- On July 31, 2017
Around Phoenix, air quality is often on people’s minds. Our outdoor air quality varies but is seldom as good as we would like. Indoors, homeowners and business operators strive for clean, breathable air, but dirty air ducts often lower indoor air quality.
How serious an issue is this, and what can homeowners and business owners do to reduce indoor air quality pollutants?
Dirty Air Ducts & Your Indoor Air Quality
The purity of your building’s indoor air quality (IAQ) is measured by the amount of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) floating in it. No air is perfectly pure. Indoors, dust can be caught up in return air ducts, blown through your central air conditioner’s air handler, and spewed out into rooms in the supply ducts.
Much of the particulate matter in indoor air is harmless, but some is disgusting:
- Insect droppings
- Insect body parts
- Skin cells
- Pet dander
In addition to particulates, VOCs pollute indoor air. VOCs are gases given off by solids and liquids from:
- Aerosol sprays
- Air fresheners
- Cleansers and disinfectants
- Dry-cleaned clothing
- Paints, paint strippers and other solvents
- Moth repellents
- Stored fuels and automotive products
- Wood preservatives
Filters can help remove particulate matter from air ducts, but some indoor pollutants cling to the inside surfaces of the ducts.
Why Clean Dirty Air Ducts?
The air in your building’s ducts has moisture in it, which can condense on any particulate, dust or other pollutant in the ductwork, setting up a firm footing for mold in air ducts. In homes or businesses in which people with sensitive respiratory systems might live or work, the mold and mildew in air ducts can cause discomfort and illness.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends air duct cleaning if you see visible mold, insect or rodent droppings, or heavy concentrations of debris in your ducts. Another sign, says the EPA, is at startup of your furnace or central air conditioner: If you see visible puffs of dust coming from registers, air duct cleaning is warranted.
Symptoms of Dirty Air Ducts
Mold in air ducts and VOCs in indoor air lead to symptoms such as:
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
- Headaches, loss of coordination and nausea
- Conjunctival irritation
- Allergic skin reactions
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
Contact Howard Air & Plumbing Today for Dirty Air Duct Cleaning
When you contract for an HVAC company to remove mold in air ducts symptoms such as these will dissipate. With a thorough air duct cleaning, allergies and allergic reactions among family members or employees generally improve. Contact Howard Air & Plumbing today to learn how duct cleaning can alleviate symptoms and improve indoor air quality in your home or business.
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