Health Risks and Dirty Air Ducts

Air ducts can be found in such places as homes, schools, office buildings, hotels, retail establishments, apartment buildings,etc. Contaminated air ducts are often a major a major source of indoor air pollution. Air ducts can provide the perfect environment for the accumulation of allergens, bacteria, fungi, dust, dust mites, mold, and other organisms. Every time a heating and cooling unit runs, pollutants can be pulled in and over time, they will accumulate and flourish. Eventually, these contaminants are blown into rooms where they are inhaled by the occupants. The result will be the development of illnesses and severe allergic reactions.

Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, lung disease, headaches and migraines, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea, insomnia, and tiredness. Biological pollutants such as moulds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, and animal dander reduce air quality which can cause serious illness.

Duct Cleaning Benefits

Cleaning your air ducts is a great method of improving the quality of indoor air. It improves air circulation, eliminates the built-up of contaminates, and improves the quality and function of heating and cooling systems.

Duct cleaning involves the cleaning and disinfection of the components of a heating and cooling system. This normally includes supply and return air ducts and registers, grills and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, drip pans, fan motor, fan housing and air handling unit housing.

If not properly maintained, the components will become contaminated with dirt and other microorganisms. Moisture in ducts is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi which can cause respiratory illnesses when inhaled. If there are mice or rats running through the ducts, they will often leave their droppings in the ducts. Air blowing the droppings can result air contamination and may lead to serious health problems.

Duct Cleaning technicians have the experience and tools to thoroughly clean and disinfect ducts. There are professional cleaners that can clean a variety of ducts such as commercial, residential, and industrial ducts. The outcome will be a cleaner and less dusty home or building because there will no longer be any dust blowing into rooms. The chance of an indoor allergic reaction will be greatly reduced. Dust mites feed on debris found in air ducts. When you eliminate the debris, you will eliminate the dust mites.

Newly constructed homes also need a duct cleaning. Materials such as plaster and drywall particles, wood, dust, insects and insulation can accumulate in ducts during construction. Removing these contaminants will make breathing in your new home much easier. New homes are now being built to be more energy efficient. This means that they are more air tight. Dirty air ducts in an energy efficient home can seriously affect the health of the occupants.

If left unclean for a long period of time, your air duct system could be a major source of dust and contaminants. For businesses, hiring a professional duct cleaning service once or twice a year will greatly improve the health of employees, clients, and customers. Cleaning home ducts will benefit homeowners, their children, and their pets.

Source: Correct Cure

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Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effectsare usually short term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment issimply eliminating the persons exposure to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified.

Symptoms of some diseases, including asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, may also show up soon after exposure to some indoor airpollutants. The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors. Age and preexisting medical conditions are two important influences. In other cases, whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity,which varies tremendously from person to person.

Some people can become sensitized to biological pollutants after repeatede xposures, and it appears that some people can become sensitized to chemical pollutants as well.

Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the time and place the symptoms occur. If the symptoms fade or go away when a person is away from the home and return when the person returns, an effort should be made to identify indoor air sources that maybe possible causes.

Some effects may be made worse by an inadequate supply of outdoor air or from the heating, cooling, or humidity conditions prevalent in the home. Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal.

It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable.

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There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home.

These include:

- combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products;

- products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies;

- central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices;

- outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollutions.

The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove or gas furnace can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.

Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently.

These include:

- smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in housekeeping.

High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities. 

If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate levels that can pose health and comfort problems.

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Here is a list of the most common air pollutants in your home:

1. Moisture

2. Pressed Wood Furniture

3. Humidifier

4. Moth Repellents

5. Dry-Cleaned Goods

6. House Dust Mites

7. Personal Care Products

8. Air Freshener

9. Stored Fuels

10. Car Exhaust

11. Paint Supplies

12. Paneling

13. Wood Stove

14. Tobacco Smoke

15. Carpets

16. Pressed Wood Sub flooring

17. Drapes

18. Fireplace

19. Household Chemicals

20. Asbestos Floor Tiles

21. Pressed Wood Cabinets

22. Unvented Gas Stove

23. Asbestos Pipe Wrap

24. Radon

25. Unvented Clothes Dryer

26. Pesticides

27. Stored Hobby Products

28. Lead-Based Paint

While pollutant levels from individual sources may not pose a significant health risk by themselves, most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. There can be a serious risk from the cumulative effects of these sources.

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If your ducts are not cleaned regularly, you may be increasing your risk of suffering from the many symptoms and illnesses associated with indoor air pollution. Many types of pollutants and small particles can collect within the ducts that include mold, fungus, dust, bacteria and viruses as well as other outdoor pollutants, such as exhaust fumes, pollen and animal hair. The more these particles collect within the ducts, the higher chance you have of developing illnesses and symptoms associated with poor indoor air quality.

If you have allergies, you are even more susceptible to the high concentration of contaminants that may be circulating within your home. Poor indoor air quality can cause a variety of symptoms that include nausea, headaches, respiratory illness, congestion, eye and nose irritation, runny nose, trouble concentrating, malaise (generally not feeling well) and lethargy. It also increases the risk of contracting illnesses such as colds, flu and fungal or other infections. Indoor air pollution greatly contributes to the amount of severity of symptoms suffered by those with allergies and can even contribute to the development of new allergies.

Many times we do not think about the quality of air we air we breathe while inside our homes. However, the American Lung Association estimates that we spend anywhere from 60-90% of our time indoors. Usually, the pollutants and fine particles found within the air we breathe indoors are at substantially higher levels of concentration compared to the air outdoors. This makes those with allergies at especially high risk for the health problems associated with poor indoor air quality that may in part be attributed to the debris collected within our ducts.

Dust buildup is the most common cause of asthma and is also the biggest allergen within the home. The more dust buildup there is, the more dust mites there will be, which are true causes of dust allergies. The large quantities of dust mites that are found with collections of dust within your ducts and airborne dust particles are a major contributor to the allergy symptoms experienced by the vast majority people. It is hard to rid your house of dust and avoid the health risks of the allergic reactions attributed to dust mites if there is a large amount of dust buildup within your ducts. This dust is then circulated in high concentrations within your home and is breathed in causing a much higher risk of allergy symptoms and allergic reactions within the body.

Regular duct cleaning is essential for clean indoor air quality and the reduction of the potential health hazards associated with indoor air pollution. It is even more essential for those that suffer from allergies to avoid the severe symptoms associated with them. Dust is the most common allergy, but many other allergens can be found in high concentrations within the ducts and in the indoor air you breathe including pollen, animal hair and fungus. It is important that you clean your ducts regularly. If you do, you will find this will greatly reduce and even relieve the many allergy symptoms you are experiencing and will also reduce your chance for other indoor air pollution health risks. The most important component of your duct cleaning system is the compressor.

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Fortunately, you can often combat mold in your home through DIY home improvement techniques that are not terribly difficult or expensive. First, invest in a quality dehumidifier. This will help prevent the growth of mold by removing moisture from the air.  Dehumidifiers can help reduce the risk of indoor air pollution, and save on home improvement and repair later. They also create a more comfortable home. Dehumidifiers rid your house of the stagnant, clammy feeling created by the humid days. Mold thrives on moisture, so pay careful attention to any part of your house where condensation or leakage may occur. Mold can lurk in cracks between tile, or bubbles under kitchen linoleum, or anywhere else that the humidity is high. Bleach is a great mold killer.

After cleaning a mold-covered area, either by DIY or by a professional, protect yourself from future attacks to your indoor air quality; paint over the areas with a mold-sealing paint, and use dehumidifiers to prevent future problems. Because indoor air pollution can occur in hard-to-see places, use creative DIY home improvement techniques to further investigate. For example, remove any wall covers that you may have for electricity, phone or television cables. This will allow you to be able to look within your walls to detect the presence of mold. If found, you can take simple measures such as removing and replacing just the section of drywall that is infected, to promote healthier indoor air quality in your home. Keep in mind that if mold damage is severe, then home insurance companies are likely to cap claim money to about 5000 dollars in funds. This makes DIY prevention even more important, to eliminate the health risks from indoor air pollution by spores. Not only will these steps keep indoor air pollution to a minimum, but they will keep your money in your wallet, and not your doctor’s or contractor’s.

Source: Purified Living

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