How Dirty Air Ducts Can Effect Your Family's Health

Many people don't realize how important air quality is for one's health. Not to mention that they associate air pollution only with the outdoors. But what about the indoors? Well, you should know that even if you don't live in an area affected by smog, the air quality inside your home can pose health risks. And dirty air ducts are the main culprits in this case. However, even though most people know they should hire air duct cleaning services regularly, they often postpone it. And the main reason for this is that they are unaware of the potential negative effects. So, let's find out how dirty air ducts can affect your family's health.

How dirty air ducts can affect your family's health

To better understand how dirty air ducts can affect your family's health, let's take a look at what you can find inside dirty air ducts. And here are some examples:

• Feces and remains of rodents and insects that carry various diseases;
• Both mold and mildew can cause mild and severe symptoms;
• Fungi, bacteria, and viruses that can cause a variety of health issues;
• Dust mites that can cause mild to severe allergies;
• Pet dander that can trigger allergies;
• Various chemical pollutants.

So, as you can see, many nasty things are hiding inside those air ducts. Therefore, if you're planning to clean your new home, you should make it spotless from the start and pay close attention to those air ducts. Furthermore, don't forget to clean them regularly afterward by hiring specialized cleaning services. This will help you prevent the following health issues.

They can worsen your health issues

The biggest problem with poor air quality is that it can worsen your pre-existing health issues. Thus, if any of your family members are suffering from allergies or asthma, make sure that you clean the air ducts regularly. The dust particles and allergens inside the air ducts can cause severe attacks. Furthermore, dirty air ducts can pose an even more significant threat to people that suffer from pulmonary diseases and autoimmune disorders.

They can cause respiratory diseases and infections

Upper respiratory infections are one of the most common health issues caused by dirty air ducts. If you notice reoccurring symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, low fever, nasal congestion, and runny nose, you're likely dealing with such an infection. However, the problem might worsen if you fail to eliminate the cause. Specifically, you can develop lower respiratory infections, like pneumonia and bronchitis, which are much harder to treat.

They can cause sinus infections

The dirt, fungi, bacteria, and viruses inside the dirty air ducts can reach the nasal passages and cause inflammation. Subsequently, this can cause sinus infections. Some of the most common symptoms include nasal congestion, coughing, fever, and fatigue. And it's not just sinusitis that you should worry about, but also common colds.

They can cause skin disorders

Mold and mildew can cause watery eyes, runny nose, and coughing. But they can also cause rashes, hives, and eczema. Moreover, if one of your family members has a pre-existing skin disorder, it will likely worsen. So, cleaning the air ducts is essential.

You should also pay attention to humidity. And the main reason for this is that mold and mildew usually appear in humid places. Therefore, you should look for signs of leaks and condensation in your air ducts. Moreover, if you are dealing with water damage caused by floods or storms, you should hire a good restoration company specializing in air duct cleaning.

They can cause fatigue

Poor air quality makes you feel unwell and tired, and it can even cause headaches. The pollutants in the air ducts can prevent your body from receiving enough oxygen, thus causing a lethargic state. Moreover, any other health issues can worsen these symptoms. Therefore, make sure that you clean your air ducts regularly. Furthermore, you should also air your home frequently to improve air quality.

Watch out for the signs

As you can see, dirty air ducts can affect your family's health in many ways. Nevertheless, there are some common symptoms that you should pay attention to. These include:

• feeling lethargic or unwell;
• sore throat, coughing, nasal congestion, and runny nose;
• hives, rashes, and eczema;
• watery and itchy eyes;
• low fever and headaches;
• difficulty breathing and worsening of allergies or asthma.

Of course, if any of your family members experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor. After all, these symptoms can be caused by underlying health issues, not just your home environment. And they require appropriate treatment. However, if your doctor suspects environmental causes, you should clean your air ducts. And if the problem persists, it's time for a thorough home inspection. As previously mentioned, water damage is also a common culprit.

Some advice

If you've just bought a new home, before you team up with the right experts to organize your long-distance move to Wisconsin, make sure you carefully inspect your home. You should carry out all restoration work and cleaning before moving in. The entire process is a lot easier when the house is empty. Plus, this guarantees you're moving your family into a safe environment. After you move, clean your air ducts every 3 to 5 years to prevent health issues.

Final thoughts

As you can see, poor air quality can cause many health issues. And it's not just the outdoor pollution that poses health risks, but also indoor air quality. Surely, it's good to air out your home frequently, but sometimes, that doesn't solve the problem. So, now that you know how dirty air ducts can affect your family's health make sure you clean them regularly. Furthermore, since you only have to do this every 3 to 5 years, don't be cheap and hire air duct cleaning services. These professionals know what they are doing. Plus, there's nothing more important than your family's health.