Flirting With Disaster Disaster Always Wins. Do you know that flooding accounts for approximately 90% of natural disasters in the US? Every day we can see reports of devastating wildfires, hurricanes, and blazing hot temperatures globally. Global climate change over the years has brought these hazardous natural disasters upon us. The areas that were never supposed to be hit by floods now find themselves surrounded by river water.
Now the problem comes when these flood waters enter our homes and damage us in multiple ways. Many of you may now think that the obvious damage has been done to your property. But here, you miss something big! Apart from property damage, these flood waters may deteriorate your health if you don’t do air duct cleaning after flooding.
Let’s dive in and see how neglecting air duct cleaning after natural disaster results in deteriorating your health and HVAC system.
Flirting With Disaster: Understanding the Risks
All in all, without air duct cleaning after flooding your indoor air quality gets immensely contaminated, resulting in respiratory conditions. When many of our clients approach us after a natural disaster for their HVAC system checks, they look perplexed. They find it odd why the HVAC system gets sick after a natural disaster. Here’s what we explain to them.
After a disaster such as a fire or flood air ducts can become contaminated with dust, debris, mold spores, soot, and other pollutants. If these contaminants are not properly cleaned out, they can circulate throughout the indoor air when the HVAC system is running. This can lead to respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems, especially for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Many people can overlook the significance of air duct cleaning after natural disasters and realize it later when they start getting sick or their HVAC system doesn’t work effectively.
Moreover, moisture from floods or even firefighting efforts can grow mold in air ducts. Inhaling mold-filled indoor air can be injurious to you and your family’s health. Air duct cleaning after natural disaster is critically important to protect individuals’ health and stop the spread of mold throughout the building.
Next comes your HVAC system’s health. Soot, dust, debris, smoke residue, or mold can obstruct airflow and strain the HVAC system causing it to work harder. This is why neglecting air duct cleaning after fire or air duct cleaning after flooding can result in wear and tear on your HVAC system.
Why Is Air Duct Cleaning After Fire Important?
Experiencing a fire incident can be very distressing. Not only do fire incidents shake individuals for a while, but these incidents vastly damage property, including your HVAC system. Not getting timely air duct cleaning after fire incident only results in making people worry about their HVAC system and, consequently, their health. This is why every smoke restoration project begins with cleaning and treating the HVAC system in a building, whether it’s after a structural fire or a wildfire.
How a Fire Incident at Home Can Affect Air Ducts
Accumulation of Soot and Smoke Residue
Fires produce soot, which consists of fine carbon particles. These particles can infiltrate the air ducts, coating the interior surfaces and accumulating within the system. Additionally, smoke residue gets settled inside the ducts and produces lingering odors upon turning your HVAC system on. Inhaling this contaminated indoor air can trigger respiratory issues.
Introduction of Toxic Chemicals
During a fire, various materials in the home (such as plastics, textiles, and electronics) can burn and release toxic chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carcinogens. These toxins can settle in the air ducts and be recirculated throughout the home.
Moisture and Mold Growth
The water used to extinguish the fire can introduce moisture into the air ducts. If not properly dried, this moisture can create an environment conducive to mold and mildew growth.
Reduction in Indoor Air Quality
Here the damage brought upon by fire incidents is much greater than we may realize. Whenever we hear of fire incidents, the first thing that comes to mind is that it’ll cost a lot to repair since the affected area would be damaged. The other obvious concern is whether people were caught in the fire. But many of you don’t imagine in your wildest dreams how hazardous fire incidents can result in the production of contagious allergens and irritants. This is not only limited to that but also how these pollutants contaminate your indoor air quality.
Be it mold, soot, smoke residue, or toxic chemicals, all of these pollutants ultimately get settled in your air ducts and pollute your indoor air once your HVAC system is on. Breathing in such contaminated air largely triggers respiratory conditions.
Impact on HVAC System Efficiency
Soot, ash, and other debris can clog the air ducts, reducing the efficiency of the HVAC system and obstructing airflow. A clogged or contaminated HVAC system has to work harder to circulate air, leading to higher energy consumption and increased utility bills.
Corrosion and Structural Damage
Other than stressing the HVAC system to work harder, soot and smoke residues cause corrosion of metal components within the air ducts and HVAC system. Over time, this corrosion can compromise the structural integrity of the ductwork, leading to leaks and the need for costly repairs or replacements.
How Does Air Duct Cleaning After Fire Help?
Removal of Soot and Smoke Residue
Air duct cleaning after fire involves a detailed inspection of an HVAC system. This is a bit different from regular air duct cleaning because the professionals specifically look for soot particles and smoke residue. Upon locating these particles inside the ducts, the ducts are thoroughly cleaned with specialized equipment. This ensures that occupants can breathe in pure air. This is why prompt duct cleaning after a fire is essential.
Remove Smoke Odors
After a fire incident, you may feel as if your home still smells like smoke. This happens because the smoke fills the air. Thus, you end up feeling as if the fire is still going on. People are surprised when this smoky air doesn’t end even after cleaning the home. Well, the reason might be the ducts as smoke residues get settled inside the ducts. In this way, the odors can spread throughout the house. It’s here that duct cleaning comes into play. By eliminating these particles, air duct cleaning ensures that your indoor air is clean and fresh.
Preventing Mold Growth
Offering a moisture-based conducive environment inside the ducts means you are inviting mold into the air ducts. Moisture inside air ducts is never good, whether it is regular weather moisture or moisture produced by water used for fire extinguishing. This moisture can lead to mold in air ducts, which presents its own health hazards. Air duct cleaning after fire helps in the permanent removal of this contagious mold in air ducts.
Improving HVAC System Efficiency
Soot, ash, and debris can clog the air ducts, reducing the efficiency of the HVAC system and increasing energy consumption. A clean air duct system ensures better airflow and optimal performance of the HVAC system, reducing wear and tear and extending the system’s lifespan.
After a fire, exposed air ducts can breed allergens like soot, smoke residue, mold, dust, and debris. These allergens trigger various respiratory issues. Air duct cleaning after fire ensures the complete removal of these allergens from indoor air, improve air quality.
Preventing Further Damage
Smoke residues and smoke inside air ducts can result in damaging the internal structure of the HVAC. The HVAC system depreciates even before its time. Air duct cleaning protects the system’s structural integrity.
Why Is Air Duct Cleaning After Flooding Important?
Flood water does not merely enter your home. It brings a lot of contaminants, including debris, mud, dust, dirt, and bacteria, to your home. These pollutants fill your home and even make their way into your air ducts. Prompt air duct cleaning after flooding enables you to have bacteria- and dust-free air ducts.
How Floods Affect Air Ducts
Mold
Flood water seeps into the air ducts when your roof leaks. Air ducts are not usually waterproof, so the water resides inside the ducts even after the flood is over. Within a few hours, the ducts develop mold, and you’ll see mold in the air ducts. Your duct system can be polluted by mold spores, which can cause respiratory infections and other health problems.
Musty Odor
Mold in air ducts also produces unpleasant smells that only add to your discomfort.
Bacteria and Pathogens
Flood water is polluted with bacteria, sewage, dirt, chemicals, and other contagious allergens. So the flood water hitting your home attacks you in two ways. Firstly, it spreads these harmful bacteria and other allergens inside your home. Secondly, it paves the way for these contaminants to get inside your ducts.
Health Hazards
If you notice that after the flood, you’re experiencing frequent breathing issues, sneezing, coughing, or any other symptoms, then you’re inhaling contaminated indoor air. Thanks to the flood water! Inhaling bacteria, mold, dust, and dirt-filled air results in respiratory issues. This is especially worse for people with asthma.
Efficiency of the HVAC System
Debris, mold, dirt, chemicals, and other contaminants in the air ducts can obstruct airflow and strain the HVAC system. This reduces its efficiency and effectiveness, leading to higher energy costs and potentially premature wear and tear on the equipment.
How Does Air Duct Cleaning Help After Flooding?
Removal of Mold
Just like air duct cleaning after fire, air duct cleaning after floods involves a detailed inspection of the duct where professionals pay close attention to any signs of mold in the air ducts. Mold comes in various forms and sizes and each form of mold is severely injurious to health. Prompt air duct cleaning after flooding allows the complete elimination of mold before flood contaminants start damaging the ducts and polluting the air.
Elimination of Musty Odor
Stagnant water and damp materials in air ducts can produce musty odors that permeate the home. Cleaning the ducts helps remove these odors, resulting in fresher indoor air.
Maintaining HVAC System Efficiency
Air duct cleaning after flooding can help minimize the strain on the HVAC system which happens due to contaminants obstructing air flow and forcing the system to work harder than usual. During air duct cleaning the clogs created by the contaminants are removed using specialized equipment. Thus you get clean ducts that allow for smoother airflow and enhanced system performance.
Furthermore, moisture and debris in the ducts can lead to corrosion and damage to the HVAC system over time. Cleaning the ducts helps prevent costly repairs and extends the lifespan of the system.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
You can enjoy fresh and pure indoor air after a flood if you get air duct cleaning done on time. Air duct cleaning allows for the complete removal of bacteria, dust, debris, mold, chemicals, and any other allergens that enter your duct after a flood. Once the root cause is terminated you can get fresh indoor air.
Air duct cleaning ensures that your air gets cleaned as soon as possible from all allergens so that you are not at risk of any respiratory issues.
How to Clean Your Ducts After Flooding?
- Our professionals first inspect the degree of flooding concerning the contaminated material present inside the ducts. This helps them decide the degree of effort and time required to complete the cleaning. After the initial inspection, they clean up all the HVAC system compounds, including filters and porous insulating material.
- After cleaning the insulating material, our team moves on to cleaning flood contaminants from HVAC system components using a HEPA-filtered vacuum. The professionals look closely at horizontal sections and filter racks, where debris usually accumulates.
- Next, all HVAC system surfaces are cleaned with a chemical cleaner.
- In some cases, it may be necessary to use a steam or high-pressure washer to mechanically clean HVAC system components before using the disinfectant.
Your HVAC system has many parts and spaces that are tough to inspect and clean. Simply allowing the system to dry out is insufficient to ensure its safety for usage. To make sure that the HVAC system is running smoothly and safely, it is important to thoroughly clean the coils, fans, and chambers. It’s always wise to call a professional air duct cleaning service after a natural disaster so that you can ensure the safety of your system and your family members.
Conclusion
After a natural disaster, when you are thinking of the obvious tasks for the post-disaster clean-up, essentially consider air duct cleaning too. Air duct cleaning after natural disaster allows the complete removal of all flood-related contaminants, including mold, bacteria, dust, dirt, debris, soot, and other toxins, from your ducts and ensures you breathe in a safe and clean environment.
We hope that we were successful enough to clarify how air duct cleaning after natural disaster helps you in managing your HVAC system’s health and your family members’ health. In the end, if you don’t get timely air duct cleaning after natural disaster then you are flirting with disaster disaster wins! And we really don’t want you to take that risk, especially when it comes to protecting your family members’ health and HVAC system performance.
