What are the risks associated with a poorly maintained ventilation duct?

May 15th, 2020

Decontamination has been a trending buzzword during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with good reason. Homeowners and business owners alike are concerned about how to keep surfaces decontaminated in order to minimize the spread of the Coronavirus to their family members, and in the case of essential services, their employees and customers.

The team here at Solution D’Air have been decontaminating air ducts in residential, commercial and industrial HVAC systems for many years and during these unusual times when air quality and contamination are top of mind, we’d like to share some information about why it’s important to clean your air ducts regularly as well as some of the risks associated with a poorly maintained ventilation duct.

“Air cycles through your home about seven times a day.”

Air cycles through your home about seven times a day, and that air is very likely to contain airborne particles which collect in your HVAC ducts. And we’re not just talking about house dust. These particles commonly include flakes of dead skin, hair, pet dander, microorganisms from cat litter (toxoplasmosis), pollen, mold spores, fungi, and even rodent feces.

Combined with humidity, your ducts become the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mold, mites and allergens which build up and then pose a health risk. Here are some of the health risks associated with poor indoor air quality due to poorly maintained ventilation ducts:

• Headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath
• Worsening allergy and asthma symptoms
• Sinus congestion, cough, and sneezing
• Eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation
• Dizziness and nausea

Air ducts are central elements of a building, which is why they must be properly taken care of.
Proper maintenance of the air duct enables a clean and healthy environment, so you can ensure good air quality and protect the health of your family or team members. If you’re unable to have your ducts cleaned soon, at the very least we recommend removing your floor vents and hand wiping as much of the duct as you can safely reach, and changing your furnace filter.

Duct cleaning is not a DIY job
HVAC duct cleaning requires specialized tools, technology and techniques. As an example, the team here at Solution D’Air uses powerful tools to apply continuous negative pressure to prevent contaminants from spreading from the affected area. Our techniques have been trusted by clients ranging from homeowners to hospitals and we can’t stress enough how important it is to have your ducts cleaned regularly to keep the indoor air safe, to minimize the health risks associated with indoor air quality, and to maintain your system so that it can serve you efficiently for as long as possible.

Now more than ever, ensuring that the air you’re breathing indoors is free from contaminants is an important piece of providing peace of mind that we’re doing everything we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In a time when we have more time at home to spring clean, and when decontamination and disinfection are top of mind, cleaning your ducts can help keep contaminants from constantly recirculating through your home.