Can you get sick from dirty air ducts?

Is Your Family Sick Because of Your Dirty Air Ducts?

If your family has been sneezing and coughing more than usual, it might be time to get your air ducts checked. A study in 2015 showed that residences that have central heating and air conditioning tend to have higher levels of dust in their air duct systems. This is a perfect environment for mold and germs to grow. When the system is turned on, these toxins are released into the air and can be swallowed by family members. If you think your family’s respiratory issues are caused by unclean air ducts, get a professional to clean the system. 

What Are Air Ducts?

The air duct system in your house consists of the supply and return ductwork. The supply ductwork sends the conditioned air from your furnace or air conditioner through the registers or diffusers to each room. The return ductwork gathers the warm or cool air from each room and sends it back to your furnace or air conditioner through the return grill or register. 

Ductwork is usually made of sheet metal, fiberglass board, or insulated flexible duct, which are connected together with screws, nails, or rivets and covered with insulation liner. If any of these materials are damaged or deteriorated, they might release particles into the airstream. 

How Can You Tell if Your Ducts Are Dirty? 

You can usually tell if your ducts are dirty if there is visible mold growth inside the ductwork or if there is a musty odor coming from the registers. Another way to tell is if your family members have been having respiratory problems such as coughing, sneezing, sore throats, runny noses, nasal congestion, headaches, and low-grade fevers. These could be signs of upper respiratory infections caused by filthy air ducts. 

If you think your family’s respiratory problems are being caused by unclean air ducts, get them professionally cleaned as soon as possible. This will help remove all toxins from your home’s air so that your family can breathe easier and stay healthy.