About 90% of your time is spent indoors, where the air quality is more likely to be worse than that of the outdoors. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranked poor indoor air quality as one of their top five environmental risks.
Over the years of using your air conditioner and furnace, your air ducts collect dust, pollen, dander, and other particles. Over time, these particles become pollutants reducing the quality or your indoor air. You can expect short-term health conditions associated with poor indoor air quality along with long-term effects like respiratory conditions. We highly recommend you receive an air duct cleaning regularly to avoid these health issues and reap the benefits of regular cleanings.
The Importance of Duct Cleaning
Air pollutants are considered anything within the air that reduces its quality. Examples of air pollutants include dust, pet hair, mold spores, pollen, cigarette smoke, and carbon monoxide. Common symptoms of poor indoor air quality include the following:
- Irritated or dry eyes
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Coughing
- Congestion
- Nausea
- Dizziness
How Often Should HVAC Systems be Cleaned?
Frequency of cleaning depends on several factors. The National Air Duct Association states a typical household should clean their air duct system every 3-5 years. Some things that may lead a home owner to consider more frequent cleanings include:
- Pets that shed high amounts of hair or dander
- Prior to occupancy of a new home
- After home renovations or remodeling
- Residents with allergies or asthma
- Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system
- Maintenance or installation of new HVAC equipment
