Why Is It So Dangerous To Ignore Duct Cleaning?

The huge problem most people have is that they do not take duct cleaning seriously enough and yet the consequences can be pretty grave. Ducts are used mainly in ventilation, heating, and air conditioning. They are designed to both deliver and remove air. Now more often than not you will find the inside of these air ducts contaminated with large deposits of dust and sometimes even mold. You should know that mold can carry some deadly strains of diseases, some of which are difficult to respond to a wide range of the usual medication. All this can be seriously hazardous to the health of the people breathing in the air that passes through that duct system (often called ductwork).

What Are The Signs And Indicators To Look For That Would Suggest The Problem Is Coming From Your Ductwork?

One of the first signs is that when cleaning your house you will notice that you always need to sweep and dust your furniture more than usual. And even when you do this you start noticing that there is still some dust floating around the room that you have just cleaned. This would be a serious wake up call for you to have a duct cleaning company clean your air ducts or at the very least take a careful look at it.

Another tell tale sign that something is terribly wrong with your air system is when you start to experience constant headaches after and during sleep. Or you could start to suddenly suffer from nasal congestion and other sinus problems. And especially if you have not had these kinds of problems in the recent past chances are that your illness is being caused by air ducts that are clogged up or not working properly.

Alternatively your illness may not look like the type to link to your air duct right away but you notice that you are getting sick way too often. Or maybe there is an occurrence of more allergies than usual in you. In other cases this is the kind of thing that should set off alarm bells ringing in your brain.

For Your Furnace To Work Properly, You Need Adequate Airflow

In many instances the signs are as clear as day and yet folks still choose to ignore them or attribute them to something else. For instance rooms that have little or no air flowing through them from the vents Or when you turn on the furnace or air conditioner you suddenly get a stale odor in the room. Air duct cleaning is a highly specialized skill and it is advisable for you to look for organizations and companies that have been at it for a quite a while and with a good track record. Otherwise you will find that you have to call people to clean your ducts way too often. This usually suggests that the cleaning may not have been done well the first time round.

Just remember that ducts are the kind of places that are hidden and difficult for somebody to supervise exactly what has been done and which corners of aging dust have been left intact by the cleaners. This is why paying the professionals the extra premium they may want is something you should consider to avoid serious health problems for you and your workers or loved ones in future.

Do You Have Mold in Your Air Ducts?

I just found this article about mold and thought I would share it with all of you. While it is from New York and is not specifically about air duct cleaning I thought it was very relevant to our industry.


Facts About Mold
by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

What is mold?
•Mold (mildew), mushrooms, and yeast are all types of fungi. Fungi are found both indoors and outdoors.
•Hundreds of different kinds of mold are commonly found in the United States and New York City.

How do I know it's mold?
•Mold can be many different colors. It may look furry, slimy, or powdery.
•Some mold has a musty, stale, or earthy odor.
•Mold usually grows in damp places, such as bathrooms and basements.

How does mold grow?
•Mold needs water and food. It can grow almost anywhere there is water, high humidity, or damp conditions.
•Mold grows faster in warm temperatures and high humidity.
•Mold can feed on paper, fabric, wallpaper glue, sheetrock, wood, soap scum, leather, and many other surfaces.

How are people exposed to mold?
•You can breathe in mold particles if mold is disturbed or damaged.
•You can also breathe in tiny spores (similar to seeds) that mold may release into the air.
•You can touch mold and get it on your skin.
•You can swallow mold if you eat moldy or spoiled food.

What are the health effects of mold?
•Some people are allergic to molds.
•Mold exposure may cause or worsen asthma symptoms, hay fever, or other allergies.
•The most common symptoms of mold exposure are cough, congestion, runny nose, and trouble breathing. Symptoms usually disappear after the mold contamination is removed.
•More severe reactions to mold may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of mold on the job, such as farmers working with moldy hay.

Should I see a doctor if I have been exposed to mold?
•If you think that you or your children have symptoms related to mold exposure, you should see a doctor. Keep in mind that many symptoms associated with mold exposure are also caused by many other illnesses.

How can mold be prevented?
•The best way is to remove water and moisture sources. Fixing leaks, drying damp areas, and removing humidity from the air (e.g., using a dehumidifier in basements; cracking a window while taking a shower in bathrooms with no exhaust ventilation) will help stop mold growth and keep it from coming back.

How can I safely clean mold in my home?
•Use soap and water to clean small areas of mold (less than 10 square feet) on walls or other hard surfaces as soon as you see it.
•Wear waterproof gloves.
•Dry the cleaned area completely.
•If the mold returns quickly or spreads, there may be an underlying problem such as a water leak. To stop mold, water problems must be fixed.
•If large areas of mold are present, you may need a professional mold
abatement company. Check the phone book for mold abatement contractors.

What does my landlord have to do?
•Your landlord and building manager must keep your building in good condition so mold will not grow. This means repairing water leaks and correcting persistently high humidity levels.
•If you have a lot of mold (more than 10 square feet) or it keeps coming back after you have cleaned it, ask your landlord to fix the problem.
•If the problem isn't fixed, call 311.

More Information:
For those seeking to learn more about mold, the EPA offers a free online course at: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/index.html