The Holiday season is soon approaching, bringing colder weather and the threat of winter storms. As the temperature outside begins to fall, homeowners must take care to stay warm indoors while keeping the winter cold out. Winterizing your home, on the other hand, takes more than just covering storm windows and turning on the heat. Checking your home’s furnace filter and air ducts is critical for maintaining indoor air quality and keeping you and your family healthy all season.
Your Air Ducts May Contain Dangerous Substances
Your home’s heating and cooling system acts as its lungs, with a network of air ducts connecting throughout the structure to circulate air from one room to the next. Dirt, pet dander, dust, and other pollutants may build up over time and circulate through your home five to seven times each day on average. Homes are built to be airtight to keep heat in and cold out. This suggests that circulating contaminants are contained within, perhaps contributing to respiratory or health problems, especially during the winter months when there is little fresh air entering.
Cleaning the house in preparation for the changing seasons and annual visits from family is usually at the top of many homeowners’ holiday to-do lists. Many common household cleaning products, on the other hand, include organic chemicals that emit natural vapors known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are hazardous to indoor air quality. Cleaning items, hobby materials, aerosol sprays, and even candles contain these compounds.
VOCs have their own set of health dangers in addition to dealing with potential allergy accumulation in your ductwork, which may cause excessive sneezing and coughing. People who are exposed to low levels of VOCs over time, particularly those with respiratory problems, may suffer nausea, headaches, or dizziness. Excessive VOC exposure can lead to more serious ailments such as renal damage, cancer, or nervous system issues.
How Air Duct Cleaning Enhances Holiday Mood
If you have increased allergy symptoms or difficulty breathing when the heat is turned on, your air ducts may need to be cleaned. Removing or minimizing the accumulation of pollutants in your home before closing it up for the winter is a critical step in avoiding the severe health effects caused by extended exposure to poor indoor air quality. Cleaning and maintaining your home’s ventilation system helps to keep it free of dirt, dust, and other particles that might clog filters and limit airflow. Anyone suffering from poor indoor air quality should instead concentrate on fending off the flu or common cold, which normally dampens celebrations, with a clean heating and cooling system.
The best way to prepare your home for winter is to have a professional do a maintenance check-up.
