Photo By Imgorthand at istock

Arlington, TX is an area that’s characterized by having high levels of pollen throughout most of the year, and nobody knows this better than those who suffer from allergies. Indeed, it is the case that many Texans experience runny nose, dry and itchy eyes, a sore throat and other common allergy symptoms during the drier seasons when the outdoor pollen levels are at their highest.

Worse still, however, is when you aren’t even safe from allergy attacks when you’re in your indoors. Your home’s air ducts contain filtration systems designed to effectively remove pollen, dust, mold, and other allergens from the air in your home. If you find that you are unable to shake your allergy symptoms, or if you have noted that more dust is accumulating more rapidly in your home, it’s quite likely that you are in need of a high-quality duct cleaning service.

So, what are the most common household allergens? How is it that dirty air ducts can aggravate allergy symptoms, and how can a professional HVAC service reverse this damage?

What Are Allergies?

An allergy is any adverse reaction that your body has to a foreign substance, and this can be an airborne substance, a plant, food, or a chemical product. Allergies can range from mild to severe.

Being able to get rid of uncomfortable or even potentially dangerous allergy symptoms is by first identifying which exact substances are causing them and where they originate from. As we’ve already mentioned, among the most common household allergens are dust, pollen and mold. But these are very general terms; what specifically are these three substances?

Dust

Dust mites are microscopic organism that live in practically all homes in Arlington, TX, usually in bedding, furniture (upholstery in particular), rugs, curtains and carpeting. They feed off of the dead skin cells that we shed and cast off into our surroundings naturally. It’s not the dust mites themselves that cause allergies and aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions. It’s their waste that causes these problems.

Mold

Mold grows wherever there’s moisture, which means in the kitchen and the bathroom. Basements and crawlspaces are also areas that can get moldy easily, especially during the hot and humid months that characterize summers Arlington, TX.

What’s more, mold isn’t always visible, as it can grow underneath tile and floorboards, behind walls. It can also grow in the air ducts themselves, which is just one reason why a duct cleaning service is so important. As mold grows, it releases spores into the air, and this can cause serious allergies. Children, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system are especially at risk to the effects of mold spores, to the point where it can be so serious that hospitalization may be required.

Pollen

Pollen in the air and on the ground adheres to shoes and clothing, which is why -even if you don’t have pollinating plants in your house- you will still always end up bringing it back into your house with you. Open doors and windows are also routes of entry for pollen.

Other common household allergens include pet dander, insects, and in even droppings from rodents and other pests.

Avoid Allergies

The majority of allergens are airborne, and one of the most common ways that they are spread throughout a house is through a dirty airduct. Which is ironic, of course, because your airduct is precisely what should be filtering your air. For this reason, if you’re going to have an HVAC system in your home then you need to also hire a professional for periodic duct cleaning service.

Over time, pollen, dust, and mold spores will accumulate in an air duct. Then when you turn on your heat or air conditioning they will be blown throughout the house. You’ll notice, if indeed it is the case that you are behind on your duct cleaning service, that it won’t matter how much you clean your house either.

If you have reason to suspect that it’s time for a duct cleaning service, ask yourself the following:

Have your ducts been cleaned by a professional in the last 5 years?

Do you find that your house is always dusty, despite how often you clean and vacuum?

Do you find that your allergy symptoms actually get worse when you turn on your heating or air conditioning?

If you can answer affirmatively to any of these questions, it is more than likely that you need to schedule a duct cleaning service.

The first step of a duct cleaning service will be identifying the cause of your allergies. If mold is the main culprit, this means that moisture is gathering in the ducts, in which case there are leaking pipes that need to be repaired before the mold can be gotten rid of. If there is a rodent or roach infestation, this problem will have to be taken care of by a pest extermination company in Arlington, TX.

If you are looking to get rid of allergens and greatly improve the quality of the air in your home, you can call Minutemen Heating and Air. These are the most reputable HVAC installation and repair professionals in all of Tarrant County. In addition to HVAC installation and repair, Minutemen Heating and AC also offer a thorough and effective duct cleaning service.

Keep Your Home Allergen Free

Although a duct cleaning service is the best way to fix an allergy problem in your home, there are other ways you can minimize the damage to your ducts. For instance, using a dehumidifier in the hottest and most humid summer months can help prevent mold.

Still, if it’s time to have your ducts cleaned then you need to get ahold of a professional ASAP. Allergies and respiratory infections can be serious, especially if you have young kids in the home. Contact Minutemen Heating and Air today to schedule an appointment today.