There are lot of disease due to duct ?
The one of them is Astama problem
Houston
resident and asthma sufferer Melissa McDonald says she breathes easier after
her home's annual air duct cleaning. "The air just smells better
afterwards," she says.
Despite
McDonald’s reported improvement in indoor air quality, the scientific jury is
still out regarding the effectiveness of air-duct cleanings and other types of
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) cleanings in preventing asthma
symptoms or improving health in general. In fact, some experts believe that you
could end up spending between $400 and $600 on a cleaning, and not find it as
helpful as other measures you could take to improve the indoor air quality of
your home and control your asthma symptoms.
Indoor Air
Quality: When Air Duct Cleaning May Help Ease Asthma
Experts say
that getting rid of mold, a common asthma attack trigger, is the best reason to
get your ducts cleaned. “There may be cases when cleaning is necessary — if
mold is visible on the ducts or in other areas of the HVAC system, if the
system has been infested with mice, or if you notice large amounts of dust
exiting the supply diffusers,” says Ted Myatt, ScD, senior scientist at
Environmental Health and Engineering, Inc. in Needham, Mass. “Visible mold
growth will only occur if there is moisture entering the duct/HVAC system in
some way.”
Keep these
mold-related tips in mind if you’re considering air duct cleaning:
Make sure the mold is cleaned out properly.
Tempted by coupons or discounts for “per vent” air duct cleaning? Don’t be,
says Felicia Rabito, PhD, MPH, associate professor in the department of
Epidemiology at the Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine in
New Orleans, La. “You are cleaning your air ducts primarily to get rid of mold.
The mold is growing all inside of your ducts, so if you are having someone who
is just coming to vacuum out your vents, that is not going to work,” she says.
Consider replacing air ducts altogether. If
your air ducts have a lot of mold, you should probably replace all the duct
materials instead of going through with the cleaning, says Rabito.
Ask questions. If the technician tells you
there is mold in your air ducts or anywhere in your HVAC system, ask to see the
mold and have the technician explain to you exactly how the moisture is getting
in, says Myatt. “Obviously, there will be parts of the HVAC system that are not
very accessible for a visual inspection, so if a duct-cleaning service tells a
homeowner that there is mold growth, I would ask them to prove it by showing me
how water is entering the system and possibly via microbiological sampling that
includes an analysis of whether the mold is actively growing,” says Myatt.
Take steps to prevent mold. To maintain
good indoor air quality and keep your asthma symptoms in check, you will also
have to find a way to prevent moisture from getting back into your ducts or air
system.
Indoor Air
Quality: If You Decide on a Cleaning Service
If you feel
that your indoor air quality will benefit from air duct cleaning or a
comprehensive HVAC system cleaning, the Environmental Protection Agency advises
the following:
Avoid technicians who claim air system
cleaning is linked to better health or that the EPA recommends regular air
system cleanings (the EPA’s stand is only on an “as-needed basis”).
Research any proposed chemical treatments
before agreeing to them.
Check references — ask other customers
about the quality of the work and any changes in asthma or other respiratory
conditions after the cleaning.
Make sure the cleaning service complies
with the National Air Duct Cleaner’s Association guidelines.
Sign off on a written outline of the tasks
to be performed and their costs before the job begins.
Being
informed about what can and can’t be addressed with an top class air duct cleaning will
help you make the best choice to improve your indoor air quality.
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