What Studies Say.
No studies conclusively support air duct cleaning as alleviating or preventing health problems. Furthermore, to date, no studies support the idea that dust and dirt from air ducts enter air in the home.
The only real consensus among medical experts, at this time about dirty air ducts; is that mold is the major culprit of health problems paid link.
Besides mold, there is the problem of infestations of vermin, rodents, and insects accumulating in the air ducts.
Duct cleaning is only recommended once the source of the problem is resolved.
Table of Contents
- Remove Mold for Health and Air Quality
- Dirty Air Ducts Can Make You Sick
- Costs of Neglecting Duct Cleaning
- Effects Of Mold & Bugs on HVAC Efficiency
- Certifications For Air Duct Cleaning
- In Brief
Remove Mold for Health and Air Quality
The air quality in your home is crucial to your health. Mold and moisture in your air ducts can create respiratory issues. It can reduce your quality of life by exposing you to allergens or increasing the risk of heart disease.
Dirty air ducts can even affect the skin causing irritation, rashes, and itching to name a few symptoms. Mold illness severity can become more severe as the length of exposure increases. Mold poisoning can be life-threatening. Learn to Recognize mold sickness symptoms.
If you suspect mold, getting an inspection will confirm. If present, have your doctor test you for mold in your lungs as a precaution.
Mold infections can be treated with antifungal medications.
Treating mold lung infection will require a lot of patience. Treatment may be long-term meaning it could last for years.
Mold has been classified as carcinogenic and can have some pretty nasty fallout. So be vigilant.
Dirty Air Ducts Can Make You Sick
Your home could be making you sick. If you suffer from frequent respiratory infections, sudden onset of allergic-type reactions like frequent coughing, sneezing, skin rashes, throat irritation, respiratory issues or asthma, runny nose, and eyes is mold in your home the root cause?
If you have just moved into a new home, you haven’t any way of knowing what could have been left behind by previous residents. Have your air ducts inspected for mold, vermin, or their carcasses. An inspection could potentially circumvent respiratory or other health issues triggered by mold.
Costs of Neglecting Duct Cleaning
If you or your family suffer from frequent difficulty breathing, runny eyes and nose, acne, and skin irritation neglecting duct cleaning can get expensive. And this is not just the expense of having the ducts clean but the added medical costs and trips to the doctor/hospital if you don’t. Throughout the U.S. initial costs may not be covered by health insurance. Depending on your health insurance plan out-of-pocket-cost and deductibles can cost you thousands of dollars. There even may be a limit on the number of certain procedures, they will pay for per year. Also known as annual limits
Effects Of Mold & Bugs on HVAC Efficiency
Beyond health concerns, mold and bugs can also affect the operational efficiency of HVAC systems. Mold growth inside ducts can obstruct airflow, forcing the system to work harder and consume more energy, thereby increasing utility bills. Furthermore, bug presence can lead to blockages and mechanical wear, necessitating more frequent maintenance and potentially costly repairs.
Certifications For Air Duct Cleaning
To ensure the safety of yourself and your family always secure a properly certified company to do duct cleaning.
This means that the company should be a member in good standing with NADCA (national air duct cleaning association).
The company will employ Air Systems Cleaning Specialists who have received NADCA certification. More about NADCA here.
Many other certifications within the industry can be obtained. For example, once the inspection has determined that duct cleaning is needed here are just a few but not a complete list of certified staff you may interact with:
- Mold inspectors or specialists
- Mold remediators
- Exhaust cleaners or specialists
- Ventilation inspectors
For help with finding a reputable and NADCA-certified duct cleaning companies in your area check the website.
Find out more about NADCA standards here.
Also, check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints
Do not rely on home service provider databases as some have been caught up in litigation and court settlements. Here is a prime example of such a case.
In Brief
The only consensus in the scientific community is that mold in dirty air ducts is a health hazard. Studies continue. Inspection and cleaning are recommended if mold is found. Only use NADCA-certified mold remediators. Speak with your doctor about getting your lungs tested for mold. Your house can make you sick. Suspected symptoms of dirty air ducts are respiratory issues, skin rashes, asthma, sneezing, allergies, and coughing.
Be aware that your health coverage may not cover all treatment costs associated with lung mold infections. You may have to absorb some out of pocket expenses.