Improve Indoor Air Quality with Duct Cleaning
As Americans spend more time at home to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, the quality of the air indoors can lead to a restorative experience or one that is bothersome and potentially dangerous. This is especially true when the occupants suffer from allergies or asthma, are young children or senior citizens. The National Human Activity Pattern Survey study found people spend nearly 90 percent of their time indoors. With that much time spent inside, air quality is critical. Today’s post will focus on what may compromise indoor air quality and provide recommendations on improving the quality of air inside your home, highlighting duct cleaning.
What May Compromise Indoor Air Quality?
In exploring the kinds of activities that contribute to indoor pollutants, a HOMEChem study published in Environmental Science Journal found the following sources made the list, among others:
- The building itself
- Consumer products
- Cleaning or cooking products
- Equipment and office products
- Intentional or unintentional transport of outdoor air into the house
Improving Indoor Air Quality
Harvard Health recently published an article with several tips to boost air quality indoors. They emphasized a clean home is a healthier home. The biggest areas of focus are on reducing “the accumulation of pet dander, mold, and dust lurking in your home.” Although indoor plants can be beneficial, they caution against indoor plants in homes where there are allergy sufferers.
Next on their list is regularly changing air filters (we recommend monthly) and having ducts professionally cleaned. They suggest investing in an air purifier in the commonly used areas of the home and ensuring adequate ventilation throughout the home. At East Cooper Heating and Air Charleston SC, our team specializes in creating clean and healthy air indoors through air cleaners, air purifiers and air filtration systems designed to remove harmful airborne contaminants from your indoor air. The article concludes with two final pointers: letting fresh air in through open windows and using a fan over the stove when cooking.
Audit Your Cleaning Products
When it comes to cleaning products, the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning is a helpful resource. A quick search provides an overall ranking for your favorite cleaning products and highlights possible concerns around asthma/respiratory, skin allergies and irritation, developmental and reproductive toxicity, cancer and the environment. Take a few minutes to search for your favorite products on their site, noting their score. There is a feature to check for healthier alternatives when needed as well.
Have Your Ducts Cleaned
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) describes your heating and cooling system as “the lungs of your home,” and for good reason. When left unchecked, NADCA reports “they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions, autoimmune disorders or some environmental allergies.”
When to Clean Your Ducts?
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends consumers consider duct cleaning in three scenarios:
- When mold growth is visible and substantial inside hard surface ducts or on “other components of your heating and cooling system”
- When dust and debris have caused clogged ducts and/or “particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers”
- When there is a vermin infestation issue inside ducts
Request Your Complimentary Duct Cleaning Quote
The East Cooper Heating and Air team is committed to its employees, customers and communities. We are taking proper measures to ensure the safety of our team members and our customers. We are proud to offer complimentary air duct cleaning quotes to members of our community. Let’s work together to keep you and your family breathing healthy indoor air year-round. Contact our Charleston SC HVAC company today to get started.
More Tips on Duct Cleaning, Indoor Air Quality
