Can Dirty Air Ducts Make Your Employees Sick? Call Air Duct Cleaning Services

Have you noticed that a lot of your employees have missed work because they’re sick? Have they been complaining about sore throats or sinus infections?

Allergy season may not be the problem. It could be the air in your building.

If you haven’t had your air ducts cleaned lately, they could be the source of your issues. Failure to fix this can not only throw a wrench in your productivity, but it can also make you liable.

At First Call, we understand that your business is valuable; you have spent years, maybe even decades, building your reputation and establishing your clientele. When mold or poor air quality interferes with your livelihood, everyone pays the price. We provide free estimates and quality service that has earned us accolades from our customers. First Call is the right call. Contact us today.

Can Dirty Air Ducts Make Your Employees Sick?

Yes, improper cleaning or neglect of your air vents can have a devastating effect on your employees’ health. It may be particularly difficult for those who have asthma or allergies.

Signs Your Air Ducts May be Affecting the Health of Your Employees

Cleaning your air ducts doesn’t only demonstrate a concern for your employees’ health. It also protects you from liability and improves your productivity because you aren’t hampered by absenteeism.

If your employees consistently demonstrate the following symptoms, you should contact First Call’s air duct cleaning services near you.

Symptoms may indicate:

• Congestion
• Coughing and sneezing
• Sore throats
• Difficulty breathing
• Itchy eyes
• Worsening allergies
• Fever
• Headaches
• Dry Skin
• Rashes

Granted, many of these may just be signs of a bad allergy season, but if you’ve noticed it consistently throughout several months, it’s important to get your air ducts evaluated immediately.

How Often Should Air Ducts Be Cleaned?

Air ducts should be cleaned at an absolute minimum of every three to five years. However, because they can have such a wide-reaching effect on health and productivity, we encourage you to have them cleaned more often.

There are several benefits to having your air ducts cleaned regularly.

What Is Sick Building Syndrome?

Have you ever noticed that certain inside environments tend to trigger your allergies or asthma? Do you find yourself getting sick more often when you spend time in certain buildings? If so, you may be in an environment that suffers from Sick Building Syndrome.

This syndrome occurs when a building’s air quality is so poor that it affects the health of everyone in it.

In the ‘90s, a series of lawsuits was filed against business owners for failing to address the concerns raised by “sick buildings.”

Don’t wait until your employees start getting sick. This is why we recommend periodic air duct cleaning and inspection to address a problem before it starts.

What Happens Without Air Duct Cleaning?

Are you aware of what may be lurking in your vents? We’ll outline some of the dangers of putting off this chore for too long.

Dust Mites

These tiny creatures love the organic matter that settles in your air ducts. It’s a feast for them! More than 500 dust mites could be making their home in your air ducts. Dust mites can cause severe allergic reactions for some of your employees.

As if that weren’t disgusting enough, the excrement and dried shells the mites shed can be blown through the ventilation system. This makes the situation even worse!

You can see why you shouldn’t delay with air duct cleaning near you from First Call.

Mold

Mold can silently invade your HVAC system. By the time you realize there’s a problem, it’s too late. Mold has already established a “colony” and is causing problems for both your employees and your productivity.

Viruses

You know how when one employee gets sick, it seems like the disease makes its way around your entire workforce, gradually infecting everyone?

While basic handwashing and disinfecting can take care of a lot of that, don’t overlook the fact that your air ducts may be making a contribution to the sickness.

Damp and dirty ducts provide a perfect environment for bacteria and viruses to thrive. Stagnant air further complicates the problem, meaning your employees can be infected more easily.

Rodent Infestations

What you don’t know CAN hurt you. Or at least, it can cause you to overlook some unwanted guests.

Rodents or other vermin can easily make your air ducts their new homes, leaving behind feces and damage to your system.

First Call can seek out these creatures and clean your air ducts, eliminating their nests and kicking them out of their “home.”

Air Duct Cleaning Near You With the Service You Deserve

Our customers are at the heart of all that we do. We’ve served those who have smaller homes as well as large warehouses and universities. No job is too large or too small.

Our dedication has resulted in incredible customer loyalty. It’s something we treasure.

You see, we’re not satisfied until we exceed your expectations. It’s why we’ve been the regional leader in air duct cleaning services in the Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro and Burlington areas.

See for yourself why First Call is always the right call. Ask about our air duct cleaning services today.

We’ve discussed how Sick Building Syndrome can have a dramatic impact on the health of your employees, but what about the challenges faced by those with allergies? Can dirty air ducts have an impact?

Are Dirty Air Ducts Affecting Your Allergies?

You’re surrounded.

It seems like almost everywhere there’s something that can cause allergies or make your allergies worse.

They can lurk anywhere, from the flowers in the vase on your table to the pine trees nearby. Even your pet can leave dander behind, another common allergen.

According to the American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. They affect roughly 24 million Americans—and that figure includes 6 million children.

Allergens are substances that cause allergies. The most common allergens include pollen, dust mites, and animal dander.

If you’ve been putting off your air duct cleaning, these allergens may be hiding within your heating or air conditioning ductwork. Even more alarming, they may be distributed throughout your home. That’s why you need to make the right call by contacting us at First Call.

Can Dirty Air Ducts Cause Allergies?

Well, technically, allergens cause allergies—but when they build up in your ductwork, then your heating and air conditioning system becomes a way for these allergens to spread.

Even worse, when you come into your house from outside, you may be unknowingly carrying these allergens with you—for example, there might be traces of pollen on your clothes. These make their way into the ductwork, and from there, they are distributed around your home.

What Happens if You Don’t Clean Your Air Ducts?

If you don’t clean your air ducts, you might be hit with much more than a sinus problem—you may find that your wallet isn’t in good shape either.

When your air ducts aren’t clean, your heating and air conditioning have to work harder to keep your room temperature comfortable. This can lead to higher power bills.

Another reason is that these ducts may become contaminated by allergens, and if they aren’t cleaned, these contaminants can spread throughout your home. This, in turn, affects your indoor air quality.

These contaminants can also make skin conditions, such as hives, rashes and dry skin, worse. In certain cases, these problems may even be caused by these airborne contaminants

How Can You Tell When Your Air Ducts Need Cleaning?

As we mentioned earlier, if your allergies are giving you trouble despite treatment, you may have contaminants in your home environment.

In certain cases, you may actually see dust when air starts to come through your vents. It’s sometimes accompanied by a musty, unnatural smell.

If you have these signs, then we recommend air duct cleaning. We also recommend it if you’ve recently done some remodeling or construction, or if it’s been three to five years since you’ve had them cleaned.

Of course, if you have seen any visible sign of mold, you’ll likely need these ducts cleaned in addition to mold remediation.

Still not sure? Ask yourself these following questions:

• Are you sick a lot? If someone in your household has asthma, has it been giving them trouble despite treatment?
• Do you remember the last time you had your air ducts cleaned?
• Does your home always have an unpleasant, musty smell?
• Did you forget to clean your air ducts after the last construction project?

If you answered yes to any of these, then we encourage you to let us take a look.

First Call is the Right Call When You Take Advantage of Our Air Duct Cleaning Services

Looking for air duct cleaning services near you? We offer extensive services in Greensboro, Burlington and the Triangle areas.

If you’re not sure whether or not you need it, we offer free inspections by calling 336-227-1807. It’s enough to have to put up with allergens when you are outside—don’t put up with allergens inside your home. First Call is always the right call.

But how do you know if it’s time to clean your air ducts? Are there certain signs you need to be aware of? 

We understand.

You have a busy schedule. Between work and household chores—not to mention taking the kids to various events—you’ve got a full plate. It’s easy to let changing your air filter fall by the wayside. But doing so can not only cause problems with your energy bills, but it can create issues with your air ducts.

We’ve compiled a helpful list of ten signs that it’s time to schedule an air duct cleaning service. If these sound all too familiar, you should consider our affordable air duct cleaning services.

Top 10 Signs It’s Time to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned

1. You Haven’t Changed Your Air Filter

If you don’t remember the last time you had your air filter replaced, that’s a pretty good sign that it’s long past due. If it’s totally saturated by dust and debris, these particles tend to take up residence in your ductwork.

2. You Discover Mold

We’ve reviewed the common health dangers associated with mold in previous blogs, but if you’re finding mold in the ductwork, it’s important not only that it be cleaned, but that it’s taken care of by professionals like First Call Cleaning & Restoration.

3. You Find Dirty Vent Covers

This is one that you can easily see for yourself. Any type of matted dust or debris indicates the need for a good commercial air duct cleaning.

4. You Have Noisy Ducts

Needless to say, any time you hear noises in your ductwork, you should pay attention. Popping and banging may mean that your insulation in extreme temperatures causes the metal to expand and contract. Rattling may mean that certain sections are disjointed, while noisy whooshing may indicate that your HVAC system is too large for your ducts.

5. You Have Inconsistent Airflow

Have you noticed that one room seems to be colder than the others, even when all the vents are fully open? This could indicate a problem with dirt and dust buildup that prompts the need for affordable air duct cleaning services.

6. You Notice an Increase in Your Power Bill

All your systems should work at the most efficient potential year-round. However, unexplained spikes in your energy bill can indicate that your air ducts are so dirty that it’s impeding the flow of air. Contact one of our professionals and we’ll be glad to take a look.

7. You Have a Rodent Problem

These annoying little creatures love to settle into your air ducts and call it home. Usually, you can see, smell or hear them. That’s when you need professional air duct cleaning services more than ever because droppings and fur can make members of your household sick.

8. You, Your Family or Employees Have Respiratory Problems

There are several possible causes of respiratory problems, and many of them may have nothing to do with your air ducts–but some of them can be directly related to dirty air ducts.

As we mentioned earlier, business owners have come under closer scrutiny and have faced liability over their failure to clean their air ducts.

If you or your family members have allergies, dirty ductwork can make these much worse. It’s best to contact us for a free inspection, where we’ll give you the information you need to make an informed decision.

9. You Have Excessive Dust

Granted, every house has its share of “dust bunnies” from time to time. When this becomes excessive, or you find you’re changing your air filter a lot more than normal, it’s a good idea to get your ductwork cleaned.

10. You’ve Recently Completed a Remodel

Major remodeling projects can stir up a lot of dust that finds its way into your air ducts. If you’ve undergone an extensive transformation, it may be time to look into cleaning those air ducts before the dust and debris settle into them.

First Call is Always the Right Call for Air Duct Cleaning

Don’t let another month go by without solid air duct cleaning services. Every day that you wait means more and more debris is piling in your ducts, which will gradually affect both your power bill and your health.

We follow a clear, step-by-step process using state-of-the-art air duct cleaning equipment to ensure that nothing gets overlooked.

Isn’t it worth it to protect your home or business? Contact us [link to: https://firstcallnc.com/contact-us/ ] today.

Now, let’s examine another facet that affects homeowners. While moisture and mold problems can happen any time of year, why are they more common in the fall? We’ll take a closer look.

Why Moisture and Mold Problems Increase in the Fall 

In North Carolina, for the months the mornings are like a crisp November day and the afternoons feel like we are back in mid-July. During this time of the year we find ourselves tampering with the thermostat in our homes multiple times a day. 

This type of shift in the weather poses a problem for temperature control in your home. The worst thing you can do for your home is constantly adjusting the temperature on the thermostat. 

When you adjust the temperature in your house you are changing the relative humidity that is in the house. You are setting yourself up for many issues; moisture, mold, and a case of dangerous indoor air quality.

Humidity issues are the number one cause to mold growth. Humidity within the home can create moisture. If there are mold spores within the air they can multiply and grow as they land on these moist surfaces. 

The ideal relative humidity level you want for your home is between 30% and 50%. It is easy to keep tabs on the relative humidity in your home with the help of a moisture or humidity meter, which is available for purchase at any hardware store.

Once you discover your relative humidity levels in the home you have two options in maintaining this sacred state of balance. 

The first being the option to invest in an in-line dehumidifier for your air conditioning unit. This device is automatically activated in order to control the air quality within your house. Instead of constantly conditioning the home, the dehumidifier will allow a fan to run to circulate air and control the relative humidity in between that safety zone of 30-50%. 

If an in-line dehumidifier is not the route you’d like to take there is a simpler, cost efficient method which is a small, one room dehumidifier. They are rather inexpensive and are perfect for single room use, or tiny spaces.

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer on exactly what you should do with your thermostat. Every person’s comfort level is different. Therefore, the temperature within the home is irrelevant. It’s the control of the relative humidity in the home that you should try and control. 

The higher the humidity, the higher chance you have of running into mold problems and moisture within your walls and floor. It’s important to monitor the problems your home is having then to quickly find the most appropriate solution to fix it. Your problem is humidity, and your solution lies within a dehumidifier for your home.

Concerned About the Air Quality in Your Home? First Call Is Always the Right Call

We’ve covered a lot of information, but it centers around one basic principle:

Keeping your home, school or business safe.

You spend so much time in your home, shouldn’t it be safeguarded from mold, mildew and other substances that can cause health issues? 

You need someone on your side. We’ll provide honest quotes with no surprises. As a family-owned and operated business, we believe in the values of excellence, honesty and unequalled quality service.

Contact us for mold remediation, air duct cleaning, or to evaluate your air quality. We’re always the right call.