Air Ducts, Allergies and Indoor Air Quality: What Homeowners Should Know

How Air Ducts Affect the Air You Breathe

Every time the blower runs, the return ducts pull air from your rooms, along with the dust, lint, pet hair and debris in it. Some of that material settles inside the duct system. Return ducts and ducts in homes with pets, smokers or recent remodeling tend to collect the most.

Leaky ductwork adds to the problem. Gaps in return ducts that run through attics, crawlspaces, garages or unfinished basements can draw in dust, insulation fibers and other contaminants and send them into living areas. Sealing those gaps with Aeroseal helps keep that air out.

Dust and Allergies

Dust is one of the most common indoor allergy triggers. People who are allergic to dust usually react to dust mite material or pet allergens, with sneezing, itchy eyes or asthma symptoms. An often overlooked part of dust control is the duct system that circulates air through the house.

Many families call Safety King after noticing more dust on furniture soon after cleaning, musty odors when the system turns on, or visible debris around registers.

When Duct Cleaning Makes Sense

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that duct cleaning has not been shown to prevent health problems, and it recommends considering cleaning when there is:

• Substantial visible mold growth inside the ducts or on other parts of the heating and cooling system
• Evidence of insects or rodents in the ducts
• Ducts clogged with excessive dust and debris, or particles released into the home from the supply registers

Safety King follows that approach: inspect first, then recommend cleaning when the condition of the system calls for it. If the ducts are clean, we will tell you. Learn more in Is Air Duct Cleaning Worth It?

Mold and Moisture

Some molds are useful, like the ones used in cheese and medicine. Mold growing inside a home's HVAC system is another matter. It needs moisture, so the first step is always finding and fixing the moisture source, such as a condensate problem or high humidity.

If mold is present in the ducts, cleaning must be done by trained technicians using proper containment. Safety King technicians hold NADCA certifications including the Ventilation System Mold Remediator (VSMR) credential.

Other Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

• Change furnace filters regularly and use the best filter your system is designed to handle.
• Keep indoor humidity in a moderate range to discourage dust mites and mold.
• Vacuum with a HEPA-filter vacuum and wash bedding often.
• Have the ducts sealed if testing shows leakage, especially on the return side.
• Consider indoor air quality testing to find out what is actually in your air, and options like BreatheCLEAN UV or duct treatments when appropriate.

Outdoor air matters too. The American Lung Association's annual State of the Air report grades Southeast Michigan counties on ozone and particle pollution, and smoke from distant wildfires has reached Michigan in recent years. On those days, keeping windows closed and running the system with a clean filter helps.