The Connection Between Air Duct Cleaning, Dryer Vent Cleaning, and Carbon Monoxide Risks

As we head toward winter and will be using our furnace and potentially other sources of indoor heat, the seasonal reminders for carbon monoxide (CO) awareness are plentiful. That said, one connection may not often be mentioned, but it’s just as important to keeping your family safe this fall, winter, and every season. And that is the topic of this article: the relation between CO and both air duct and dryer vent cleaning. 

Here your local professional source of air duct cleaning in Cleveland–Scrubber Ducts–will share some tips to keep your indoor air safe and free of excess levels of carbon monoxide. Let’s get into it, and as always, feel free to contact us with additional questions or to schedule a consultation.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Before we share some actionable steps you can take to ensure that you don’t have a buildup of carbon monoxide in your home or office, let’s understand what it is exactly. 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that can easily go unnoticed by homeowners. It is a byproduct of combustion, which is present if you have natural gas or oil-fueled appliances and home systems, like your HVAC heating system, clothes dryer and kitchen stove. It can also result from the use of a wood-burning or gas-powered fireplace for supplemental heating.

While it is a naturally occurring gas, carbon monoxide is deadly when present without ventilation, as levels can quickly rise. It is a particular concern indoors and in enclosed spaces. During the colder months, when windows and doors are closed and indoor air is recirculated, CO can easily build up under the right conditions. That can include being circulated through your home via your ductwork.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning to look out for include:

• Headache and dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue and drowsiness
• Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting
• Agitation, confusion, and impaired judgment
• Visual changes and memory problems
• Difficulty walking and seizure

Seek immediate medical care if you begin to notice any of the above symptoms, and keep CO detectors throughout the home so that you can quickly be alerted to rising levels.

Where Air Duct Cleaning and Carbon Monoxide Collide

While dirty or clogged air ducts cannot create, hold, or trap carbon monoxide, it is true that improper ventilation can cause this harmful gas to circulate. It is also true that an HVAC system that has not been properly cared for can end up producing more CO gas than typical. Taken together, these factors can explain the connection between air duct cleaning and carbon monoxide risks. 

Another potential issue is a duct that has a leak. As ducts travel through your home, cracks or failed seals can allow ambient air to be drawn into the duct. If that air is from the kitchen, basement, or other area with gas-fueled appliances, it can also draw in CO gas, and concentrations can begin to rise. Regular HVAC inspection and cleaning services can ensure that your ducts are compliant with local codes and functioning as they should be.

More relevant to our discussion here is the fact that dirty or clogged ductwork can lead to blocked air vents. This presents two problems. First of all, your HVAC system is prevented from working properly and effectively expelling poisonous CO gas outside of your home or building. Second, blocked ducts can cause a furnace to work harder in order to circulate air and maintain a desired temperature. This overworking of the system can lead to more CO gas being created and recirculated through living and working spaces. If you’re dealing with an infestation of animals or insects, that just exacerbates the issue.

Older furnace units can also be less efficient in using fuel and more prone to malfunction. They can create more CO gas and then become unable to properly vent the gas outdoors. Whatever the cause, elevated carbon monoxide levels, poor ventilation, and leaky ductwork can combine to create a very risky situation in your home or office.

Regular air duct cleaning ensures that the air you breathe indoors is effectively and efficiently circulated through the home. This semiannual service, paired with other key HVAC maintenance tasks, will ensure that CO gas is properly managed and that your indoor air is safe and of high quality.

Dryer Vent Cleaning and Carbon Monoxide

Similar to the need for regular air duct cleaning, regular dryer vent cleaning can help ensure that your equipment is functioning properly and efficiently. As part of regular operation, a gas-fueled dryer can create a small amount of carbon monoxide as a byproduct of combustion that creates the heat needed to dry fabrics. Normally, this potentially deadly gas is vented outside the home and is not a serious concern. However, when dryer vents are not regularly maintained, they can become blocked with lint, dust, hair, and other debris. If the buildup is great enough, gases can end up drifting back into the home. Because clogged vents can also cause a dryer to overwork and overheat, the risk of elevated carbon monoxide levels is compounded. Combined with other factors, like dirty or clogged HVAC ductwork, property owners can end up facing a serious health hazard.

Prevent CO Buildup

Thankfully, in both the case of dirty and clogged air ducts and dryer vents, the solution to reducing the risk of CO buildup is just a call away! 

By opting for professional air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning, property owners can ensure that air is flowing as it should, a factor that directly impacts proper combustion in home appliances and reduces carbon monoxide production. Gas backdrafts are prevented, harmful gases are vented outside, where they should be, and indoor air quality is improved all around!

Increase Indoor Air Quality and Stay Safe With Air Duct Cleaning

It’s clear–clean dryer vents and HVAC ductwork are a must. They allow equipment to function properly and help to cut down on CO emissions that could otherwise build up in living or working spaces and pose a deadly risk. 

But the benefits don’t end there! Air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning also help to generally improve indoor air quality, a must during cold months when you’re trapped indoors. If you live with very young or elderly family members or have immunocompromised employees, your efforts to keep vents and ducts clean can directly impact their health for the good. It’s not just the smart thing to do–maintaining clean ducts and vents is also the responsible choice for property owners. 

Stop the dangerous cycle today–call the professional team at Scrubber Ducts to schedule your next appointment for dryer vent cleaning or air duct cleaning in Cleveland. Enjoy the peace of mind and improved indoor air quality and know that you did the right thing for your family or workforce.

Get an idea of the difference a cleaning can make–take a look at our before and after gallery. Then check out what our customers are saying. When you’re ready to get in touch, we’ll be here to help!