Spring Allergen Removal—Getting Air Ducts Clean

Spring Allergens

Have you ever experienced chronic ear, throat, or eye irritations, sneezing, coughing, dizziness, or headaches only while in your home and as soon as you use your HVAC system? It could be from poor air quality due to dirty air ducts spring allergy season approaches. Even the Canadian Lung Association recognizes indoor air quality as the catalyst for many allergy-related diseases. If you haven’t cleaned your ducts in 4 to 5 years, there will be an accumulation of contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and other allergens recirculating allergens in your HVAC system to the indoor air. Even new construction can pose a threat with its hazardous materials and drywall dust. Consequently, you breathe these particles in, leading to allergic and asthmatic symptoms. Indoor allergies are most prevalent during spring and summer when your HVAC starts moving air around, and any particles that have settled there through the winter will kick up and begin affecting your breathing. Time to control spring allergies!

Types of Allergens—Some leading contaminants that can settle in your air ducts and later in your lungs are dust mites, mold, pet dander, pollen, smog, and volatile organic compounds. The EPA says these particles much more contaminate indoor air than outside. Dust mites are organisms that produce waste that gets circulated in your air ducts along with pollen after it is brought in through our clothes and shoes. Mold, caused by moisture, releases airborne spores, and pet dander or dead skin flecks from domestic pets can also cause allergic reactions and illness. Smog from C02 emissions and damaging gases from organic compounds can also become part of our home’s indoor environment, thereby detrimental to our respiratory health.

Example of before & after.

The process and benefits of duct cleaning— Air duct cleaning is important and recommended by allergists to help you breathe healthier, fresher air by improving air quality and reducing allergy symptoms. If you’ve never had your ducts cleaned, don’t have the time, or lack the skills needed to clean them yourself, it’s always best to hire professional duct cleaning who will possess the appropriate tools and expertise. With a rotary brush or air whip, a professional can clean and sanitize your ducts by flushing or pulling out dust and debris with a vacuum device that uses compressed air. The price will depend on the size and location of your home and the company you choose, so shop around without squelching on quality service. Duct cleaning takes about two hours for the average home, how often depends how many live in the home and how many pets. If you’d rather do some of the work yourself, there are simpler tasks, such as changing the HVAC filter or wiping down the surface of the unit. If vacuuming, its recommend by Bent Nails to vacuum each vent covers. Its only a few extra moments but will help you by improving air quality.

In addition to improving air quality, duct cleaning removes odours, reduces surface dust, and improves HVAC efficiency. Smells from pets, rodent droppings, mold, and mildew are removed, and dust from mites and pollen that settle on bed linen and carpets is reduced. Airflow is improved when ducts are unclogged of debris, thus leading to lower energy costs and extending the system’s life.

You should never compromise your indoor air quality by letting spring allergens run amok. You can keep yourself healthy and your HVAC system in good working order by following a regular maintenance plan for cleaning your air ducts. Although the procedure to sanitize and disinfect could be costly, it’s money well-spent as opposed to racking up enormous energy and medical bills. When you invest in cleaning your air ducts, you invest in your health and happy home, so make it a priority for this season. Companies make bold promises to improve your air quality, it all starts with you having proper knowledge.

Does duct cleaning really help allergies?

Allergens Accumulate Inside Your Ductwork by having your ducts cleaned on an annual or biannual basis, you’ll significantly reduce or even eliminate the allergens lurking inside your ductwork. As a result, you’ll enjoy fewer annoying symptoms year round.

Does replacing ductwork help allergies?

Newly installed ductwork can lead to the presence of fewer allergens in the air, resulting in higher air quality in your home. Dust, mold, fungus, and other potential causes of allergies can flourish in old ductwork, making replacement worthwhile.

Are my air ducts making me sick?

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.

Can dirty air ducts cause hives?

Dirty HVAC ducts can flood your home with nasty bacteria and allergens. While some of them may not make you physically ill, they can settle on your skin, irritating it and causing intense itching. These particles can bring an increase in eczema symptoms or even hives.