Many diseases are spread through unclean air ducts and dryer units including mold and other microorganisms. Last year (2020) was a year of such extreme pollution that many of us had our air quality tested. When the testers come to your house they take measurements where appropriate and measure airflow, temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds, and other microorganisms (mold and bacteria).
Other compounds in the air, like dust, are also identified and one family who had testing done found the problem was coming from a local paper mill.
Three of the biggest factors found in air quality are volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, and formaldehyde.
Once you get a result you can look at your options and move forward, and the reality is that you are probably going to need a thorough duct cleaning if you haven’t done so.
Signs that you should call an Air Duct Cleaning Company to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
- You can't get comfortable and your skin feels itchy and prickly.
- Water stains appear on the walls, often in old houses.
- Windows are damp inside.
- Mold is beginning to grow in the house.
- Respiratory issues such as asthma
- A family member who smokes cigarettes
If you are living in Oregon call Northwest Breeze to clean your Air Ducts and Dryer Vents. The dryer is something that may need attention as most people never think to clean their dryer and the vents become clogged with lint.
How Often Should I Clean My Air Ducts?
For homeowners, the answer is every two years. However, in an apartment block where so many people live in close proximity, it should be done annually, as quite often the cooling tower in old buildings is open at the top allowing contamination to occur. Many buildings have addressed this issue, but some have not, so an annual clean is necessary. While the team is in the building, get them to come and check your apartment as well. Remember, if the dryer is clogged with lint, it can become a fire hazard, so part of this duct check will be in accordance with WHS compliance in apartments.
Vent and Air Duct Cleaning
Since COVID lockdown we have all become much more risk-averse where our air quality is concerned. We have found that the Coronavirus is airborne and that by staying a safe distance from others we may avoid catching it. Working from home has meant that many of us are banished from our office towers where we sat close together on crowded desks. Hopefully, the air ducts will have been cleaned thoroughly ready for our return.
Statistics show that thorough cleaning of the ducts and surface areas will kill residual contaminants keeping us safe.
Keeping Your Home and Community Healthier
Once you have had your air duct cleaning done, your home will be a much healthier place for you and your family. If you have a cat or a dog in your home, there is always going to be pet dander and a clean air conditioning system helps to remove some particles from the air. Children are in classrooms that are often overcrowded, so if you are on the PTA committee, make sure that the air conditioning ducts and vents at your school have been cleaned at the end of the school year. Indoor pollutants can be more than 5 times higher than outdoor levels, and temperature and humidity levels should be maintained to control levels of pollutants. The maintenance of outdoor areas and green space is equally important, plant some more trees around school grounds to purify the air. If we could control illnesses from spreading in our schools' children wouldn't be absent so much. The airborne allergens inside our schools can trigger asthma, sinus, headaches, and tiredness, and illnesses.
The importance of clean air cannot be overestimated, and in our cities, we get less clean air than anywhere else. When we walk down the streets we are aware of the carbon monoxide we are breathing, and we don't want to be breathing it at home either. So duct cleaning is essential to keep us breathing clean fresh air.