Air Duct Cleaning for Allergy Season: Why It’s Essential

Whether due to seasonal and climatic shifts or other factors, it can’t be denied that seasonal allergies are getting progressively worse and tending to last longer than they once did. Indoor allergens are problematic too, with more pets spending a large amount of time indoors, and the natural proliferation of dust mites in places where we spend a lot of time. For those with both indoor and seasonal allergies, it’s always allergy season.

How can you eradicate allergens from your home and ensure indoor air quality for yourself, your family, your employees and customers? Duct cleaning is the answer!

Seasonal Allergy Triggers

If spring, summer and fall have you reaching for tissues, you’re likely suffering from seasonal allergies. The symptoms of seasonal allergies come about as a reaction to pollen traveling through the air and ending up in our respiratory systems. While people often associate seasonal allergies with blooming flowers, the real culprits are plants and trees that don’t rely on insect pollination and are instead wind-pollinated. Their pollen is much finer and lighter than typical flower pollen, allowing it to travel long distances on the wind to pollinate trees and plants far and wide.

During spring, it’s the conifers (e.g. pines, spruces) and deciduous trees (e.g. oaks, maples, birches) that are releasing an immense amount of pollen into the air. Late summer brings pollen from grasses, and the onset of autumn sees ragweed spewing mass amounts of pollen onto the warm breezes. These grains of pollen are so fine that they easily find their way into our nose, eyes and throat, and they can also accumulate on our clothing, in our hair, and on our pets. So, like it or not, even a short jaunt outside can end up bringing allergens into our living spaces. “Airing out” the home on a spring day can also leave you with a yellow film over every surface–pollen has found its way into your home. If you tend to dry laundry on a line outside, that dry laundry will also be laden with pollen.

In the rainier parts of the year, often during spring and fall, excess moisture and humidity are high, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria. These are also common allergens that you could encounter in your home as a result of climatic conditions.

Allergies and HVAC Ductwork

So we know that allergens are “out there” but that they can also be tracked indoors. Dust and the resulting dust mites are also major allergens, and when dust builds up in HVAC ductwork, it itself is problematic, but this layer of dust and grime can also trap and hold other allergens, whether from pets or pollen that gets inside.

Another issue arises when excess moisture gets trapped in the built up dust, allowing mold, mildew and bacteria to grow. The spores can then be circulated throughout your home time and again, aggravating allergies and respiratory issues. Mold and bacteria can also settle in areas around the home that might offer them the right conditions to thrive. If you notice mold or mildew on your HVAC vents, or in odd places around your home, it could be time to consider duct cleaning.

This service is vital for all homeowners and businesses, but if you have family members, employees and customers who suffer from allergies or other respiratory conditions, duct cleaning takes on even more importance. It’s advised for the average homeowner to have duct cleaning done once every three years. However, for those who deal with allergies and other health concerns, who have several pets in the home, or who have a larger family, more frequent cleaning is recommended.

Benefits of HVAC Duct Cleaning for Allergy Sufferers

We’ve talked about some of the risks associated with allergens recirculating through HVAC ductwork, but what are the benefits of regular duct cleaning? First off, indoor air quality can be greatly improved when the built up grime and dust are removed from the interior of ducts. That benefits everyone in the home or office, since it’s well known that indoor air quality is often far worse than we may assume. But duct cleaning also removes accumulated allergens like dust, pollen, and pet dander. These contaminants can trigger allergic reactions, so eliminating them can help to ease an allergy sufferer’s symptoms while spending time indoors sleeping and relaxing. It helps to create a safe haven where they can literally breathe easier. And by removing allergens from indoor air, you’re also limiting exposure for someone with allergies, which can help to prevent worsening symptoms over time.

But the benefits don’t stop there. Removing dust and allergens via duct cleaning can also help you to maintain a cleaner indoor living space. Instead of simply being blown around the home, built up dust is eliminated, allowing the HVAC filters to better do their job at removing particles from the air. If your space seems to be perpetually dusty, even though you’re changing HVAC filters and cleaning regularly, it could be that accumulated dust in the ductwork is to blame. And if you’ve been dealing with otherwise inexplicable mold and mildew, it could be that spores are being recirculated through your home. Duct cleaning could be the solution you’re looking for. Over time, you may even experience better sleep and improved overall wellbeing when your living space is a low-allergen environment.

Why Hire A Professional Duct Cleaning Company

Allergy sufferers likely already know the steps that they can take to alleviate symptoms. Regular washing of fabrics, especially bed linens, is one way to cut down on dust mites. Washing fabrics in hot water and using a dryer are also often recommended. Frequent dusting and replacing carpet where possible are also seen as good ways to remove habitat for dust mites and even mildew. Smoother surfaces also make it harder for pollen to get inside and embed itself in your home’s fabrics.

However, when it comes to cleaning the inside of your home’s ductwork, this is a job best left to the experts. Professional air duct cleaning is done with the help of industry-specific, highly specialized equipment, along with techniques gained through training. Trained HVAC cleaning experts, like the team at Scrubber Ducts, will ensure that your building’s ductwork is thoroughly clean, making sure that all contaminants are extracted and eliminated. 

Reduce Allergy Symptoms With Professional Air Duct Cleaning

Dealing with both seasonal and indoor allergies is miserable. You’ve taken the medications, you’ve followed your doctor’s tips, you’ve gotten serious about cleaning–now it’s time to take your solutions to the next level with professional air duct cleaning. Everyone in the home or office will enjoy improved indoor air quality, and you will have a space where you can go to escape allergies this and every season. On top of the health benefits you may see, you can also rest assured knowing that your HVAC equipment is working more efficiently as it heats and cools your space. Contact the team at Scrubber Ducts to learn more about our residential and commercial services or to schedule an appointment for air duct cleaning today! We are happy to serve communities throughout Northeast Ohio.