Have you noticed excess dust accumulation in your home? Is someone in your family experiencing unexplained allergy symptoms or respiratory problems? If so, your home’s air ducts may be to blame. According to Frank Engels of Collin Creek Duct Cleaning, a company that offers air duct and dryer vent cleaning in Dallas and the surrounding areas, many homeowners simply aren’t aware of the potentially harmful contaminants that can sometimes lurk inside air ducts.
“Sick Building” Syndrome
In recent years, much has been learned about indoor air quality. Surprisingly, it is estimated that indoor air is between 10 and 100 times more polluted than outside air. While there are many sources of indoor pollutants, a home’s HVAC system is usually the largest contributor. Your air duct system may be home to significant amounts of dirt and waste material. And thanks to a dark, moist, controlled environment, your HVAC system provides a perfect breeding ground for unwanted biological contaminants.
Visible Contaminants
The most common contaminants found in air ducts are things like insect parts, dust, general debris, and pet hair. Dust and debris from construction or remodeling projects may also be present. This dirt and waste is more than just unsightly; it’s contaminating the air that you breathe. Dust can trigger asthma and allergy attacks in some people, particularly children. These and other contaminants can even contribute to more serious health problems in sensitive individuals.
Invisible Contaminants
Just as important, if not more so, than contaminants that are visible to the naked eye are those that cannot be seen. Some examples are dust mite feces, pollen, mold spores, smoke, and bacteria. These types of contaminants can easily make you sick. And some airborne bacteria have the potential to cause serious illnesses when inhaled by a building’s occupants.
The Unexpected
You may be surprised at some of the other things Engels has found during routine cleanings. Air ducts can contain anything from beer cans and cigarette butts to rolls of tape and other construction leftovers. Sometimes when new homes are constructed, he says, workers tend to hide things, and air ducts make great hiding places.
What to Do about Contaminants
Ridding your air ducts of harmful contaminants requires a professional cleaning. For the most thorough cleaning possible, you’ll want to hire a duct cleaning company that employs a technique called source removal. This will remove all visible contaminants and common allergens from the air duct system.
To remove particles as small as viruses and bacteria, the air ducts should be sanitized after they’re cleaned. This requires the use of an EPA-regulated chemical and, therefore, must be performed by a company licensed specifically to apply chemical agents to the insides of air ducts.
“It’s the invisible contaminants that really make a difference in terms of indoor air quality,” says Engels. “Not every home’s air ducts require sanitization, but if someone in the home is experiencing symptoms that could be related to air quality, cleaning and sanitizing the duct system can be very helpful.”