5 Ways Dirty Air Ducts Can Make You Sick
If you value your health, you should do more than just change the filters on your HVAC system. You should also periodically clean the air ducts.
If you can't do it yourself, or simply don't want to do it yourself, you can hire an HVAC professional to take care of this job for you. Maintenance is an important part of keeping the system working and cleaning the ducts is essential maintenance.
Here are five ways your air ducts can be making you sick if you don't clean them:
1. They can collect dust
Dust is mostly dead skin, plus detritus from other items, like books and upholstered furniture. The dust that collects in air ducts can aggravate allergies and respiratory problems. It can be spread throughout the home from the blowing of the HVAC system. It can also be the basis for the development of other problems.
2. They can grow mold
When dust starts to clog air filters, it can promote moisture remaining in the system. It can also give mold spores a foundation to start taking root. Mold can be a serious health threat. It can even be deadly. It is especially problematic for babies, small children, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system.
3. They can spread germs
As air flows through the ducts and gets circulated through the home, it can spread dust and other matter found inside unclean ducts. A combination of germs plus poor ventilation can cause sick building syndrome.
4. Unclean air ducts can attract pests
One of the best ways to keep insects and other vermin out of your home is to keep everything clean. Not cleaning your ducts can be a hidden source of food for insects. They may feed on things like mold growing in the ducts and then larger vermin may follow the insects in to feed on them.
Cleaning all the hidden parts of your house periodically should be a routine part of keeping vermin from infiltrating your home. Insects, like roaches, and other pests, like rats, can both carry disease.
5. They can help clog the filters of your HVAC system
If the air ducts are full of dust, it's going to impact the filters of your HVAC system. Once the filters get clogged, you will have poorer air flow and this will compound all of the aforementioned issues.
If you typically have an HVAC professional change the filters, ask them to take a look at the ducts as well. Ask for an estimate for cleaning them. It's one of the best ways to add life to your HVAC system while keeping yourself healthy too.
For more information about keeping your air ducts clean, give the experts at Romano Bros. a call at (630) 931-0123.
