Most commercial air duct systems are internally lined with fiberglass duct liners. Deteriorating fiberglass duct liner is a very common cause for indoor air quality complaints and adverse health effects.
Fiberglass Duct Liner
Fiberglass internal duct liner is commonly used in many commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Fiberglass duct liner provides sound attenuation by dampening noise from HVAC equipment, and sound from adjacent office spaces. Fiberglass duct liner provides thermal insulation for air ducts, preventing the air ducts from losing expensive conditioned air.
Fiberglass Duct Liner Deterioration
Over time internal fiberglass duct liner is exposed to varying degrees of air turbulence, temperature and humidity. These environmental changes take its toll on the duct liner, breaking down its primary seal.
The primary seal is a black gritty coating on the surface of the duct liner which locks down the fiberglass fibers. Deteriorated primary coating migrates through the ventilation system depositing within HVAC components and eventually entering the indoor air.
After the primary seal has fully deteriorated, it allows raw fiberglass fibers to be exposed to the airstream. Turbulent airstreams wick the raw fiberglass fibers through the ventilation system, creating additional deposits within HVAC components and exposing building occupants to raw fiberglass fibers.
Health Effects of Fiber Glass Fibers
Health effects from exposure to fiberglass can be different depending on the fiber size and type of exposure. Fiberglass, at a minimum, is an acute physical irritant to the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract.
While no long-term health effects should occur from touching fiberglass. Rashes can appear when the fibers become embedded in the outer layer of the skin.
Eyes may become red and irritated after exposure to fiberglass as occupants touch horizontal surfaces with deposits of fiberglass fibers, and rub their eyes.
Soreness in the nose and throat can result when fibers are inhaled. Asthma and bronchitis can be aggravated by exposure to fiberglass.
Temporary stomach irritation may occur if fibers are swallowed.
How Can Fiberglass Air Ducts Be Repaired?
If caught in the early stages of deterioration the internal fiberglass duct liner can be repaired. Fiberglass duct liner can be resurfaced with an encapsulate specifically designed for HVAC systems. Initially a commercial air duct cleaning needs to be performed to remove the foreign debris from the air duct surface to ensure for a proper bond. After the air duct system is cleaned, the encapsulate is applied to the air duct surface locking down the fiberglass fibers.
If the internal fiberglass lining to too deteriorated, the lining must be removed and replaced. If the damage is localized, new internal internal insulation can be installed within the ducting. If the damage is extensive, consider removing the damaged insulation and wrapping the air ducts with an external fiberglass insulation.
Dust is a combination of pollen, plant and mold spores, pet dander, human skin, lint, bacteria, and other contaminants. While any of these can affect breathing and allergies, dust mites can be a particular problem.
What is a Dust Mite?
Dust mites are tiny insects that are invisible to the naked eye that feed on human skin flakes. Dust mites thrive in stable environments like indoor dwellings and can survive in almost any temperature at almost any altitude. In other words, dust mites are in every home that has dust.
Why are Dust Mites Dangerous?
Dust mites can negatively affect human health because they are a common trigger for allergies and asthma. Body parts and feces from dust mites can trigger asthma in individuals with allergic reactions to dust mites, and exposure to dust mites can cause asthma in children who have not previously exhibited asthma symptoms.
How to Control Dust Mites
While you cannot eliminate dust mites, the easiest way to limit the amount of dust mites in your home is to limit the amount of dust in your home.
Wash bedding and pillows in frequently as dust mites thrive in these areas where skin flakes collect. If necessary, mattresses and pillows can be covered in allergen-impermeable covers.
Avoid furry and feathered pets as they contribute to the food sources for dust mites. If you cannot part with your pet, prevent them from occupying your sleeping area.
Vacuum fabric furniture and carpet with vacuum cleaner equipped with a high efficient vacuum filter.
If you have children, choose washable stuffed toys, and keep stuffed toys off the bed.
Dust all surfaces weekly. Do not scatter dust, use a damp cloth when dusting.
Maintain a low relative humidity; the ideal relative humidity in a home is between 30-50%.
Have the air ducts cleaned. Ventilation systems require routine maintenance to prevent dust from being re-circulated throughout the home.
In rare instances, chemicals may be recommended to eradicate dust mites, if this is necessary speak to a professional.
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The Family Air Kit® is a cost effective and accurate means of testing the indoor air quality of your home or business. The Family Air Kit® tests the longitudinal effect of dust in the home.
Ductworks, Inc. and National Jewish Health provide a comprehensive approach to controlling symptoms for people who suffer from allergies and asthma.
Pigeon problems have devastating effects on the heating and cooling components and indoor air quality of a commercial facility. Pigeon problems affect employees, maintenance personnel and potentially customers.
HVAC Systems Make Perfect Pigeon Coups
Unfortunately, rooftop heating and cooling units are a perfect place for pigeons to nest. To seek shelter from the elements, pigeons typically enter air handler units through the fresh air intakes and build their nests within the HVAC unit. A single pair of pigeons can generate up to 18 new pigeons per year. Once a nest is established, pigeons are extremely territorial.
Indoor Air Quality
An HVAC system distributes the air throughout a facility. The bacteria, fungi and parasites that live and grow in pigeon droppings can carry and transmit any of 60 known diseases. Exposure to pigeon feces and other organic matter such as feathers carcasses and nesting material from the HVAC system may pose a considerable health threat to people who come in contact with them or inhale the airborne particles from them. Every precaution should be taken to ensure that building occupants and maintenance personnel are protected from pigeon feces.
Damage to HVAC Systems
As pigeons live in the air handler units they peck through filter material allowing unfiltered air and pigeon contaminants to freely enter the ventilation system. There are numerous damaging effects to an HVAC system.
Filter banks: Pigeons peck though filter banks allowing for unfiltered air and pigeon contaminants to be drawn into HVAC components and supply air ducts.
Fan Blower: Pigeon debris builds within the fan blades decreasing airflow.
Air conditioner coils: Pigeon debris compacts within air conditioner coils and clogs the drain pan.
Insulation: Pigeons peck at insulation to create nesting material allowing for raw fiberglass fibers to enter the airstream.
How Do You Correct Pigeon Problems?
Hire a professional wildlife service or animal control contractor to relocate existing pigeons, and install devices to prevent future intrusions. Have the pigeon debris removed by a professional air duct cleaning contractor. Be sure to have the air duct cleaning contractor inspect the supply air ducts downstream of the HVAC unit.
A clothes dryer works by forcing hot air through a turning drum. Wet clothes placed in the drum are then dried by the moving hot air. It is possible for a full load of wet clothes to contain as much as one and a half gallons of water from a typical load of laundry. Lint is created from the clothes as the water is removed and the clothes dry. Overtime as air passes through this exhaust line the lint collects in the screws, bends and elbows and walls of the air duct.
Inspect the Type of Air Duct Attached to the Dryer
Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. Flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow. Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct.
Fire Hazard
Clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.
Air Flow Restriction
New construction trends now situate washers and dryers in nontraditional areas of the house, such as upstairs bedrooms, hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and closets. These new sites generally require longer dryer vents, and a higher probability for air flow restriction.
Dryer Vent Maintenance and Safety Tips
Proper maintenance for clothes dryers involves removing the lint from the traps, vents, and surrounding areas of the dryer.
Never operate your clothes dryer when you are not home or while you are sleeping.
Clean your lint trap before or after every use.
Install a proper screen to the outside exhaust to prevent animals from entering the dryer vent.
Do not push your dryer too close to the wall as it may cause crimps or bends in the air duct.
Periodically have the dryer vent professionally cleaned.
Evidence has shown that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air. Several factors contribute to poor indoor air quality that can be easily controlled. Follow these simple tips improve your indoor air.
Identify and Remove Pollutant Sources
The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. Educate yourself on the different types of biological, gas, or particulate pollutants that can potentially affect your indoor air quality and takes steps to remove them. To have a greater understanding of potential indoor pollutants read “Understanding Indoor Air Pollutants“.
Improve Air Ventilation
If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house. When weather permits open windows to increase ventilation. If you are intending to filter the outside air consider improving your heating and cooling system by having it modified to draw filtered outside air
Improve Filtration
There are many types and sizes of air filters and air cleaners on the market. As air is circulated through a forced air ventilation system debris is trapped within the furnace filter. Use furnace filters with a MERV rating between 7 to 11, and change the filter every 2 months that the filter is in use. If a standalone filtration device is used, use a device that has a high-circulation rate and highly efficient filter.
An air duct system is very efficient at spreading smoke. When a fire occurs, the entire HVAC system will be contaminated, to a lesser or greater degree. It is likely that the air duct system will distribute smoke damage well beyond the area of the fire.
Smoke Damage from an Active Air Duct System
Unfortunately, a forced air ventilation system is rather effective at spreading smoke damage. Smoke is drawn into return air vents, through the furnace components, and distributed throughout the home or building through the supply air ducts. If the HVAC system was operating at the time of fire, the return air side will be the most contaminated.
Passive Air Duct Smoke Damage
Even if the heating and ventilation system is not in use, there is a natural or passive air movement throughout the ventilation system. If the air duct system wan not in operation during the fire, the return and supply air ducts closest to the fire will be the most contaminated.
Absorption of Odors
Smoke is naturally attracted to metal surfaces and is corrosive in nature. As the smoke enters the air ducts it will cling to the steel, and will absorb into the debris within the air duct system. A ventilation system has to be thoroughly cleaned in order to remove smoke damage.
Odor Oxidizer
After the ventilation system has been cleaned, an odor oxidizer is applied within the air ducts. An odor oxidizer naturally breaks downs the odor causing chemicals of the smoke damage.
Encapsulation
In some instances of extreme smoke damage, air ducts will need to be encapsulated to remediate the smoke damage. After the air ducts are cleaned, an encapsulates approved for use within HVAC systems is applied uniformly throughout the ventilation system.
Green air duct cleaners employ advanced methods and materials specifically for green cleaning. They make an extra effort to not allow any dust to escape outdoors or indoors, and only use natural cleaning products.
Clean & Maintained Air Duct Cleaning Equipment
Green air duct cleaning companies ensure that equipment is cleaned and maintained to prevent introducing contaminants into the home or business. HEPA vacuums require routine inspection to ensure that the filter is properly sealed and operating at peak performance. HEPA filtered vacuums to prevent dust from being re-released into the air.
No Dust Escapes
No dust should enter your home or be released outside during the air duct cleaning process. Green air duct cleaning companies use source removal cleaning procedures to mechanically agitate and HEPA vacuum debris from the wall of the air ducts.
Green Cleaning Products
Cleaning solvents are needed to clean debris air vent vent registers and furnace components. Only non-toxic, biodegradable, non-corrosive, non-flammable, environmentally safe cleaning products are to be used.
Limited Use of Sanitizers
Sanitizing agents should ONLY be used if there is microbial problem. Any sanitizer used in the HVAC system must be specifically registered by the EPA or other applicable regulatory agency for the use in HVAC systems.
Never Use Scented Sprays
Green air duct cleaning companies never use scented spays within air ducts. A proper cleaning of the air vents will remove the debris harboring the odor. Scented sprays mask odors, and can potentially cause an adverse reaction to home or building occupants.
The greatest difficulty in solving indoor air quality problems is that effects on people can vary. One of a pollutant can have a completely different effect on two different people. While pollutants found in indoor air can be responsible for many harmful effects, there is considerable uncertainty as to what concentrations or periods of exposure are necessary cause specific health problems.
Immunocompromised Individuals
People who are immunocompromised have an immune system that is compromised or entirely absent. Indoor air quality is of great concern to those who are immunuocomprimised, as their bodies are very vulnerable to opportunistic infections.
Hypersensitivity
Some people can become sensitized to biological & chemical pollutants after repeated or high level exposures. Effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. Once sensitized to a pollutant, the individual can experience acute adverse reactions when they are exposed to that pollutant, even when the pollutant is at a lower level.
Age Makes a Difference
Children are sensitive to indoor air quality because they breathe faster than adults, inhaling up to 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults. Elderly have a higher risk for cardiovascular, respiratory illness from fine particle pollutions.
Allergies & Asthma
Dust is a mixture of many substances. Its content may vary from home to home, but the most common allergy triggers such as mold spores, pollen, dust mites, can trigger allergy or asthma attacks.
Fortunately for most healthy people, the symptoms of air pollution exposure usually go away as soon as the air quality improves. Good housekeeping and good maintenance of the heating and air conditioning equipment is the most important methods for controlling exposure to indoor air pollutants.
A host of different biological, gas, and particulate pollutants can affect the indoor air quality. The types of contaminants and the amounts that are suspended in the air determine air quality.
Biological Air Pollutants
Biological pollutants are or were living organisms. While all of us are exposed to biological pollutants in one form or another, the effects on our health depend upon the type and amount of biological pollution and the individual person. Two conditions are essential to support biological growth – nutrients and moisture. Keeping an area clean and dry is the best method to prevent biological air pollutants.
Common biological air pollutants:
Pet Hair & Pet Dander
Mold
Dust Mites
Pollen
Cockroach parts
Chemical & Gas Air Pollutants
Chemical and gas pollutants are the most hazardous of all air pollutants as they are often odorless, tasteless and invisible. Ensuring proper exhaust, using building products with low levels of volatile organic compounds, and prohibiting smoking indoors are the best methods for preventing chemical and gas air pollutants.
Common chemical & gas pollutants:
Carbon Monoxide
Radon
Smoke
Building Materials with volatile organic compounds
Particulate Air Pollutants
Particulate air pollutants are particulates that have the ability to become air born when disrupted. The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller are of greatest concern because they can pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Good house keeping and construction containment practices are the best methods for lowering particulate air pollutants.
Most commercial air duct systems are internally lined with fiberglass duct liners. Deteriorating fiberglass duct liner is a very common cause for indoor air quality complaints and adverse health effects.
