Clean air is only one component needed for overall wellness. Living in an environment where the air flows through dirty ductwork can cause a number of possible diseases. Symptoms caused by air contaminants, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), include headache, scratchy throat, cough, chronic fatigue, and sinus and lung congestion. Reports from the EPA show that over 50% of all “sick” buildings can attribute the spreading of the “sickness” to air contaminants spread through the building by the ducting and ventilation system. Businesses today are faced with lawsuits from sick employees who blame their upper respiratory disorders on working conditions where they are exposed to air pollutants including mold or bacteria in office buildings. At home, children are increasingly diagnosed with asthma or related diseases. We are careful to wash our hands, clean our homes, and drink clean water, but are we careful enough with the air we breathe indoors.
Many indoor pollutants come from common things like candles, smoking, cooking, cleansers, air fresheners, pets, dust, and pests. Homes built since the early 1990’s have been well-insulated and well-sealed. These buildings are capable of trapping the common pollutants as well as other gases like radon. Remodeling and even small painting or sanding projects can produce contaminants that become trapped and pollute the indoor air. Duct systems should be cleaned after all remodeling projects. Dust and debris gather into corners of the ducts and during winter, provide warm places that invite bacteria, mold and insects to take up residence. People who suffer from allergies benefit from clean air.
Depending on the exposure to pollutants, ducts should be cleaned as often as bi-annually. The EPA reports that indoor air can be over 50 times more polluted than outdoor air. Having a clean duct system and a properly balanced air intake and exhaust system will reduce the level of toxicity in the air indoors. We cannot control the pollutants outside, but we can control the pollutants inside our homes and businesses.
Cleaning ductwork is a complicated business and should be done by professionals in order to be done correctly. Look for licensed, bonded companies who use the proper equipment to clean the ducts all the way to the furnace. At Servco, we send out technicians who know about the equipment and duct system. They have been trained how to operate the duct truck vacuum and they can give a full report on the status of the whole system when they are done. Call Servco at 541-451-5090 if you have any questions about duct cleaning.
