Dirty Airducts

We sometimes take the air that we breathe for granted, and when we’re inside our homes, most of us rarely give it a second thought. However, dirty air inside our homes can actually make us pretty sick, highlighting the importance of getting such things as air ducts, vents, and filters regularly cleaned.

Whether you realize it or not, the poor air quality inside your home can contain the following things:

  • Dust and dust mites
  • Pollen
  • Mold and mildew
  • Fungal spores
  • Bacteria and viruses
  • Rodent feces
  • Chemical pollutants (such as by-products of tobacco)

Any one of which can have a whole host of negative effects on your health.

Allergens, growths, diseases, and pollutants; what’s contained in your dirty air ducts can be harmful to your health, and if you, or anyone in your household, has been displaying any of the following symptoms, this could indicate that your air ducts are in need of a good clean:

  • Coughing, frequent sneezing, a sore throat, congestion or runny/itchy eyes
  • Difficulty breathing and/or worsening allergies or asthma attacks
  • Headaches
  • Low-grade fever
  • Eczema, rashes or hives
  • Feeling lethargic and tired more than usual

Let’s look at some of these conditions in a little more detail and understand how dirty air ducts can exacerbate them:

How dirty air ducts can worsen asthma, allergies, and pulmonary conditions

If you or someone in your household suffers from asthma, then increased allergens in the indoor air resulting from dirty air ducts, could trigger more frequent and longer attacks. Also, for anyone with pulmonary health conditions, research shows that their symptoms lessen and their condition improves when the air ducts in the home are regularly cleaned.

Can dirty airducts cause respiratory infections?

Upper respiratory infections can present themselves in the form of coughing and sneezing, sore throats and runny noses, headaches, and low-grade fevers, and if you or someone in your household is experiencing these symptoms more than normal, the air ducts in the home could be dirty and need cleaning. If left untreated, some respiratory infections can lead to more serious conditions such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

Sinus infections, colds and unclean airducts

Dirty air ducts will encourage polluted air to circulate through the home, which could even contain bacteria and viruses. Transmission of such nasty pollutants can gradually find their way into the sinuses of those living in your home and cause painful infections, or common colds.

Could your air ducts be making your skin dry and itchy?

If you or someone in your home has a skin condition such as eczema, rashes, or hives, then the mold and mildew typically found in dirty air ducts, could worsen their condition.

If you’re always tired and generally unwell, it could be your grubby air ducts

Fighting bacteria is tiring, and if your dirty air ducts are causing polluted air to circulate throughout your home, this could explain why you or other members of the household are always feeling lethargic and unwell. While experts recommend that you have your air ducts cleaned thoroughly and professionally, every 3 to 5 years, if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, don’t wait to do something about your dirty ducts, get them cleaned right away.