Well ventilated air is essential if you want to stay healthy and breathe in air that is free from pollutants and illness inducing germs. You might be surprised to know however that there are many people who believe that all they have to do to provide this within their homes and businesses is to install a ventilation system and run it. This however, is just the first step to creating an environment that is full of fresh, clean air with reduced levels of pollution. You also need to keep your ventilation system clean to run properly. By allowing dirt and debris to build up within the system you are putting yourself and everyone else in the building at risk of illness.

The illnesses that can be caused or aggravated by dirty ventilation systems include: the flu, asthma, viral infections, Legionella, sinusitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. As well as these types of illness a dirty ventilation system can also bring about general ill feelings which can include - increased sneezing and coughing, dry or burning eyes, headaches, lethargy, dizzy spells, irritability and nausea. All of which if severe enough can cause illness which can lead to being unable to carry out your day to day tasks and even prevent you from working.

Dirty ventilation systems can cause these illnesses both in the home and office as dirty air ducts can be a problem both residentially and commercially. If you suspect that your air ducts are dirty you need to act to avoid them becoming a problem for you. Here are some things to look out for:

-Build up of dirt and debris inside the air ducts: This is natural and will occur in all ventilation systems but it must be cleaned away to prevent mould spores and germs from breeding inside the air ducts.

-Insects or vermin inside the air ducts can cause illness so if there is any cause to suspect that they may be inside ventilation system air ducts they need to be dealt with immediately or it could result in serious illness, especially if rats or mice have got inside them.

-Mould growth on the air ducts: This is a sign that the air ducts are blocked and need cleaning.

-Damaged air ducts: Any air ducts that have been damaged need to be looked at by a professional and changed or repaired if needed as they will not be performing as they should be.

If you have a ventilation system that needs cleaning, repairing, maintaining or even replacing, contact your local HVAC technician. Certified technicians utilize the latest methods and equipment to bring you a total cleaning solution for dirty ventilations systems which meet government standards. So if you have a residential or commercial property with a ventilation system that is in need of cleaning or repairing, have it repaired to help you breathe clean air once again.