Did you know May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month? It’s the perfect time to educate family and friends about these illnesses because it’s peak season for those who suffer. To help increase awareness, Breathing Clean is spearheading efforts to educate people on how air duct cleaning can help create healthier homes and other asthma and allergy friendly spaces.
First, it’s important to know what can be lurking in your indoor air. Through everyday activities in a home, we generate a lot of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dirt, dust, dander, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system which acts as the lungs of your home. The system takes air in and pushes air out, recirculating these contaminants five to seven times per day, on average.
Dirty air ducts may be contributing to larger health issues or harbor contaminants that could be serious for people with respiratory problems, autoimmune disorders, or asthma and allergies, but anyone can be affected. NADCA tells consumers, “If your air ducts look dirty, they probably are,” and suggest having your system inspected by a reputable, certified HVAC cleaning professional.
Other common causes for dirty air ducts include:
- Mold
- Cigarette smoke
- Remodeling debris
- New home construction
- Poor ventilation
Many things within your indoor environment can be a trigger for asthma and allergy symptoms. Air duct cleaning can improve your indoor air quality by reducing the number of airborne pollutants circulating in your home. Not only can poor indoor air quality make symptoms worse, but it may also play a role in the development of asthma in those more susceptible, like small children.
Sources of indoor air pollution include:
- Household cleaners
- Smoke from cooking, candles, and fireplaces
- Cosmetics, perfumes, and hair sprays
- Building and paint products
- Attached garages that store cars, motorcycles, or lawnmowers
People often think of their home as a safe place; unfortunately, this is not always the case. According to the EPA, homes can be two to five times more polluted than the outdoors. In fact, your home is where you are exposed to allergens and irritants the most! Luckily, air duct cleaning can help address these issues by lessening the allergens in your home and for most, this means fewer allergy symptoms.
To learn more about the benefits of air duct cleaning and to find a reputable company, visit the Find a Professional directory on the NADCA website.
(Reprinted with permission from NADCA.com)
