When it comes to keeping your home safe and healthy, there’s a lot to think about! Protecting your family from the health risks of dirty carpet is just one part of maintaining a hygienic home environment.
There are many ways the air in your home can become contaminated. If you’re not feeling your best, dirty air might be the reason. There are a few ways to make sure your air ducts aren’t making you sick! One way to ensure your air stays clean is to regularly get your air ducts cleaned. What is air duct cleaning, and when should you have it done?
The EPA recommends having your air ducts cleaned if you have:
- Mold growing in your HVAC system
- Rodents and insects taking up residence in your vents
- Large amounts of debris and dust in your ducts
While these issues may seem obvious, ventilation problems are often hard to see and could be happening without your knowledge. Because of the difficulty diagnosing dirty air ducts on your own, we recommend consulting a professional.
Not sure if your air ducts are making you feel sick? Below is a list of health issues that could be caused or made worse by dirty air vents.
- Respiratory Issues
Poor air quality can make it difficult for you to breathe. Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath could all be symptoms you experience if there is decaying vermin or mold in your air vents. The American Lung Association warns that poor indoor air quality can contribute to the spread of bacteria, infections, and even lung disease in extreme cases.
- Sore Throat
Because air conditioner units cool your home, precipitation often occurs. This is okay if your AC unit is working properly, but if it’s underperforming, your vents can become a breeding ground for mildew and mold. Are you regularly waking up with a sore throat? Your HVAC system could be contributing to the itch and irritation.
- Allergies
Spring cleaning season is here! With the warmer weather and rain comes more seasonal pollen. While clean and efficient air vents won’t recirculate this through your home, air conditioning or heating units burdened with excess dust could be recirculating pollen and other debris. If you’re waking up with a scratchy throat, itchy eyes, or can’t stop sneezing, poor air quality could be part of the problem. To keep dust and other allergies at bay, the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends changing air filters every three months.
- Fatigue
Sleeping often becomes more difficult when you’re not feeling well. In addition to struggling to fall and stay asleep because of your other health ailments, poor air quality alone might be contributing to your drowsiness. Breathing in an excess of pollen, bacteria, and dander might be contributing to your daily fatigue.
- Heightened Autoimmune Disorders
Sufferers of autoimmune disorders could be experiencing worsened symptoms due to inhaling dirty air. We know polluted air outside can cause poor health outcomes for those already afflicted with an illness, so you should be equally vigilant in preserving indoor air quality. Make sure your body is exposed to as few toxins as possible by ensuring your air system isn’t recirculating dust, dander, pet hair, or other contaminates.
So how often should you clean your air ducts? If you’re not experiencing any symptoms, we recommend having your air ducts serviced every three years. However, it might be time to schedule a cleaning if:
- You’ve experienced a rodent infestation.
- You just finished remodeling your home.
- There’s extreme dust in the house.
- Allergy or asthma symptoms are getting worse.
DIY air duct cleaning can be a hassle and might do more damage than good. If you suspect your home could benefit from vent cleaning, contact Sharp today to schedule an appointment or get a quote on air duct cleaning costs for your home. In addition to AC vent cleaning, it’s important to regularly replace air filters. Not only does this preserve healthy air quality in your home, but it also helps lower your energy bills!