• A powerful vacuum unit can suck debris from furnace ductwork.Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
  
  Ductwork traps dust and, even worse, can act as an incubator for harmful mold and mildew. If you suspect that your indoor air quality is worse than the outdoor air quality, you can use the tools and equipment of heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) professionals to clean your ductwork. Learn about ductwork cleaning tools to keep your furnace's ducting in top condition.
  
  

HVAC Disinfectant

• HVAC professionals use specially designed, EPA approved disinfectants to clean the fungus, mold, mildew and dust from the ductwork's interior. The DIY ductwork cleaner must recognize that the use of household disinfectants in HVAC ducting systems may pose considerable health risks and actually reduce interior air quality. Fortunately, EPA approved HVAC disinfectants are readily available from HVAC tool and equipment suppliers. These compounds arrive in concentrated liquid form and provide a base for many gallons of disinfectant. Ductwork cleaners typically apply HVAC disinfectants by sprayer, brush, mop or sponge. Iodine is a common active ingredient in these compounds.
  
  

Air Compressor & Sprayer

• An air compressor supplies pressurized air to spraying attachments that distribute HVAC disinfectant. Because sprayers quickly distribute disinfectants across large areas, professional HVAC technicians prefer to use a sprayer for furnace ductwork cleaning. Spraying attachments often include trigger-operated wands and equipment that resemble a pressure washing machine.
  
  

Wet/Dry Vacuum

• Wet and dry shop-type vacuums remove and contain the waste created during ductwork cleaning process. Professional grade vacuum hoses are highly flexible, often stretch beyond 20 feet in length and allow a cleaner to access difficult spots. Attachments of various shapes, such as fan-shaped or circular tips, mount to the end of the professional vacuum.
  
  

HVAC Vacuum Collector Unit

• Like the wet and dry vacuum, the HVAC vacuum collector unit collects and contains the debris and waste created during duct cleaning. Unlike the shop-type vacuum, this unusual machine does not have a manually-operated vacuum hose; the entire machine mounts to an opening in the furnace's ventilation system. The machine mounts to a vent and creates a strong suction that pulls all of the ventilation system's air toward a chute. Air waste drawn to the chute continues into a collection container.
  
  

Rotary Brush

• Essentially a motor-driven pipe cleaner, the rotary brush typically employs either compressed air or electricity to spin a bristled attachment. This tool's bristled attachment usually sits at the end of a wand or pole. An HVAC technician pushes the spinning attachment through vent openings and into ductwork to release and remove dust and debris.