The air ducts are an essential part of your home’s HVAC system, circulating air throughout your home. Clean ducts are essential to healthy indoor air quality because they supply clean air from your home’s HVAC system. Here’s what you need to know.
Sources and Impact of Indoor Air Pollution
Several factors can play a role in indoor air pollution. Some of the most common causes include combustion sources like gas, tobacco, kerosene, and coal. Many common household items can also be to blame for indoor pollution, including furnishings, building materials, insulation, carpets, and cabinetry made from pressed wood, which can off-gas volatile organic compounds. Indoor air can also be affected by air pollution, radon, and pesticides.
If you’ve got poor ventilation, the problem is compounded. This inadequate airflow allows pollutants to accumulate inside, and the problem can be exacerbated in modern homes, which are optimized for energy efficiency with reduced natural air exchange with the outdoors. This results in potentially harmful levels of indoor air pollution.
Addressing indoor air pollution involves a multifaceted approach, including ventilating properly, minimizing combustion sources, selecting low-emission materials, and maintaining a clean indoor environment. Regular maintenance, the use of air purifiers or air cleaners, and promoting good ventilation practices are essential steps to improve and maintain indoor air quality, ensuring a healthier living environment.
Health Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air pollutants have been linked to several potentially serious health issues. For example, radon is a human carcinogen and the second leading cause of lung cancer. Carbon monoxide exposure at high levels, even for a short time, can be lethal. Legionnaires disease is a type of pneumonia caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria, which has been linked to buildings with poorly maintained HVAC systems and ductwork. Other indoor pollutants, such as pet dander, particulate matter, and cockroach allergens, can trigger asthma symptoms in asthmatics.
Indoor air pollutants can lead to or aggravate respiratory disease, cancer, and heart disease. People in homes with poor indoor air quality are also more likely to experience fatigue, dizziness, and headaches. Researchers have also been studying the link between indoor air quality and issues with concentration and productivity.
The Importance of Regular Ductwork Cleaning
Regular ductwork cleaning is a crucial maintenance task for maintaining good indoor air quality and the efficiency of your HVAC system. For the best results, you should have your ductwork cleaned at least every few years to maintain a healthy living environment.
Cleaning is even more important when your HVAC system has been contaminated.
For instance, if you’ve been rehabbing or remodeling, have had construction, or are renovating to remove potentially dangerous substances like lead paint or asbestos, ductwork cleaning is essential. Any activities that generate excessive dust and debris, such as laying concrete or cutting wood, can also trigger the need for duct cleaning.
Similarly, if your home has recently dealt with an infestation of insects or rodents like mice, rats, or squirrels near the ductwork, a thorough cleaning is warranted to remove any waste or debris left behind. Additionally, cleaning the ductwork is important to eliminate any remaining pathogens after a family member has suffered from a severe respiratory illness or a head lice infestation.
Clean ductwork promotes a healthier indoor environment, reduces the risk of allergens, and supports the overall efficiency and effectiveness of your HVAC system. If you’ve suffered a contamination issue or it’s just time, maintenance and cleaning will ensure optimal indoor air quality.
What to Expect From a Ductwork Cleaning
Professional duct cleaning involves thoroughly assessing the HVAC system, creating negative pressure with a powerful vacuum to remove even the finest particles, and a comprehensive cleaning of all HVAC components. Special attention is given to the condition of fiberglass insulation and sealing any ductwork holes. This process ensures improved system efficiency and indoor air quality, making regular duct cleaning crucial for a healthier and more efficient living environment.
Experience Expert HVAC Services in Spokane, WA
If you’re looking for HVAC services in Spokane, WA, offered by a trustworthy company, look no further than Sturm Heating & Air Conditioning. We have provided quality service in this area since 1945 and have helped countless businesses and residents with our wide range of HVAC services. We are proud to be an A+ Better Business Bureau accredited company, a member of the National Air Duct Cleaning Association, and a member of the IGSHPA Associated Builders and Contractors.
Our services include residential and commercial HVAC repair, installation, and maintenance. We install heat pumps, boilers, and mini-splits. We offer metal sheet fabrication, air quality services, and installation of traditional and tankless water heaters. Contact Sturm Heating & Air Conditioning today and see why we’ve been trusted in this field for nearly three-quarters of the century.
