There’s a reason why HVAC systems are called the ‘lungs of the home’. The system “breathes” and circulates the air through your home just as the lungs do in your body. When a dangerous substance such as tobacco smoke is introduced into your home, the HVAC system will carry that material and it will not only distribute through your home but it will harm the HVAC pipes themselves. If tobacco smoke is present in your home, it is a good idea to clean your air ducts before it’s too late.
What do Air Ducts do?
The air ducts in your home are essentially the hidden pipes that remove the warm/cold air in your home when you turn on the air conditioning/heat. Understandably, it is imperative that these ducts are kept clean because they are circulating all the air that you breathe. If you take care to regularly have your ducts cleaned, there should be no worries about your air quality. When tobacco smoke is regularly distributed through these pipes, bigger problems arise.
How Does Tobacco Smoke Affect the Air Quality?
Even without the HVAC system turned on, inhalation of tobacco smoke (called ETS or secondhand smoke) is incredibly dangerous. In fact, the CDC calculated that secondhand smoke causes over 40,000 deaths a year in the U.S. As tobacco smoke moves through your home, the HVAC system picks it up and distributes it to every open vent. This means that even if a cigarette is being smoked in the basement, it will eventually travel to the top floor (and all rooms in between).
How Does Tobacco Smoke Affect the Air Ducts?
The same way tobacco smoke will eventually clog a human’s lungs, it will do the same to air ducts. The smoke will leave a sticky residue on your pipes which will cause them to not work as efficiently as they should. If brown or yellow stains are beginning to appear on your walls, ceilings or curtains, tobacco smoke residue may be present in your air ducts. If not cleaned properly, the sediment will continue to build up which will damage your ducts, maybe permanently.
How can I Prevent Tobacco Smoke from Entering my HVAC System?
The most obvious solution would be to not smoke in the home or anywhere near the HVAC units outside. If that is not possible, designating a closed room to smoke (this means one not connected to the HVAC system) would be the next best solution. Regardless of how many preventative measures one may take, however, particles from tobacco smoke stick to clothing which can then be spread to other areas of the home.
Taking care to make sure your HVAC system is regularly checked is crucial when there is consistent tobacco smoke present in your home. This will not only protect the ductwork but will aid the health of others living in the home.
ChutePlus 426 Rockaway Ave, Valley Stream, NY 11581, (347)671-1083 http://www.chuteplus.com/