Throughout the spring and summer, seasonal allergies can wreak havoc on your respiratory system. Sneezing, congestion, coughing, and a scratchy throat are common symptoms. But if you’re noticing you’re also experiencing similar ailments while indoors, especially while your HVAC system is running, it may be time to consider air duct cleaning.
How Allergens Affect Air Ducts
Every home or building environment is different. Generally, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that annual air duct cleaning is necessary or practical to maintain a healthy indoor air quality.
However, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when HVAC systems are not installed, maintained, or operated properly, contamination can occur. Contaminants like dust, pollen, dirt and debris, as well as moisture (and the potential for mold growth), may gather and subsequently release into your home while running.
Air Duct Cleaning: What to Look For
Breathing in any contaminants can cause discomfort for all inhabitants. And especially those who are already sensitive to seasonal allergies. Some general signs to look for when figuring out if your air ducts might be the culprit include:
- Visible mold growth: If you’ve recently experienced a mold outbreak, particularly on walls or ceilings near your air duct locations, it’s possible there’s more growth inside your ducts. In this case you’ll likely experience a musty smell while running your HVAC system and should immediately seek professional mold remediation.
- Excessive dust and debris: You may actually see physical dust being pushed through vents while air is flowing. If this problem persists even after thoroughly cleaning vent grates, then the excess dust is further and your ducts and requires professional cleaning.
- Rodent or insect infestation: If you’ve recently had any issues with rodent or insect infestations in your walls, a thorough check to make sure the problem didn’t expand into your air ducts is in order.
Professional Air Duct Cleaning
At its core, professional air duct cleaning seeks to removes all allergens and irritants from your home’s air supply. At Flood Response, our team’s cleaning methods utilize specialized tools to dislodge any debris and completely vacuum it out.
If the primary cause of the reduced air quality is due to mold or mildew growth, our IICRC-trained and certified technicians can immediately begin the mold removal process:
- Contain the affected areas to prevent further mold spread.
- Safely remove mold from all affected surfaces, without further contaminating air quality or contaminating other areas of the structure.
- Identify and address the root causes of mold growth.
- Prevent future mold growth through moisture control measures and repair any damaged areas (roof leaks, flood risk areas, etc.) or issues with your HVAC system.
Additionally, you can improve your indoor air quality by regularly cleaning and replacing air filters and dusting air vent grates. You may also consider investing an in an air purification system.
Make Your First Response, Flood Response Whenever Disaster Strikes.Â
While air duct cleaning may not be on your annual home upkeep to-do list, maintaining indoor air quality is paramount to ensuring your home and family stay healthy. If you notice allergy symptoms persist indoors, or you’re worried your air ducts may be compromised by a mold outbreak, contact the professionals at Flood Response.
At Flood Response, we have the tools and expertise to identify any air duct issues and restore them to working order. When your family’s health and happiness is crucial, get an air duct cleaning team at your door as quickly as possible.
Home disasters can be scary and overwhelming, but you don’t need to face the unknown alone. For over 20 years, we’ve helped families and business owners in the Coachella Valley area take the right steps to restore their properties and rebuild their lives in the face of disaster. Are you looking for a reliable, full-service disaster recovery service in the Coachella Valley or the surrounding area? Contact Flood Response today!
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