What Are The Hidden Risks Lurking In Your Air Ducts
Does the site of dust bunnies in your home or office cause panic? If you have allergies or any type of lung disorder that is quite understandable. After all, dust and debris are common triggers for sneezing, coughing, and many other symptoms. Keeping your home or office as clean and dust-free as possible is a great place to start, however, cleaning the floors and dusting simply is not enough. Especially when you consider the hidden risks that are lurking in your air ducts.
Your ducts require some additional cleaning outside of the normal day to day cleaning to help prevent harmful allergen buildup. When allergens buildup in the air ducts of your home or office your health and anyone that frequents the area may be impacted. Mold can also build up in the ducts and cause more serious health problems as well.
With that said, the question that is people ask when should air ducts be cleaned and how often? In this article, we will go over how often you should clean your ductwork as well as potential health risks hidden from sight.
They Can Cause Respiratory Infections
Have you or your family been getting sick more than usual these days? Have you been experiencing sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion, runny noses, headaches, low-grade fevers, or sore throats? You may already be afflicted with upper respiratory infections caused by dirty air ducts. If you insist on not cleaning your air ducts, these health issues could develop into lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.
How Often Should You Clean Your Ac Vents & Ducts
Some experts believe that you should clean your AC vents and air ducts every three to five years. However, it would be best not to wait until its performance deteriorates and your energy bills go off the charts.
An excellent practice is to schedule an annual inspection to check if everything is alright.
Still, not all systems operate under the same conditions. For instance, if you live in an area where dust buildup is unavoidable, you need to clean your AC vents and ducts twice a year.
Doing so will protect your central AC and ensure that you can always rely on getting fresh, conditioned air in your home.
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Develop Respiratory Infections Disease
If your family is getting sick more than normal, experiencing coughing, sneezing, sore throats, runny noses, nasal congestion, headaches, and low-grade fevers, they may have upper respiratory infections as a result of dirty air ducts. If your air ducts remain uncleaned, these issues could develop into something worsea lower respiratory infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Your Air Filter Is Clogged
As responsible HVAC technicians, we constantly advise homeowners to change their air filters. Its a small component of your HVAC system but it can make a big difference. Your air filter protects your air conditioner as well as your ductwork from coming into contact with dust and dander. Excess dirt buildup in your air conditioner can reduce efficiency, increase heating and cooling bills and even cause your ACs evaporator coil to freeze up.
If you have not changed your air filter in a long time , the filter might have become clogged as a result of dust buildup. This might have decreased its performance, leading to particles making their way into your air ducts.
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Are Your Air Ducts Making You Sick
Your home is supposed to be your safe space. Without the proper maintenance, though, it could actually make you sick. Homes sometimes fall victim to what is known as sick building syndrome. Dirty air ducts are a major contributing factor of this problem. Are your air ducts making you sick?
How Dirty Ductwork Affects Your Health
Aug 5, 2013 | Blogs
Dirty ducts within a home means dirty air in all of your living spaces. In some cases, the amount of indoor air pollution could exceed that of the outdoors. Since many people spend the majority of their day inside at home, this means that you could be experiencing a wide variety of health problems, all because of dirty air ducts. Our Venice, FL heating and cooling specialists explain how dirty ducktwork affects your health and what you can do about the situation.
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How Dirty Air Ducts Could Be Affecting Your Health
Youd be surprised at the number of people in Venice, West Villages, Nokomis, and Sarasota areas that overlook the ductwork of their HCAC system. Leaving it dirty means it could be a source for these pollutants. It may facilitate illnesses and risk the health of your family. You see, air ducts are the perfect home for pests, rodents, and insects when they seek a place of refuge.
When they spread bacteria and illnesses, the air coming in and out of your home will be contaminated. When you breathe it in, youre likely to contract these illnesses. This is especially risky for children and seniors with weaker immune systems.
If by any chance, your air ducts are clogged, it could result in trapped moisture and mold growth. This will impact your indoor air quality.
Mold can be dangerous, and its quite easy for the pores to get into the air. They eventually get into your lungs, triggering allergies, asthma, and other related illnesses. With clean air ducts, youre likely to eliminate all these pollutants, and even better, itll improve the efficiency of your HVAC system.
Do You Need Duct Cleaning For Allergies Call For An Inspection
Were your ducts were properly installed? Has your HVAC system been regularly maintained through a preventative maintenance contract? If so, air duct cleaning for allergies might not be necessary.
However, sometimes ducts become damaged. Pesky rodents can enter ducts and create havoc. Call an HVAC professional to assess whether you need to address allergies and duct cleaning.
Wondering about connection between your allergies and ductwork cleaning? Choose an HVAC company experienced with ductwork cleaning and certified by the National Duct Cleaners Association, such as Arista Air.
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Poor Indoor Air Quality
If the indoor air quality is not good, the air conditioner can distribute the airborne pollutants throughout the home. Here are the common indoor particulates that can cause allergies:
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Pollen: It enters your home through open doors, windows, clothing, and shoes. It is known to trigger hay fever and sinus-related allergies.
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Dust mites: They can breed inside the air conditioning unit and feed on human skin. Dust mites are found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, blankets, and other furnishings and are known allergy triggers.
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Pet dander: Some people are allergic to dander that contains proteins. Air conditioners can circulate pet dander that goes airborne, resulting in allergies.
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Mold: It can develop inside high moisture areas in the home or inside ducts and air conditioners, from where the spores can travel through the house. Ensure proper duct cleaning and maintenance by a professional duct cleaning company, especially before the allergy season.
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Bacteria and viruses: When airborne bacteria and viruses like measles, influenza, chickenpox, and legionella infiltrate the AC, air ducts can circulate them indoors, making the family sick.
Could Dirty Air Ducts Be Harming Your Health
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- In Air Duct Cleaning
All too often, allergies and other health issues are not considered to be caused by the homes we live in and the air we breathe when in them. However, both research and evidence has consistently shown that in a good number of instances, our homes are responsible for making us sick.
Pollutants carried around our homes via dirty air ducts in HVAC systems, are responsible for causing a multitude of health problems for individuals and families alike, and regular cleaning by a technician, is the only way to resolve the issue and keep the air in your home as clean as possible.
Below are just some of the signs that dirt and debris in your air ducts could be harming your health:
- Allergies, sore throats, cold and coughs
If you or anyone in your household suffers from allergies and your air ducts are dirty, you or they, will be the first to show signs of suffering, typically in the form of itchy eyes, coughing, sneezing and sore throats.
Circulating allergens and other bacteria can make anyone sick, but especially seniors, children and anyone with compromised immunity or allergies.
- Respiratory disease
Pet dander, dust, pollen and a whole host of other irritating allergens can build up in air ducts over time and get stuck there if not cleaned professionally, and regularly.
Distributed around your home or place of work, breathing this polluted air over a prolonged period can cause severe respiratory disease.
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Signs You Should Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Your ductwork is vital to your HVAC system because it keeps air flowing throughout your home. The air you breathe often circulates through your houses ducts, which is why it is important that they are well-maintained and clean. Unclean air ducts can lead to an increase in allergens, pollutants and toxins accumulating inside your home. There are some obvious indications of air ducts that need cleaning. To help you find them, the team at Action Air has prepared a useful list of signs you should have your air ducts cleaned!
How Are Allergies Correlated With Duct Cleaning
Your home should be a comfortable oasis. However, dusty homes cause allergies to most people as dust triggers the onset of uncomfortable symptoms to your body. House dust, in particular, contains several substances, which vary from one home to the next based on factors such as the building materials, kind of furniture, moisture level, and the presence of pets, among others. Dust can be so fine that it becomes part of the air you inhale in your house. Paradoxically, allergy symptoms usually get worse immediately or after a short period following dusting, sweeping, or vacuuming.
It is also noteworthy that dust allergies do not necessarily mean that your house is dirty. Whereas dirty houses can worsen the problems associated with dust allergies, normal housekeeping practices may not be effective in getting rid of dust allergens from your house. Your ductwork system may be dirty but you may think your home is dirty due to the presence of excess dust. But that dust may just be coming from your ductwork system thats overdue for its next duct cleaning session.
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What Health Problems Can Dirty Air Ducts Cause
It comes as no surprise that air ducts get dirty. Pulling air throughout the house several times every day, dirt, dust, and grime gets left behind, accumulating on the walls of the ducts. More surprising are the impacts that this accumulation can have on your health. Keeping your air ducts clean is important to maintaining your health as well as the health of everyone else living in your home.
How Do I Know If My Air Ducts Need To Be Cleaned
Think of your air ducts as your homes lungs. They take in the air around them and circulate that same air back into your home. We then inhale that air into our own lungs. Unfortunately, when your air ducts are circulating dirty air, that means youre inhaling it. Indoor air is often more polluted than the air outdoors, and it can cause serious problems for many people, especially those with allergies and asthma.
In homes with dirty air ducts, occupants may experience symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of allergies, including coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Mold, dust and other contaminants lurking in your ducts could also cause sore throat, headaches and even dizziness.
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Maintain The Health Of Your Home With Regular Hvac Maintenance
For more information about maintaining the health of your HVAC system, connect with Modern Air & Water today. We provide comprehensive and reliable HVAC services, including furnace and air conditioning installation and repair to Edmonton and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to learn more about our services, or to request a free quote.
Ways A Dirty Air Duct Can Affect Your Health
Have you ever thought that the air quality in your house can be the cause of your never-ending allergies and asthma? Most people have this misconception that air pollution only refers to the air outside your home. But, the air pollution in your homes can be as bad. Having dirty ducts can worsen this situation, and thus, it is important to schedule regular cleaning of your air ducts, filters and vents.
There are several consequences of not getting the air ducts in your homes cleaned. Poor air quality can have numerous negative effects on your familys health than you can imagine. Take a look at this guide and know in-depth how dirty air ducts can affect your health.
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Duct Cleaning May Help Alleviate Asthma And Allergy Problems Caused By Mold Dust Mites And Other Allergens
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , almost 25 million adults and children in America have asthma and nearly 50 million struggle with hay fever. Mold, dust mites, and other allergens found in household and commercial duct systems can trigger the symptoms of both conditions. The CDC reports that allergies are the sixt most common cause of chronic illness in the United States.
What Happens If You Dont Clean Your Air Ducts
If you dont clean your air ducts, you might be hit with much more than a sinus problemyou may find that your wallet isnt in good shape either.
When your air ducts arent clean, your heating and air conditioning have to work harder to keep your room temperature comfortable. This can lead to higher power bills.
Another reason is that these ducts may become contaminated by allergens, and if they arent cleaned, these contaminants can spread throughout your home. This, in turn, affects your indoor air quality.
These contaminants can also make skin conditions, such as hives, rashes and dry skin, worse. In certain cases, these problems may even be caused by these airborne contaminants
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They Cause Sinus Problems
When left for a long time without cleaning, air ducts can cause sinus problems due to the bad air quality. When all the dirt, debris, and pet dander gets into the nasal passages, they cause inflammation that soon turns into sinus infections.
Every year, over 35 million Americans are diagnosed with sinusitis, which is often caused by infections, fungus, viruses, or nasal allergies. Symptoms include coughing, congestion, weakness, fatigue, and fever. If you have sinusitis or a family member that has it, clean your air ducts as it could potentially reduce the problem.
How To Prevent Contamination Of Ac Vents And Ducts
Preventing your AC vents and ducts from contamination will keep you from going through this entire process.
Hence, here are some excellent strategies to reduce contaminants in your central AC ducts:
Regular Vacuuming
You can reduce the dust buildup in your house by using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. It can remove around 99.7% of airborne particles of 0.3 microns.
Just make sure you clean your house every few days.
Sealed Ducts
AC vent cleaning will only give optimal performance when you seal the ducts. No air should make it inside the system from the outside.
Using good insulation is necessary to keep the AC vents and air ducts isolated from the external environment.
Better Air Filter
Sometimes, the location of your AC would mean that you cannot avoid dust. However, you can switch to better air filters if you find them clogged every few weeks.
Additionally, you can also change the filter every few weeks. It will save your system from developing dust deposits in air ducts.
Avoid Moisture
Avoid any moisture buildup near your AC vents and air ducts. It allows dirt and other microscopic particles a medium to stay, building sludge inside your vents.
You wont have to clean your HVAC when you keep it nice and dry.
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How To Determine If The Duct Cleaner Did A Thorough Job
A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers use remote photography to document conditions inside ducts. All portions of the system should be visibly clean you should not be able to detect any debris with the naked eye. Show the Post-Cleaning Consumer Checklist to the service provider before the work begins. After completing the job, ask the service provider to show you each component of your system to verify that the job was performed satisfactorily.
If you answer “No” to any of the questions on the checklist, this may indicate a problem with the job. Ask your service provider to correct any deficiencies until you can answer “yes” to all the questions on the checklist.
| Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist |
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- energy conservation
- reduced condensation
The Link Between Allergies And Duct Cleaning
Does air duct cleaning reduce allergies? Consider this.What happens when you blow dust off an object? Often the airborne dust blows back at you. For those with allergies, what happens next is a sneezing fit.
When your HVAC blows air through ducts coated in dust, you end up with airborne dust and dust mites in your home. Plus, pet dander, bacteria, viruses and mold spores. So it stands to reason that cleaning dust, allergens and other contaminants from ducts could improve air quality and reduce allergy symptoms.
Experts agree: a prominent allergist called duct cleaning a common sense move in a WebMD article.
Poor air quality in your home or business can lead to a laundry list of nagging health issues. Is anyone complaining about eye, ear and throat irritations? Is there a lot of coughing and sneezing going on? How about headaches and dizziness? Well, dirty ducts can make the occupants of your place sick.
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