CLEAN DUCTS

4 Health Risks of Dirty Ducts There are many benefits to keeping your air ducts clean. Annual cleanings will ensure air is able to easily circulate throughout your home. This means that your HVAC unit will not need to work as hard and as a result, you will see lower energy bills. While these should be reason enough to keep your ducts clean, there is another very important reason: dirty ducts can lead to a number of health issues for you and your household. 4 Health Risks of Dirty Ducts 1. Allergies, Sore Throat, Colds and Coughing Do you find you’re often suffering from allergy or cold-like symptoms? Your dirty ducts may be to blame. Dirty air ducts lower the quality of air throughout your home. This means that allergens and other bacteria are constantly being circulated through your air and are breathed in by you. Some symptoms you might start to notice from dirty ducts include: Constant sneezing Itchy eyes, nose and/or throat Stuffed or runny nose Coughing Increased air pressure Fatigue People who suffer from asthma and dust related allergies are the most likely to become sick from this. Children and the elderly are also at a higher risk of being affected by the dirty air. If you have young children or are expecting, be sure to have your ducts cleaned before your bring your newborn home, as babies are particularly sensitive. 2. Respiratory Disease Over time, constantly breathing in dirty air will lead to allergies and in the long run a number of severe respiratory diseases. If you are a smoker or are already prone to respiratory issues, maintaining clean ducts is essential for your health. When you neglect to clean your ducts, they accumulate pet dander, pollen, dust and other allergens. When it comes time for your ducts to be used, these allergens are blown around your home and you end up breathing them in. Years of breathing in dirty air could eventually lead to respiratory issues. 3. Rodent and Insect Issues Dirty air ducts make a great home for pests. Rodents and insects like spiders and cockroaches will be happy to move into your home and make nests in your dirty ducts. Pests often carry disease, and their dander is full of harmful allergens that can cause reactions. Imagine breathing in rat fur and cockroach droppings every morning as you take your first deep breath of the day. Another issue with having pests in your ducts is that they can leave the ducts and move into other spots throughout your home. Before you know it, you could have an infestation on your hands. Save yourself the hassle of having these pests expand to the rest of your home and stop breathing in their gross and harmful dander. 4. Odours in the Air Leaving your ducts for years without a cleaning gives mould and mildew the chance to grow and spread. If your ducts are full of mould and mildew, your home will start to smell like it. A musty smell will start to take over your home and after a while, you won’t be able to notice it anymore. Although the smell will go away, the harmful effects of breathing in mould and mildew will not. While you might think an unnoticeable smell isn’t that big an issue, it certainly will be to any house guests who visit.