Dirty Air Ducts aren’t the Problem

Although duct cleaning can be beneficial for quality indoor air, it doesn’t always justify the cost of duct cleaning. According to studies, there is not a direct connection between the condition of air ducts and particle levels such as dust and pollen. The studies report that the dirt inside the air ducts does not enter the living space. It only sticks to the duct surface. Thus, the air is not necessarily affected.

Many other ways can be sources of particles that decrease the indoor air quality of our homes aside from dirty air ducts. Pollutants and contaminants can come from both outdoors and indoors. Habits and doings such as cleaning, heating, smoking, cooking, and many more can be more significant exposure to pollutants than dirty air ducts. Additionally, contrary to what most people believe, no evidence has been presented yet that proves fair amounts of household dust or other particles in the air ducts can pose any risk to our health.

Although dirty air ducts do not directly affect your health, it is still essential to keep them clean. Just because it does not impose a threat to us does not mean it is not a threat at all. Dirty air ducts can cause system failures as the accumulation of particles in the air ducts can hinder air passage. To ensure that your air ducts are clean and optimized, it is best to check them regularly to confirm their condition. There are a lot of services available that can help us with the pressing problem of dirty air ducts. These services will cost a few bucks depending on the size, accessibility, level of contamination and climatic region of the system. Still, they sure can help us reduce utility costs in the long run.

You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if there is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:

Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.

Read full article at EPA.gov.

As the seasons change, this change often brings dry, dusty air that can aggravate health issues. If it seems like the dry air in your home is causing your sinuses to dry out or your winter colds to worsen, you aren’t imagining things. Dry air leads to dehydrated sinuses, which makes you more susceptible to getting colds or the flu.

One thing you can do is to stay hydrated by drinking more water. Moisturizing your skin and taking steps in order to increase the humidity levels of your home or building may also help in attaining the kind of comfort you desire. Although, despite doing a lot of things to combat these negative effects, we can still be affected because of the existence of pollutants.

Combustion Pollutants are gases or particles that come from burning materials. In homes, the major source of combustion pollutants are improperly vented or unvented fuel-burning appliances such as:

  • space heaters
  • woodstoves
  • gas stoves
  • water heaters
  • dryers
  • fireplaces

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