Well it looks like Punxsutawney Phil had different feelings about Texas starting Spring. So here we are in the second big freeze of 2021. Doesn’t that groundhog know our bodies are not used to this weather?! These cold fronts like to bring in all types of dust and other allergens. Which usually results in many folks making a visit to the doctors office for sinus infections. So this week we are talking about the importance of cleaning your air ducts.
Whether you are at home, visiting the doctor, or going back to the office for work after receiving the vaccine. All of these places have ventilation systems to circulate the air throughout the building. To assure that you are breathing and providing the best quality air possible, we want to share some tips.
Allergies Are The Worst!
There is nothing more annoying than having to go about your day while suffering from allergies. Few people in this world are immune from some type of allergy. Which means it happens at different times for different folks. In order to understand them let’s talk about what types of allergies can lurk in your air ducts.
We’ll start with the most common, dust, pollen and mold. These are every day allergens that can begin indoors, or be picked up and tracked in from the outdoors. Dust is made up of soil particles picked up by the wind, and pollen. In addition, you probably don’t want to know this, but 50% of dust is made up from dead skin cells. Definitely not something anyone would care to breathe in.
Mold is another common allergy that you will find indoors. There are a couple things about mold that you should know. First it develops in moist areas in and around your home and office. An example of that would be the condensation in and around your air vents. Other areas you’ll find mold are in the bathroom, kitchen and crawl spaces. The next thing you should know is mold usually is not in visible areas. So always make sure to wipe up spills, and watch out for leaks.
Other Types of Allergies
Dust, pollen and mold are more natural types of allergies that can live in your air ducts and around your home. However, there are other places allergies can come from that you should be aware of. Mainly from the four, six and eight legged variety. That’s right pets and pests can also trigger your allergies. Dogs and cats are just like us humans and shed. Not cleaning up after your pets can cause coughs or itchiness of the skin and eyes.
Rodents and roaches love to dwell in and around your home and break rooms. As well as these critters know how to get into places to get the food and water they seek. They are terrible at finding their way out. Water is key to their survival, so when it dries up they usually perish right in their tracks. That is usually in walls or more often air ducts. The carcass they leave behind also creates dander and can easily trigger unwanted allergies. Make sure to contact pest control once you notice this happening. Make sure you catch it before you have an infestation on your hands.
Avoiding The Unavoidable
No matter how hard you try you cannot keep all of these allergies outside of your home and workplace. Blame it on doors and windows if you have to. These allergies are light and like to float around anytime you walk, sit down, and bump into something.
Once they are activated they are sent through the ventilation system and the unfiltered continue to float around. This lowers your indoor air quality.
In order to avoid this, there are ways to minimize exposure to these allergies. Surprisingly they are all pretty easy to do as well:
- Change air filters and clean the vent covers
- Vacuum frequently and use hepa filters & bags
- Wipe countertops and properly store food after you eat
- Turn on the bathroom vent while showering an be sure to hang wet towels properly
- Invest in a dehumidifier and air purifier
When All Else Fails
Finally, when you have done all you can do, but still have breathing issues it is time to clean the air ducts. Call a professional, especially if you own a medical office or hospital. The CDC has a list you should follow to prevent the spread of Covid-19. On that list it mentions ventilation, because it is important in sterile environments. As professionals in the field there are steps that should be taken so no allergens escape into the environment.
For home air duct cleaning, have your professional analyze your ventilation system. They will determine what the cause is and take the proper steps towards a happier and healthier ventilation system. Your health is no joke. Make sure you are taking these simple steps to keep you and your friends and family healthy. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a consultation and questions you may have about your air ducts.
