Does someone in your family suffer from asthma or allergies? Is there someone living with you who gets sick frequently, apparently with no cause? If so, then you may want to take a closer look at your air ducts. They may be packed with dust, mold, and mildew that are seriously hindering your family's ability to breathe. Getting your air ducts cleaned regularly can greatly reduce the effects of asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Facts About Indoor Air Quality

Perhaps you have seen ads for air duct cleaning and wondered what all the fuss was about. The fuss is about indoor air quality. If your home has poor air quality, you can expect find the following in your air ducts:

?Bacteria

?Mildew

?Mold

?Pollen

?Dust mites

?Dead bugs

?Viruses

?Pet dander

?Household dust

Whenever you turn on your HVAC system, these particles are blown into your home to be breathed by your family members. This is known as indoor air pollution, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, this is one of the most dangerous environmental factors we face as a general public. It is particularly hard on the young and the old.

About two-thirds of all indoor air quality problems stem from mold, mildew, and dust growing and collecting in the air ducts. These items cause or aggravate about 20% of all illnesses. Since most people spend at least 60% of their time inside, they are constantly breathing this dangerous air. Dirty air ducts lead to poor health.

Can Air Duct Cleaning Cure My Asthma?

Air duct cleaning cannot completely cure someone's asthma. Many times the asthma is triggered by other events, such as over exertion during exercise or outdoor allergens. However, air duct cleaning can keep asthma symptoms at bay. In some cases it can even help treat asthma, as it will make the air in your home cleaner and more breathable. This can reduce the number of triggers for the asthmatic individual.

How Air Duct Cleaning Helps

Now you know why air ducts could be contributing to your family's respiratory problems, but you need to know how air duct cleaning can help. When you have your air ducts cleaned by a professional, the majority of the mold, mildew, and dust in those ducts is removed. This means that you are no longer circulating dangerous particles every time you run your HVAC system. Your family will breath cleaner, healthier air. Doing this on a regular basis will greatly cut down on asthma conditions in your home.

When Should Air Ducts Be Cleaned?

Your air ducts should be cleaned on a regular basis, but how often this occurs depends on many factors. If you have a family member that struggles with asthma, you will want to increase the frequency of cleanings. However, if you are cleaning your air ducts to protect your family from the potential of asthma problems, here are some things you should look for:

?Tremendous amounts of dust around the home

?Dust around air vents

?Mold around air vents

When you notice these symptoms, it is time to call the air duct cleaners. Also, if someone in your home is struggling with illness on a regular basis with no other apparent reason, you may have a dust or mold problem in your air ducts. Yearly cleanings cannot hurt, either, particularly if there is a history of asthma in your family.

If you feel it is time for your air ducts to be cleaned, contact a licensed air duct cleaners. Avoid going for the discounted special you receive in your mailbox. Since your family's health is at stake, take the time to find a qualified professional with good equipment to clean your air ducts. Soon you will be breathing clean, healthy air again!