It’s that terrible time of year again! No, not that time of year (I’m not the Grinch!), the CEDAR FEVER time of year. But we do come bearing some good news! Having your air ducts professionally cleaned can help alleviate some of those horrible flu-like, cedar-induced symptoms! (Well, at least in your home. We can’t clean the entirety of Central Texas). That said, it is time for you to really embrace the fact that air ducts affect cedar fever!
How Does an Air Duct Affect Cedar Fever?
To answer this, we need to first identify what causes cedar fever — cedar pollen. Brittanica defines pollen as, “a mass of microspores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust. Each pollen grain is a minute body, of varying shape and structure, formed in the male structures of seed-bearing plants and transported by various means (wind, water, insects, etc.) to the female structures, where fertilization occurs.”
So, as cedar releases pollen, the microspores (ie. dust), get carried from the tree to… any place the wind, insects, water, and more can take it! Unfortunately, Central Texas is windy! Thus, cedar pollen gets strewn about.
Anytime you, your kids, pets, friends (etc.) are outside, this lovely pollen will land on your/their clothes, hair, skin, and/or fur, and will come inside when you/they go into your house! Once inside, anytime the clothes, hair, skin, and/or fur comes in contact with anything, the pollen becomes airborne once again and your air ducts begin to circulate it throughout your home.
Do filters help?
Sure, to an extent. But eventually, the buildup is so bad, the filters don’t really make a difference! Additionally, filters cannot remove pollen, it just tries (but eventually fails) to prevent it from circulating throughout your home. Therefore, it is important to have your air ducts cleaned at least once a year!
Now, in case the idea of cedar pollen floating about your house doesn’t bother you, below is a list of the other things calling your air ducts home.
- Pet (and People!) Dander (Yup! The dead skin flaking off of you, your family/friends, and your furry friends)
- Dust and Dust Mites! (This is just another reason why they are likely living in your carpet, too)
- Mold, Mold Spores, and Mildew (Due to the humidity here in Central Texas, this is a major problem)
- Fungi and Fungal Spores (Sounds nice, right?)
- The feces and remains from disease-carrying rodents
- Bacteria and Viruses
- Chemical pollutants (from cleaning supplies, tobacco products, and more)
Are Air Ducts Making You Sick, Too? They Can!
That’s right air ducts affect cedar fever and the following:
- Your Skin— Eczema, rashes, or hives
- Your Head — headaches, brain fog, and lethargy
- Cause Low grade fever and typical cold symptoms — itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, coughing/chronic coughing, sore throat, and congested/runny nose
- Difficulty Breathing— Wheezing, induce asthma attacks
We know! This is a bit alarming… and it should be! That’s why it is so important to have your air ducts serviced on a regular basis!
Final Thoughts
So now you know that air ducts affect cedar fever along with a slew of other lovely ailments. Therefore, for the sake of your overall health (and the health of your family and pets), it is very important to clean your air ducts on a regular basis.
