Air ducts or ventilation ducts play an important role in a house. They allow for optimal air circulation throughout the house. But did you know that they need regular cleaning to perform their function all year round? Find out why you should clean them more often and how this task should be performed.
There are several important, even vital, reasons why you should clean your ventilation ducts regularly. Here they are.
The air circulating through the ducts will be directly inhaled by the occupants of the house. We all know that the air coming from outside is of poor quality, since it is polluted and carries various allergens. If you neglect to clean your ducts, these different agents will accumulate in them and the
filters will no longer be able to retain them. In the end, you will end up with contaminated air throughout the house, which will cause allergies to the occupants, especially those who are the most sensitive.
Mould is a phenomenon that tends to appear in ventilation ducts. These microscopic fungi thrive in damp, dark areas. Your ducts accumulate moisture from condensation and rain, and they are not lit.
By regularly cleaning every corner of your ventilation ducts, you can prevent mold from growing in them. The real danger with mold is that it is a vector for various respiratory diseases that can be potentially fatal.
Breathing clean air is vital to your health. One of the roles of ventilation ducts coupled with HVAC units is to distribute healthy air throughout the house. Thus, the air that enters from outside passes through different filters to be purified and decontaminated to ensure the health of the occupants. By cleaning your ducts regularly, you ensure that every last particle of dirt is removed and that you breathe completely clean air.
HVAC units are usually connected to the ventilation ducts to distribute the air throughout the house. If you neglect to clean the ducts, dirt may also accumulate in the units, causing them to overheat and limit their operation. Their lifespan could even be shortened. Regular cleaning and filter replacement will preserve all your HVAC equipment and ensure optimal longevity.
Several signs should alert you to the condition of your ventilation ducts and prompt you to clean them. The most obvious and alarming indicator is when the occupants of the house gradually develop symptoms of respiratory problems such as coughs and colds. Other more serious signs such as asthma or breathing difficulties are also indicative of air quality problems.
Another sign that your ducts are very dirty and should be cleaned is the appearance of mold in the openings of the ducts leading into the rooms of the house. If the mold becomes apparent around the edges of the openings, it has fully spread into the ducts. The situation could then become tricky and you should not waste any more time, but directly call for cleaning providers as soon as possible.
For periodic cleaning, the ducts can be inspected once a month. When you notice that the dirt is starting to accumulate, you can proceed with the cleaning. If you have just bought a new home, it is advisable to thoroughly clean and disinfect the ducts before moving in.
Several steps are usually required to properly clean ventilation ducts.
The first step is to inspect the ducts. This will give you an idea of their condition and level of fouling. This is also an opportunity for you to determine if mold has developed.
Next, the actual cleaning of the ducts must be done. The walls of the ducts should be brushed well and the corners should be reached to dislodge dust and mildew as best as possible. If you do it yourself, use a fine brush to avoid damaging the ducts.
The dust and dirt that has been dislodged from the walls should then be vacuumed away. This is the most difficult step if you don’t hire a professional, as you may not have the proper equipment to reach areas away from the openings. A traditional vacuum cleaner may not be suitable.
In order to completely sanitize the ducts, it may be necessary to decontaminate them. This step is essential if mold has been detected in your ducts.
Finally, air quality monitoring should be performed to ensure that the ducts are completely clean and that the occupants are safe.
Generally, it is necessary to call on the services of a professional to clean and inspect your ventilation ducts. A specialized service provider has all the necessary equipment to carry out this task and will also be able to give you advice on the maintenance and repair of your ducts.
Cleaning your ducts yourself may be more economical, but you won’t be able to completely remove the dirt without professional equipment. In the end, you will only clean the areas near the openings, without being able to perform a deep cleaning.
5 reasons to clean your air exchanger
An air exchanger plays an important role in the circulation of air in the house. Unfortunately, many homeowners neglect the maintenance and cleaning of this device. But why is it important to keep your air exchanger well maintained? Find out the main reasons in this article.
First of all, it should be kept in mind that the air exchanger is a whole system and not an isolated device. Thus, at the time of the interview, it is necessary to take into account all the elements that constitute it.
Filters are the first items to be cleaned or replaced when needed. It is through them that the air will be purified and that the dirt in the form of particles will be retained. If you live in a very dusty area with a lot of traffic, these filters need to be replaced more regularly because they get dirty more quickly. Generally, the presence of dirt that accumulates in the air distribution grilles indicates that your filters are no longer performing their function and need to be changed or cleaned.
There are washable and non-washable filters. If your system has the washable models, simply vacuum them, wash them with soap and water, rinse well, and then let them dry before reinstalling. However, if you have non-washable filters, they must be replaced.
Exhaust grills are usually located in rooms and outside the house. They allow, on the one hand, the diffusion of purified air coming from outside towards the interior of the house, and on the other hand, the evacuation of the stale air in each room towards outside.
Over time, the grills will become clogged, especially those on the outside. Dust, leaves and snow can easily clog them, making it difficult for air to circulate. The interior grilles are much less prone to clogging, except when the filters have not been cleaned for a long time. The grills located in the kitchen are the most affected by possible clogging, because of the cooking steam that settles on them in the absence of an extractor hood.
The recuperator is the element which will allow to recover the energy or the heat contained in the air in order to heat the air entering the rooms in winter, or to cool it in summer. It also needs regular cleaning in order to perform its role properly.
The collector can be made of polypropylene or aluminum and should be cleaned at least once a year, just before winter. This element can be delicate, so do not clean it aggressively. Warm water and mild soap are more than enough.
As far as the core is concerned, it is essential not to immerse it in water. Using a vacuum cleaner is the best way to clean it.
The fans are the elements that will create the air fluctuation from the inside to the outside of the house and back. Dirt also tends to accumulate on them, and regular cleaning is necessary.
The dust that settles on the blades is sometimes stubborn and difficult to remove, requiring a powerful vacuum cleaner. That’s why most of the time you need to call a professional to clean an air exchanger.
Finally, dirt from outside air and stale air in the rooms will accumulate in the ducts. It is imperative to clean them thoroughly to avoid clogging your new filters quickly.
The ducts are usually winding and difficult to access. Professionals use sophisticated devices to reach into every nook and cranny and remove every last particle of dust.
As mentioned above, this device will allow air to circulate from the outside to the inside of the house, and ensure the perpetual renewal of this air. Regular cleaning is therefore crucial.
It is imperative that healthy air circulates in all rooms of the house. A clean air exchanger ensures that the air in your home is of good quality and pleasant to live in. Dirt, dust and pollutants will be retained by the filters and microbes in the house will be regularly evacuated to the outside.
With an optimally functioning air exchanger, you can control the humidity of the air in your home. Indeed, if the warm air in each room does not have an exit, the humidity will increase and the inconveniences that follow may appear. The air exchanger will fight against this accumulation of humidity.
With poor air quality, various respiratory pathologies tend to affect the occupants of the house. Pollutants and allergens are not retained by the filters, and microbes in the rooms are not properly evacuated due to poor air circulation. With a well-cleaned and well-functioning air exchanger, you don’t have to worry about this problem.
Mold tends to grow in the ducts of air exchangers. It is a dark area and sometimes prone to humidity because of rainwater that seeps in through the outside grills. If you neglect to clean these ducts, you will have mold and mildew growing throughout your home. However, regular cleaning will prevent this problem from occurring.
Finally, an air exchanger system that is cleaned regularly will work optimally for many years. You will avoid recurrent breakdowns and you can even anticipate the failure of certain elements thanks to the inspection carried out by the professional at the time of cleaning.
The importance of having your home’s air quality checked
Regularly checking the air quality of your home is essential to ensure that you live in a clean and healthy environment, and therefore to preserve the health of all occupants. At Ventilo Exp’Air, we can handle just this type of analysis.
We spend much of our time at home, especially at night when it is usually impossible to open the doors and windows. However, studies show that in most cases, indoor air is much more polluted than outdoor air. Here are the reasons why:
All this pollution to which we are exposed daily can lead to health problems of varying degrees of severity in the short and long term. Instant allergic reactions such as itching, endless sneezing, sore throat or skin irritation occur in some people immediately upon contact with the contaminants, while in others the damage occurs after several months or years. In general, air pollution leads to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well as certain cancers of the respiratory tract.
Therefore, we recommend that you have your home’s air quality checked to ensure that it is safe for your health.
Based on the results of the analysis, you should take the necessary measures to improve the air quality inside your home and thus live in pleasant and healthy conditions. For example, the professional may recommend that you address plumbing or water infiltration problems. He can also suggest that you repair or renew your ventilation system which seems to be failing. Heed his advice to maintain your health.
You should have your home’s air quality checked at least once a year, or more frequently if you have pets or live in a high-risk area. It is also advisable to consider testing when allergy attacks recur or if you notice unusual odours and suspicious stains on the walls. In addition, make sure your home is well ventilated during the day and cleaned regularly to prevent any pollutants from accumulating in the air.
Problems that can arise from poor air quality in the home
The air we breathe inside our homes may seem clean and pure, but in reality, it can be filled with pollutants that are harmful to our health. There are many sources of pollution, from cleaning products to emissions from our appliances. Poor air quality can have negative consequences on our health. So what are the different negative effects due to this bad quality of the air we breathe in our house?
The first consequences of poor air quality are respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, allergies, coughing, nasal congestion and lung infections. Pollutants such as fine particles, harmful gases and molds can irritate the airways, which can cause breathing difficulties and symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.
In people with asthma, exposure to these harmful substances can trigger attacks. It is therefore important to monitor your home’s indoor air quality and take steps that can range from regular ventilation to frequent cleaning to the use of high-quality ventilation systems.
Indoor air pollutants such as fine particles, harmful gases and allergens can attack the mucous membranes of these parts of the body, causing symptoms such as itching, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, throat irritation and headaches. For allergy sufferers, exposure to allergens in indoor air can worsen their symptoms.
Poor air quality can also lead to cardiovascular problems such as stroke, heart attack and coronary heart disease. Pollutants such as fine particles, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide can enter the circulatory system and affect the heart and blood vessels, which can cause cardiovascular health problems.
These pollutants can cause inflammation in the blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries and increased blood pressure, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Poor air quality can have disastrous effects on the nervous system. Indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particles, can enter the body and reach the brain, where they can cause damage.
There is evidence that exposure to indoor air pollutants can cause adverse effects on the nervous system, such as memory impairment, mood changes, sleep disturbances and reduced cognitive function.
In children, long-term exposure to these harmful substances can have even more serious consequences on brain development, which can cause learning and behavioral problems.
Poor indoor air quality can affect children’s development. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollutants because their bodies are still developing and they tend to breathe faster and spend more time indoors than adults.
Long-term exposure to air pollutants can have adverse effects on children’s growth and development, including decreased lung function, increased risk of asthma and other respiratory disorders, and impaired cognitive development.
Studies have shown that exposure to air pollutants such as fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide may be associated with decreased school performance, memory and attention in children.
Therefore, it is important to monitor your home’s indoor air quality and take steps to improve it. Here are some arrangements that can be made:
In addition, it is important to avoid exposing children to polluted outdoor environments, especially in urban areas where air quality may be particularly poor.
There are several common pollutants in the air, but here are some of the most common:
How to properly maintain all your ventilation ducts?
The main function of a ventilation system is to maintain a comfortable and healthy atmosphere inside a building by replacing stale air with fresh air from the outside. On the other hand, the duct is, as its name indicates, the box through which the air passes to reach its outlet or diffusion point. It is usually rectangular or rounded in shape and requires regular inspection and maintenance.
According to recent studies, indoor air is much more polluted than outdoor air. Indeed, it contains a large number of contaminants, bacteria or dirt from household products, decorative elements, mold, animal hair, dust or even breathing.
Despite the presence of filters at the entrance and exit of the ventilation systems, these pollutants eventually reach the ducts and settle on their walls in the long term and will then be redistributed inside, thus affecting the air quality within the building.
However, this is progressively detrimental to the health of the occupants, increasing the risk of all kinds of respiratory diseases. It even threatens the lives of people with allergies or asthma. Therefore, health preservation is the main reason to maintain your ventilation ducts.
In addition, too much dirt and grime inside the housing will impair the proper functioning of the equipment, so it must be cleaned regularly.
In general, it is recommended to clean the ventilation ducts at least once every 5 years. However, more frequent maintenance may be required in the following cases:
Also, remember to clean the air ducts after renovations, as dust from the work can get through the filters. Finally, a professional will be able to tell you more precisely how often you should maintain the equipment depending on its type and condition.
To begin with, it is important to note that ventilation system filters should be cleaned monthly, or at least quarterly. Also, be sure to wipe the outlets and inlets daily with a soft cloth (only the accessible parts).
When it comes to cleaning ventilation ducts, we strongly recommend that you call in a professional since this is a difficult and complex operation that requires the use of specific equipment. Also, special care must be taken during the work to preserve the system.
At Ventilo Exp’Air, we offer duct cleaning services in Granby. To do this, we put at your disposal qualified, serious and competent professionals. Moreover, they are equipped with the best materials for an efficient, safe and fast cleaning. Among them, we especially mention :
The professionals that we put at your service have the knowledge and skills required to carry out the intervention efficiently and quickly. They also take the necessary steps to prevent dust and dirt from being spread throughout the house during cleaning. In fact, they install waterproof plastic films at all the interior openings of the system and still cover your furniture to avoid any risk of deterioration. In short, they do their best to do a meticulous job that meets your expectations.
We also offer other services besides duct cleaning:
Thus, regular cleaning of the ventilation ducts is essential to maintain a pleasant and healthy atmosphere inside in order to preserve the health of the occupants and to optimize the life of the system as well as to guarantee its good functioning. You can call on us for this type of intervention if you are in Granby, regardless of the size of your building. Our experts will be happy to serve you and satisfy you. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information on our services, rates and schedules. We remind you that the submission is free.
The frequency of cleaning your air ducts
A vent is a channel through which heated or cooled air from heating/cooling systems passes into the rooms of the house. It is a key element of a building, whether residential, commercial or institutional, that must be taken care of to maintain optimal indoor air quality, and therefore to preserve the health of all occupants. Cleaning is part of the maintenance procedures to be performed regularly for this.
Every time you clean your home, some dust and other dirt gets into your vents. Over time, they then begin to settle. However, this affects the quality of the air that is diffused in the rooms. Indeed, the air carries with it small polluting particles when passing through the canal, causing health problems of varying degrees for the occupants who breathe it, especially for sensitive subjects such as asthmatics or allergy sufferers.
You may also notice that dust persists on your furniture even if you clean it regularly. In addition, a thorough cleaning of the air ducts is a good opportunity to inspect the entire system for any anomalies such as mold, rust or other damage. This way, you can take the necessary steps before the situation gets worse.
In general, it is recommended to clean your vents at least once every 5 years. However, there are other factors that may require you to perform maintenance a little more often:
Also, it is imperative that you clean your vents after any work is done in your home. Indeed, the materials used are sometimes very polluting and dangerous for health. Finally, it is important to note that the filters should be cleaned or changed at least once every 2 months.
You can clean your air ducts at any time of the year. Nevertheless, many people prefer to do it a little before winter to benefit from an optimal air quality during the coldest periods when it is generally impossible to open the doors and windows to air the house. In addition, here are some signs that should alert you:
Clean your air ducts without wasting time if you notice any of these signs.
Some people choose to clean their own vents. However, this is not recommended, especially in the case of a commercial or multi-unit building. It is indeed a delicate and complex intervention that requires the intervention of a qualified and experienced professional.
On the one hand, he knows the measures to take as well as the techniques to apply, depending on the case, to carry out the mission efficiently, quickly, in compliance with the standards, safely and without damaging the structure. He also has the knowledge to identify possible anomalies, if any.
On the other hand, it has all the necessary equipment to perform a quality work and to meet your expectations. So yes, it is possible to clean your own vents, but we strongly advise against it.
At Ventilo Exp’Air, we offer air duct cleaning services, whether it is routine maintenance or cleaning after renovations. We put at your disposal serious and qualified professionals who will know how to satisfy you by their quality and fast services.
Moreover, they are equipped with the best equipment to carry out their missions in the rules of art. We give you some examples:
We can perform a dust level test in your home’s air ducts to ensure that they are truly clean and safe. We also control other parameters to evaluate the quality of the air in your home:
Your home’s air ducts should be cleaned at least once every 5 years under normal conditions. However, you may need to clean more frequently if you have pets, smoke, or have occupants with respiratory problems.
Don’t hesitate to call on us for this type of intervention, whatever the size of your building. We have the appropriate equipment for this and our professionals will impress you with the quality of their services and their seriousness. You can contact us by phone or email for more information about our services and rates. We remind you that the submission is free.
What is a dust level test?
Over time, dust tends to accumulate in the ventilation ducts of your home. It is therefore necessary to measure the level of dust in order to guarantee air quality and preserve the health of the occupants all year long. But what is this dust level measurement? Find out everything you need to know about this process.
A dust level test or gravimetric test is a process that measures the amount of dust that has accumulated in the ventilation ducts. By taking a sample, the specialists perform analyses to provide precise data on the level of fouling of the ducts as well as other useful information such as the determination of the presence of pathogens or not.
A dust level test is critically important for several reasons.
Ventilation ducts are used to circulate air from the outside to the inside of the house and back again. This air carries different particles such as dust. This will accumulate in the ducts and over the years, the ducts will become completely clogged.
With gravimetric measurement, you will be able to determine how dirty your ducts are without having to do a robotic inspection in the most difficult to access areas.
It’s not just dust that collects in the ducts. Pollutants and allergens may also be present. Mould can also develop in the ducts if there is high humidity. It is thanks to the gravimetric measurement that you can identify the pathogens in your pipes and take the corresponding measures.
Through the gravimetric measurement, it is also possible to determine the quality of the air circulating in the house. By measuring dust levels and identifying potential pathogens in the ducts, specialists can determine how healthy or unhealthy the air may be and how dangerous it is for the occupants.
As you can see, measuring dust levels is important. But when should you perform a gravimetric measurement of your home’s ducts?
It is a misconception that a new home has completely clean and healthy ventilation ducts. Indeed, finishing work done in the house can cause dust and dirt to accumulate in the ducts.
Similarly, after a major renovation in your home, it is necessary to perform a gravimetric measurement to ensure that dust has not accumulated in the ducts.
If you have just purchased a home that was previously lived in, you should consider taking a gravity measurement. The reason is equally simple: it’s hard to get an idea of how dirty the ducts are before you move in, even if the previous owners say they are clean.
If you are planning to move into or stay in a house that has been uninhabited for a long time, it is strongly recommended that you take a gravimetric measurement before you leave your bags. It is very likely that massive amounts of dust have accumulated in the ducts and that mold has developed.
When you notice that the occupants of the house are getting sick in the same way, especially with symptoms of respiratory problems, a gravimetric measurement should be done as soon as possible. Symptoms may include coughing, colds, difficulty breathing, or headaches.
Once you have received the test results, it is time to take action.
In this case, a thorough cleaning of your entire ductwork is required. It will also be necessary to inspect if any areas are damaged and need repair.
If the fouling level is low, you have two options. You can either ask the professionals to clean the entire ductwork right away to give you peace of mind for the next few months, or you can schedule the cleaning for later based on the specialists’ recommendations.
If your ducts have pathogens such as mold, specific measures should be taken to eradicate them completely. It will also be necessary to inspect certain sensitive areas of the house (wooden structures in the attic, the cellar, the bathroom and the insulation) to see if mould has already developed there.
Performing a gravimetric measurement requires know-how, experience and precise equipment. For these reasons, you cannot do it yourself. You need to hire professional duct cleaners who offer a dust level measurement service. The samples must be brought back to the laboratory for analysis and the results are sent to you as soon as possible.
At Ventilo Exp’Air, we offer complete inspection and cleaning services for your ventilation ducts, including dust level measurement. We have a highly qualified and friendly team ready to meet all your needs. We guarantee professional, quality services that fit your budget.
What is a dust level test?
Over time, dust tends to accumulate in the ventilation ducts of your home. It is therefore necessary to measure the level of dust in order to guarantee air quality and preserve the health of the occupants all year long. But what is this dust level measurement? Find out everything you need to know about this process.
A dust level test or gravimetric test is a process that measures the amount of dust that has accumulated in the ventilation ducts. By taking a sample, the specialists perform analyses to provide precise data on the level of fouling of the ducts as well as other useful information such as the determination of the presence of pathogens or not.
A dust level test is critically important for several reasons.
Ventilation ducts are used to circulate air from the outside to the inside of the house and back again. This air carries different particles such as dust. This will accumulate in the ducts and over the years, the ducts will become completely clogged.
With gravimetric measurement, you will be able to determine how dirty your ducts are without having to do a robotic inspection in the most difficult to access areas.
It’s not just dust that collects in the ducts. Pollutants and allergens may also be present. Mould can also develop in the ducts if there is high humidity. It is thanks to the gravimetric measurement that you can identify the pathogens in your pipes and take the corresponding measures.
Through the gravimetric measurement, it is also possible to determine the quality of the air circulating in the house. By measuring dust levels and identifying potential pathogens in the ducts, specialists can determine how healthy or unhealthy the air may be and how dangerous it is for the occupants.
As you can see, measuring dust levels is important. But when should you perform a gravimetric measurement of your home’s ducts?
It is a misconception that a new home has completely clean and healthy ventilation ducts. Indeed, finishing work done in the house can cause dust and dirt to accumulate in the ducts.
Similarly, after a major renovation in your home, it is necessary to perform a gravimetric measurement to ensure that dust has not accumulated in the ducts.
If you have just purchased a home that was previously lived in, you should consider taking a gravity measurement. The reason is equally simple: it’s hard to get an idea of how dirty the ducts are before you move in, even if the previous owners say they are clean.
If you are planning to move into or stay in a house that has been uninhabited for a long time, it is strongly recommended that you take a gravimetric measurement before you leave your bags. It is very likely that massive amounts of dust have accumulated in the ducts and that mold has developed.
When you notice that the occupants of the house are getting sick in the same way, especially with symptoms of respiratory problems, a gravimetric measurement should be done as soon as possible. Symptoms may include coughing, colds, difficulty breathing, or headaches.
Once you have received the test results, it is time to take action.
In this case, a thorough cleaning of your entire ductwork is required. It will also be necessary to inspect if any areas are damaged and need repair.
If the fouling level is low, you have two options. You can either ask the professionals to clean the entire ductwork right away to give you peace of mind for the next few months, or you can schedule the cleaning for later based on the specialists’ recommendations.
If your ducts have pathogens such as mold, specific measures should be taken to eradicate them completely. It will also be necessary to inspect certain sensitive areas of the house (wooden structures in the attic, the cellar, the bathroom and the insulation) to see if mould has already developed there.
Performing a gravimetric measurement requires know-how, experience and precise equipment. For these reasons, you cannot do it yourself. You need to hire professional duct cleaners who offer a dust level measurement service. The samples must be brought back to the laboratory for analysis and the results are sent to you as soon as possible.
At Ventilo Exp’Air, we offer complete inspection and cleaning services for your ventilation ducts, including dust level measurement. We have a highly qualified and friendly team ready to meet all your needs. We guarantee professional, quality services that fit your budget.
The dangers of not cleaning your ventilation ducts
Ventilation ducts allow air to circulate throughout a building. Its quality will depend greatly on the level of cleanliness of the ducts, hence the importance of always ensuring that they are not clogged with dirt. Find out what the likely dangers are of not cleaning your ventilation ducts.
The ventilation ducts lead directly to the outside to allow air exchange from inside the house. As a result, the openings are exposed to the weather, especially rain. Over time, moisture will accumulate in the ducts. With the entire area shielded from light, this moisture will have a hard time draining away. Without cleaning and maintenance, it will start to attack the structure which will weaken your ducts.
Dust and dust mites tend to be airborne and accumulate in ventilation ducts. If you neglect to clean them regularly, these allergens can be found in excessive quantities throughout your home, affecting the health of the occupants.
Humidity and lack of natural light in the ducts are conditions conducive to the development of mold. However, these small mushrooms can very quickly attack hypersensitive people and cause more or less serious respiratory problems. In addition, mold tends to grow quickly throughout the ductwork, and can even invade the house.
Dark areas that are not cleaned regularly are places that rodents of all kinds like to live and roam. Rats in particular are the most damaging. If you don’t maintain your ducts for a long time, it’s likely that they will take hold and even find a way to invade your home. This can be a tricky situation, since rat poisoners can disperse chemicals throughout the house through the air.
The air outside contains various toxic chemicals, such as carbon monoxide from car exhausts. Over time, these compounds can build up in the ductwork, especially if filters are not replaced periodically. Eventually, they will find their way into homes, causing problems for those who are most sensitive to them.
Poor air quality can lead to many health problems for the occupants. Here are the most frequently encountered.
Respiratory problems are most common when air quality is impaired. Pathogens usually attack the lungs, since air is drawn directly into them. It can range from simple coughing to total asphyxiation, especially if the occupants suffer from asthma.
Various allergies and irritations may also occur. Eczema, various skin rashes, itching and other signs on the skin and eyes may be apparent.
Finally, headaches and dizziness can occur if highly toxic chemicals are in the air. If people who are hypersensitive to these agents stay in the house too long, they may even end up losing consciousness.
There are various signs that can alert you to the healthiness of your ventilation ducts, especially if you have not cleaned them in a long time.
If the occupants of the house develop symptoms such as colds, coughs, respiratory problems or dizziness at the same time or successively, it is surely due to the quality of the air they breathe in the house. More often than not, it becomes obvious when they feel fine when they are outside, but only show these symptoms when they are inside the house.
Strange noises such as animals running through the ventilation ducts indicate that rodents have probably taken up residence there. This shows that your ducts have not been cleaned for a long time, to the point that rats have found a home there. Don’t waste a single second and take the necessary measures to prevent them from invading your entire property. Cracking noises may also indicate that moisture has affected the walls of the ducts. Expect repair costs to vary.
Ducts are used to circulate air from the outside to the inside of the house and vice versa. Normally, filters are used to purify the incoming air. But when the ducts are too dirty, dirt and dust end up going directly into the rooms. If you notice that your furniture is getting dusty too quickly, the ducts may be clogged with dust. It’s time for a big cleanup.
Cleaning ventilation ducts is a delicate, dangerous and hazardous task. It’s tricky in that you have to make sure you’ve cleaned every nook and cranny while you’re in a confined space. It is dangerous, since you don’t know what agents and harmful substances you are exposing yourself to, especially if you don’t have adequate protective equipment. Finally, it is risky, since you don’t know what kind of animals and insects you will have to deal with once in the ducts.
For all these reasons, it is strongly advised to leave this kind of task to a specialized professional. Not only does he have the necessary know-how, but he also has the required equipment. A professional will be able to thoroughly clean your ducts, get rid of mold and detect any alterations.
Want some good advice? Have your ventilation ducts inspected regularly to prevent problems from building up before they do. Not only will you not have to incur expensive costs, but you will not be putting the health of the occupants at risk.
What do I need to know about Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionellosis is an infection caused by the Legionella bacteria. The bacteria survive in the air. Therefore, regular maintenance of your ventilation system will prevent its spread.
Here are some signs that your ventilation ducts may be clogged with bacteria such as Legionella.
All dirt particles and contaminants are pulsed through high performance HEPA* filters. Ventilo Exp’Air’s professional ventilation system remediation technicians ensure the removal of all traces of contaminants such as Legionella. In addition, the service is guaranteed.
*99.97% of particles with a diameter greater than or equal to 0.3 micrometers (microns).
