What's Lurking in Your Home's Indoor Air?

It’s May. That means Spring has arrived! But that also means it’s peak allergy season. Yup. With Spring comes itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and even hives, wheezing, and difficulty breathing for some. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), more than 60 million Americans suffer from asthma and/or allergies. These stunning numbers led the AAFA to deem May ‘National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.’ 

​Most folks tend to think of the great outdoors as the source of most allergens, and while many seasonal allergies are generated by pollen and other outdoor nuisances, our homes harbor all sorts of indoor allergens. 

Many of these can cause chronic suffering and asthma, especially for those who are more susceptible, like young children, the elderly, and anyone who suffers from respiratory problems or auto-immune disorders.

Wondering what’s lurking in your indoor air? With simple everyday activities, we generate all sorts of unseen contaminants and air pollutants like dirt, dust, pet dander, cigarette smoke, and chemicals. And just like those easy-to-see surfaces in your home that get dirty over time, your home’s HVAC system pulls all those contaminants and pollutants right into your air ducts — and then recirculates that air throughout your home an average of five to seven times per day! 

Then there’s mold. It’s perhaps the most bothersome allergen for many Americans. Mold and mildew can lurk all around your home, including in your HVAC system’s duct work. If left undetected or ignored, mold growth can turn into a serious issue, not only for the structure of your home, but for the health of everyone living under its roof.

Believe it or not, despite routinely replacing filters, your home’s HVAC system gets really dirty with regular, everyday use; and since your air ducts are a favorite hiding place for dust, dirt, and allergens to linger, those dirty ducts can contribute to larger health issues, especially for those with respiratory conditions, auto-immune disorders, or asthma and allergies. All those indoor air pollutants can also lead to irritated eyes, nose, and throat, as well as headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

That’s why May and June are particularly great times to get your air ducts cleaned — with so much added pollen and allergens entering your home in early spring, it’s always a good idea to get them cleaned out before they get a chance to really linger!