How do you know if your ductwork needs to be cleaned? When was the last time it was cleaned? Does it ever need to be cleaned? Are there risks if you don’t clean your ducts out? The air ducts in most houses are an ignored system. No one thinks about the little tunnels that bring the hot and cold air into the room unless they aren’t working. The problem with ignoring the maintenance of your ductwork is that things can build up inside of them. This build-up can come from water damage, dust, or fire damage.
Water Damage
Water damage to your home can come in many forms and can have unexpected consequences. Excess water in unwanted areas creates a perfect environment for mold to grow. If you have recently fixed leaking pipes, or any type of water problem located near your air ducts, mold might be growing. Mold spores will easily travel through the pushed air system to other areas of the system. Soon you can have a big mold problem that is invisible. However, that spreading mold is affecting the quality of the air you are breathing. Mold when continually breathed in can result in an array of symptoms, sneezing, skin irritations, irritation of the eyes and throat, nasal congestion, coughing, pneumonia, asthma attacks, and migraines. All of a sudden your little water damage problem has turned into a health problem.
Dust
Dust is a common build-up in ductwork as it is in our air. However, in large quantities dust build-up can do some serious damage to your home. First of all, it can inhibit your system from working optimally, blocking the hot or cold air from traveling through the system. Breathing dust in constantly is also not good for your health, causing respiratory problems and irritation. Finally, dust build-up can lead to a fire. Dust only needs a spark of energy or a moment on a very hot surface for it to ignite. You can easily check if your ducts have collected dust by removing a vent cover and seeing if there is dust inside, and checking the air registers or the filter.
Fire Damage
If there has been a fire in your home, or if the previous owner smoked inside a lot, there could be residual smoke in the ductwork. Smoke not only smells bad but it is also a health risk. Once again, your respiratory system is at risk if there is smoke in your ducts. Fire damage is not only a surface-level problem, so the treatment of it shouldn’t be either. If you know or believe there has been fire damage in your home, make sure the ductwork has been cleaned. Your nose will thank you.
Air ducts do a lot of work for us and they should not be overlooked. Keep your home and family safe by keeping the air running through it clean. Especially if you have experienced water or fire damage or suspect a dust build-up, it’s time to clean your ducts. Let us at American Fire & Water Restoration help you ensure the air you are breathing is the healthiest it can be. Give us a call at (847) 514-9305.