Has Your Family Been Plagued By Allergy Symptoms Outside Of The Normal Season? 3 Signs That Your Home's Air Ducts Need Cleaning
Unexplained respiratory symptoms are some of the hardest health issues to correct. While you might expect your family to cough and sneeze in response to their known allergens, it can seem like a mystery when it happens during a different time of the year. For most allergy sufferers, the spring and fall months bring large amounts of pollen that trigger symptoms. However, pollen, dander, mold, and other respiratory irritants can linger in your home long after they are first released in the air. The ductwork in your home is a hidden area where you may not always think to look when your family is dealing with allergies, yet an air duct cleaning can help to improve the quality of the air that your loved ones breathe. If your family just can't shake the sneezes, then check for these three signs that you need to arrange for the ducts to be cleaned.
You've Renovated a Portion of Your House
Home remodeling is a great way to update the place that you and your family live. However, even minor projects can release large amounts of dust and other pollutants into the air. Once they are released, they can work their way into the ductwork, where they will stay until a professional cleaning technician removes them. Keep in mind that the pollutants generated by a home remodel go further than just one room, which means that you need to have all of the ductwork cleaned.
You've Dealt With Pest Infestations in Recent Months
It might be gross to think about, but pests also leave droppings and shed skin that trigger allergies. Although those cockroaches or mice may be long gone, there is a good chance that they may have spent some time crawling through your home's ductwork. This is especially common if your house is older and may have small cracks in the duct system. If pests have left droppings in the ducts, then microscopic particles could be blown through your house every time the HVAC system kicks on.
You've Noticed Dirty Filters or Vents
You should be changing the filters on vents and your HVAC system every three months, although this may need to be done sooner if you have pets or serious allergies. While you might see some dust on the filter, you should never see it be completely filthy. If it is, then it probably hasn't been able to do its job to keep dirt from entering the ducts. If you see dark spots on the surfaces around vents, then this is another sign that the ducts have become so dirty that they are literally blowing out allergen-filled air.
For more information, contact an air duct cleaning service.