Can HVAC System Make Your Family Sick?
Did you know your HVAC can make you sick? If it’s been more than a year since you’ve checked the inside of your HVAC system for cleanliness, then you could be exposing your family to some preventable allergens, pathogens, and illnesses.
Your HVAC system requires regular maintenance and duct cleaning to improve your indoor air quality. Part of that maintenance is making sure everything’s in working order, but a more important part is preventative maintenance — including replacing air filters and cleaning out your air ducts — to help keep your HVAC in good shape.
How Can My HVAC System Make Me Sick?
A clean unit that has been well-maintained won’t cause any health risks for you or your family. However, an HVAC system plays an integral role in the health and well-being of your home. In fact, your home’s air is only as clean as the HVAC.
Below are some ways how your HVAC system can make your family sick. It’s important that if you have any of the symptoms described below, always consult your doctor for evaluation and treatment.
Sick Building Syndrome
Sick building syndrome is the most frequent constellation of building-associated complaints. This can consist of many irritating health side effects but tends to include mucous membrane irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. It’s common for headaches to ensue as well as tiredness and unexpected fatigue. Dry, itchy skin is possible while less common.
Sick building syndrome can happen due to many things. Poor ventilation, dust, smoke, fumes, or even fabric fibers in the air can trigger this. It is most commonly caused by poor ventilation or a poorly maintained HVAC system.
If you’re noticing far more headaches, runny noses, itchy eyes, scratchy skin, or other sick building syndrome-related symptoms, then it’s time you look at your HVAC unit. This is why seasonal maintenance is always a good idea: if you or your family struggle with allergies or get sick when the weather changes, poor air quality will likely exacerbate those symptoms.
Respiratory Issues
Your capacity to breathe easily will be hampered by the dust in an uncleaned HVAC system. Your HVAC system’s job is to make your home’s indoor air healthier to breathe. And given everything that is going on in the globe right now, adding another issue isn’t necessarily a bad idea.
You and your family can be protected from harmful bacteria, particulates, and pathogens by using air purifiers, masks, and clean air ducts. It’s time to think about calling us if you discover that your breathing is fine when you go outside but not when you arrive home.
Skin Irritation
If we don’t prepare for the changes in the weather, it is known to take a toll on our skin. However, what if your HVAC system is making the situation worse than it needs to be? You could follow all the guidelines.
You might wash your bedsheets frequently, drink eight cups of water every day, and maintain a spotless atmosphere without changing your skin’s condition. It’s time to check your HVAC system once you believe you’ve done everything else you can for your skin.
How Do I Improve My Indoor Air Quality?
It’s helpful that you don’t wait until you know something’s wrong before giving your HVAC unit attention. If it’s been over a year since you’ve had your HVAC unit inspected, then now is the time to schedule a service.
If you’re unsure whether or not it’s your HVAC unit that’s making you feel sick, there are some things you can do to start improving your air quality to rule this one out.
Monitor Air Humidity
When your home’s humidity level increases, that only increases the chances for mold, mildew, and other nasty air pollutants to populate inside your home. Keeping your home under 50 percent humidity is a great way to improve your indoor air quality since it eliminates a lot of pollutants from spreading.
Change Air Filter
Ignoring your home’s air filter is one of the best ways to pollute your home’s air with dust and debris. It’s worthwhile to change your HVAC air filters every three months — or even more often if you have pets, children, or anyone in your home struggling with allergies. Keeping your air filters clean not only improves your home’s air quality but it helps prolong the life of your HVAC unit and make it perform more efficiently.
Regular HVAC Maintenance
We’ve explained this one before, but we’ll keep explaining it because of how powerful this can be for your HVAC unit and your home’s air quality. Regular HVAC maintenance is the best way to prevent expensive break-downs or repairs and it’s a great way to keep your indoor air quality as good as it can be.
Instead of spending countless hours worrying about a clog in your system, dirty air ducts, a dusty HVAC unit, or anything else, you can rest assured that your system is running efficiently and handling the seasons like a pro. Regular HVAC maintenance gives you peace of mind, saves you money in the long run, and improves your indoor air quality.
Ready to Schedule a Service?
It’s true that your HVAC can make you sick, but it doesn’t have to. Keeping up with maintenance is the best way to ensure your air quality is safe.
Call us today at 703-214-5611 for same day service!
