Indoor air pollution is a growing problem in our homes and businesses. People spend up to 90% of their time indoors, this is more than we have ever stayed indoors in history! Concentrations of some pollutions contributing to the particulate matter found indoors is caused by smoking indoors, organic contaminants like mold, cooking, burning candles, fireplaces, unvented space heaters and various biological substances. Every time you enter your front door, you are bringing contaminants in with you such as, mold, pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds and so on. Concentrations of these pollutants make the quality of air found in our homes 2-5 times worse than the air we are breathing in from the outside! It is estimated that nearly 50% of all illnesses each year are caused by the germs, and poor indoor air quality found in our homes!!
Short & Long Term Effects of Indoor Air Pollution on Human Health
If you’ve ever gone into someone’s home or business and left feeling cold or allergy type symptoms that only lasted a short while, the culprit might be “sick building syndrome” which is sometimes generated by poor indoor air quality. Some of the more immediate symptoms are irritation to the eyes, throat, and nose, sudden fatigue, onset of dizziness and headache. People who suffer from respiratory diseases such as COPD, Asthma, Bronchitis, elderly, infants or those with preexisting medical conditions are more susceptible to these symptoms. Short term effects are treatable and sometimes cured by getting some fresh air. Long term effects or repeated exposure over a long period of time to poor indoor air quality include respiratory diseases, heart disease and even certain cancers.
How Do I Know if My Air Ducts Need to Be Cleaned?
There are many benefits to having your air ducts cleaned every two years or so. If you have noticed excess dust around your air vents, you can be sure there is 10x that amount lingering in your air ducts. Every time you turn on your HVAC system it blows the dust, mold, mites or other contaminants trapped in your air ducts throughout your home, and in turn you breathe it in. This is a major indication it is time for a duct cleaning. If you have been informed or have noticed visible mold growth inside of your ducts or other components on your HVAC system, this should be cause for alarm and you should call Eco Clean for an evaluation and recommendation on the process required to remove the growth of mold. If your home was recently remodeled, sheet rock and other construction materials likely made their way into the air your breathing which can also clog your ducts, clogged air ducts will also spike your electric bill and should be cleared of the debris. Other reasons to have your ducts cleaned are infestations of rodents or other pests. The feces/urine/mites left behind by such pests can cause serious illness, this is a major problem and should be sanitized asap to keep from causing illnesses.
How to Keep Air Ducts Clean
Using a high efficiency air filter that is changed regularly will greatly reduce the number of contaminants that enter your air ducts. When your HVAC system gets a service, ask your HVAC professional to clean the cooling coils and drain pans to reduce mold growth. During any type of construction in your home or business, turn your HVAC system off and seal any vents or registers until after the dust has been removed and cleaned. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, vacuum and dust your home several times a week to avoid dust build-up in your home. Never smoke indoors, and check fireplaces and furnaces before using them to ensure they provide proper ventilation.
Air Duct Cleaning Services & More in Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Northridge & Greater Los Angeles, California
Eco Clean Carpet Cleaning not only provides top quality carpet and upholstery cleaning, but we clean your air ducts and dryer ducts as well. Give us a call today for your in-home assessment and be on your way to cleaner indoor air!
