Your air ducts serve an important role in improving indoor air quality. They are like your home’s lungs; they take in and breathe out air, so cleaning them is necessary.
To know why, read on…
Health Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Poor indoor air quality leads to numerous health issues, including asthma, allergies, eye irritation and sinuses.
Health effects can be short-term, such as eye and throat irritation, or long-term like cancer and respiratory illnesses. Respiratory health effects can include nasal congestion or rhinitis, characterized by a runny nose or inflammation of the nose, as well as nosebleeds, dyspnea, worsening asthma, cough or pharyngitis. High levels of pollutant exposure (such as carbon monoxide poisoning) can even lead to immediate death.
Other severe effects of poor indoor air quality include hearing loss, tachycardia and/or muscle pain.
Why Is Air Duct Cleaning Necessary?
Ducts accumulate dirt and dust in your home, so they need regular cleaning, especially if you have pets and loved ones with asthma or allergies.
Cleaning is also necessary if there is water damage or contamination to the heating and cooling system or home. If you notice condensation on your air ducts, it could mean you have another issue, like needing new insulation.
Energy savings is another reason to consider air duct cleaning; because it prevents the spread of contaminants that force the system to work harder.
Regular duct cleaning, then, can also improve the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Duct cleaning also reduces irritants and allergens — including pet dander, pollen, bacteria, mold and mildew — circulating in the air.
Moving to a New Home
Before moving to a new home, consider contacting an air conditioning service for help in air duct cleaning.
If you don’t know whether the former owners had pets or checked the system for mold, you should get the services of a duct cleaning company to ensure that there will be no pet dander and mold, among other pollutants.
A musty odor might be lingering in the air of your newly-bought home. Even if the interior looks clean, its duct might have accumulated dirt and dust that caused this odor.
And with clean air ducts, you and your loved ones will breathe easy because you can be sure that the debris on the ducts, the air conditioner and the vents has been removed.
How Air Duct Cleaning Works
First, an assessment is done by the duct cleaning team, who will check the ductwork’s current condition and usually provide an estimate for the cost of cleaning your air ducts.
They will identify leaks and cracks in the duct area and note where dust and dirt have built up.
Then, they will attach a vacuum system to collect dust and debris.
Next, they’ll use electronic or manual brushes to remove the debris collected from the interior walls of the ducts.
Air duct cleaning will improve your home’s indoor air quality because it can remove the pollutants, including pet dander, mold, mildew, dust and other debris that otherwise contaminate the air you’re breathing.
Getting professional help, including from a water damage restoration company, can help ensure that your family breathes clean air.
