were observed in response to routine HVAC cleaning, and ventilation performance improved post-HVAC system cleaning. While this study looked at large commercial-use buildings, the results speak to the impact of routine cleaning on HVAC system performance.
When To Have Your Air Vents Cleaned
The general industry recommendation is to have air ducts deep cleaned internally every 3-5 years, while vents should be quickly dusted and vacuumed every 6 months.
In some cases, your vents should be cleaned more regularly. We recommend a consultation and more frequent cleaning of your duct and vent system if:
- You’re a pet owner (due to dander and hair buildup).
- You notice visible dust, debris, or mold growth.
- There are rodents or insects inside the vents/ducts.
- You observe dark rings on the ceiling or the wall around vents.
- Your system emits an unpleasant odor.
- Your system seems like it may not be operating properly.
AAA Heating and Cooling is your trusted, full-service HVAC company serving Portland. Click below or give us a call to schedule a consultation to evaluate the specific maintenance and cleaning needs of your system.
How To Clean Air Vents To Save Energy
So how do you clean your air vents properly to save energy? Luckily, it’s pretty straightforward. Here are some best practices for cleaning air vents thoroughly and efficiently:
- Turn off the HVAC system.
- Remove vent covers.
- Use a vacuum to remove dust and dirt. Use the brush and crevice tool attachment to be most efficient.
- Clean the covers with a damp microfiber cloth.
- Scrub, if necessary, with warm soapy water.
- Change the air filter if needed.
- Replace covers.
- Turn on the HVAC system.
If this feels like a bigger project than you are up for, AAA Heating and Cooling will be happy to take care of it for you anywhere in the Portland metro area. We offer all services related to HVAC system installation, maintenance, and cleaning. Allow us to clean your vents so you can save on energy.
Unique Insights Into Air Vent Cleaning
As discussed above, maintaining the cleanliness of your air vents and ducts will improve overall energy consumption and efficiency.
Here are some of the benefits and insights regarding the maintenance of clean air vents:
- Prevent and inhibit microbial growth, improving not only system efficiency but also your family’s health.
- Enhance airflow dynamics, improving efficiency in ways that can be calculated with concrete data. Ask your HVAC professional about how to test this!
- Integrated smart technology, such as sensors placed in vents, can monitor cleanliness and alert when maintenance is needed.
4 Tips for Keeping Your Air Vents Clean To Help Save Energy
#1: Use High-Efficiency Air Filters
Using high-quality air filters can improve both efficiency and air quality. This is one area where you don’t want to skimp on the cost because the quality of the filters you use makes such a big difference in your home’s air quality.
On a related note, it’s important to ensure that filters are properly installed so that air does not flow around the filter but passes through it. If you don’t feel sure about your ability to change air filters yourself, consult an HVAC professional to assist.
#2: Change Air Filters Regularly
Air filters work hard. They are the line of defense inside your vents that air flows through, capturing dust, dander, mold, and particles. They can get clogged quickly, and as they clog, they become less efficient. This decrease in efficiency and airflow increases your energy bill.
At a minimum, follow the recommended timeline for changing filters, and you may need to change them more frequently if you have pets or a lot of dust in your home.
#3: Keep Your Home Clean
Maintaining a clean home limits the amount of dust and dander that enter your vents and ducts. This can reduce wear and tear on your system. It can also slow the build-up of harmful debris and improve overall efficiency without such frequent maintenance required.
#4: Perform Regular Maintenance on Your HVAC System
There are several signals that you might need to check on your HVAC system. Keep an eye out for the following signs that maintenance may be needed:
- Any signs of mold
- Odors
- Brown rings
- Strange sounds
- Excessive dust in the home despite regular cleaning
- Uneven cooling or a noticeable change in heating and cooling efficiency
Your best bet is to get on a regular maintenance schedule with a reputable HVAC company. Follow recommendations and reach out if anything seems off. Prevention of major problems is much less costly than neglecting your system and then reacting to problems.
AAA Heating and Cooling is ready to assist with all of your HVAC needs in the Portland metro area.
Is It Better to Keep Air Vents Open or Closed?
Despite what might sound logical, it’s generally better to keep air vents open to save energy. You may think closing them closes off airflow and saves money, but closing them disrupts airflow and makes your HVAC work harder. This could lead to uneven temperatures and potentially higher energy costs.
Our professional technicians at AAA Heating and Cooling are happy to explain why this is generally a best practice and discuss your unique situation and whether it makes sense to leave vents open or closed in spaces of your home that are infrequently used.
Let AAA Heating & Cooling Help You Reduce Energy Costs by Handling Your HVAC Maintenance Needs
If your goal is to optimize energy efficiency in your home and save money on energy costs, allow AAA Heating and Cooling to handle your maintenance and all your HVAC system needs. We will be happy to assess your system’s current efficiency and make recommendations about the best maintenance plan going forward.
AAA is an HVAC company with locations in Portland and Beaverton, serving the Portland Metro area. We’ve been around for over half a century, and are a family-owned and operated company. We value client relationships and will work diligently to provide unparalleled service to you and your family.