Many homes and commercial buildings have central heating and cooling systems. The air brought in through your HVAC creates a comfortable indoor environment for your family, guests, employees and customers, but to do this the system must be regularly maintained. However, temperature control is only one part of comfort. What homeowners and commercial building owners often forget is that clean air ducts play a big role in keeping everyone cozy and healthy.
Indoor air quality problems are mostly related to bacteria. Don’t let the germs spread throughout your living or work space! Get your ducts cleaned as soon as possible. Professional air duct cleaning in Village is a valuable tool to help control germs at home and in the office. Here’s what you need to know.
Causes of bacteria in ductwork
Most everyone with an HVAC air intake in their home or business knows the importance of replacing the air filter every one to three months, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations and your use habits. A dirty filter not only harbors a buildup of airborne pollutants, but also hinders the system’s ability to remove harmful particles like bacteria, dust and pet dander. Your ductwork also needs to be clean in order to function properly. Here are a few causes of bacteria in your ductwork:
- Pests: Rats, mice, insects and other pests that get into your ducts can leave behind urine, feces and dander. Ducts become breeding grounds for mold and bacteria growth, which get circulated through your rooms.
- Biological matter: Humans shed dead skin cells and hair all the time. Over time, this biomatter builds up and can get sucked up into ductwork and be food for bacteria to grow and spread.
- Mold spores: If you have issues with bacteria, then the risk of mold is high. Since ductwork is dark and not cleaned often, mold has a chance to build up and become worse over time.
- Stagnant airflow: Dirty, stagnant ducts compound the bacterial issue. Dust and debris that interrupts airflow causes air to go stagnant, which allows bacteria to grow undisturbed.
Issues related to bacteria in ducts
One of the first signs of a germ and bacteria issue is an odor. You might smell mold or mildew, which can be similar to the smell of rotting food or garbage. Allergic reactions might occur, asthma symptoms could worsen, coughing, sneezing, sore throats and runny noses are typical and anyone with a compromised immune system can develop any number of serious infections.
How air duct cleaning resolves the problem
There are three ways in which professional air duct cleaning can control the spread of bacteria growth and germs. First, it removes existing bacteria and mold buildup that serves as fuel for new bacteria. Duct cleaning also removes dust and debris that sprout bacterial growth. Thorough periodic cleanings will remove dust and biological matter from all locations inside your ducts. Finally, professional duct cleaners use effective cleaning products that are safe to use around humans and pets.
If you need help controlling germs in your Village home or office, contact King’s Cleaning Service, Inc. today to schedule professional ductwork cleaning!