Just because you’re staying indoors during allergy season doesn’t mean that you’re not going to be exposed to allergies. In fact, if you’re not properly cleaning your ducts you may find that allergies are even worse indoors than outdoors. According to a study conducted by the American Asthma and Allergy Asthma and Immunology, at least half of all homes have at least six allergens in them at all times.
Your heating and cooling system is an enclosed system that can harbor dirt, bacteria, and allergens. It’s vital to clean it several times per year to help reduce dirt, bacteria, and allergens. Many people have never cleaned the ducts and these can quickly become dirty and grungy if they’re not properly cared for. This dirt and grunge can create even more allergens in the air causing asthma and allergies to flare.
Heating and cooling systems suck the air into them from in and around your home. They then heat it up or cool it down depending on the particular settings that you have them on. You’ll want to take them out of your system and clean them periodically to help reduce the allergens in and around your home.
Some specialists disagree and state that it makes no difference whether these ducts are cleaned or not, however, considering how dirty and grungy the ducts can become, it makes sense to clean them out and help to reduce your contact with allergens in your home.
Allergens enter your home in a variety of ways including open doors and windows. The more frequently that windows are left open, even with screens, the more dust and allergens can invade your home. This dust and allergens can then be sucked into your duct system and spread throughout the house causing even more allergic reactions.
Pollen is very small and can filter through screens, come in on shoes and even on a slight breeze. As the duct systems suck these into their components they are again, spread throughout the house. As this spreads into the house and duct system, they are causing people to sniffle, sneeze, have itchy watery eyes and other signs of allergens.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA recommends that if you have visible molds or dirt on your system, it’s definitely time to clean it. If there are rodents, vermin, or even insects that infest your ducts, it’s time to clean them as well.
It’s also a good idea to make sure that your ducts are free of debris, dust, and other potential clogs. When your air ducts have any of this in them you can be sure that they are coming out of the air duct system and floating around in the air in your home.
Always wipe them down and make sure that you’re cleaning them properly. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning your system when you clean them. Keep in mind that different systems require different care and follow the necessary steps for your system to ensure proper cleaning and warranties.