How Clean Air Ducts Can Help You Sleep Better
Of all the studies published over the years on sleep and sleeping some of the most interesting are those that look at the link between indoor air quality and sleep. Those studies almost uniformly conclude that cleaner indoor air leads to high quality sleep. So what does that have to do with air duct cleaning? A lot.
The air ducts in the typical Broomfield home collect large amounts of airborne dirt, dust, pollen and other contaminants over time and, if they are not cleaned regularly, end up circulating those contaminants over and over throughout the house. So if you're wondering why your sleep doesn't seem as restful as it used to, dirt air ducts may well be the culprit.
The Often Overlooked Link Between Dirty Air Ducts and Sleep Quality
Most folks don't make the connection between the quality of the air they're breathing and the quality of the sleep they're getting. But there is a very real connection. Every aspect of our system relies on a constant supply of air.
If that air is dirty and contains viruses, bacteria, pollen and other pollutants those things will enter your system through your lungs causing allergic reactions, respiratory distress and - should some compounds make their way to the bloodstream and brain - a general sense of physical and mental unease.
"Research has shown that air pollution and climate change affect both the duration and quality of sleep; threatens physical and mental health especially through respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems; and shortens life expectancy."
–National Library of Medicine
The following are just some of the ways breathing air circulated by a dirty HVAC system can manifest in the average person when they sleep.
Respiratory distress
Allergic reactions
If you have pre-existing allergies like hay fever, dirty indoor air can exacerbate your symptoms. Typical hay fever symptoms like watery eyes, a stuffy nose, an itchy throat, a dry cough and a general malaise can be multiplied by dirty indoor air making your nighttime hours the most unpleasant of your whole day.
More serious allergy-like symptoms can include wheezing, difficulty breathing and a tightness in the chest. Some of these symptoms may be serious enough to cause a person to conclude they are experiencing a cardiac event.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
This short video shows seven common signs you may have sleep apnea.
Dirty air can also have the following negative effects on sleep quality.
- It is believed by some sleep researchers that breathing dirty air while sleeping can negatively affect the body's natural inflammatory response.
- If the air is dirty enough it's not unheard of for people to experience disruptions in their breathing patterns while sleeping.
- People who are sleeping poorly due to dirty indoor air can be more susceptible to nightmares because their system never gets the full, restful sleep it needs.
How Duct Cleaning in Broomfield Can Help You Sleep Better
Let's take a look at the way professionally cleaned ductwork can help the average person get a more restful night's sleep.
By reducing the quantity of irritants in the air
Many of the irritants breathed in by unsuspecting people at night originate in the air ducts. Most people seem to harbor a misconception that air ducts are somehow self-cleaning. Nothing could be further from the truth. All kinds of unpleasantness accumulates inside air ducts and circulates throughout the house. Clean ducts can put an end to that.
By improving air flow
By having a vent cleaner remove all that dust and debris that was clogging up your ductwork your HVAC system will work much more effectively. You're likely to notice greater air movement no matter where you are in the house. This enhanced circulation will help maintain a constant temperature that will make it easier for you to enjoy proper sleep.
By making your system quieter
When the HVAC system is clogged with pollutants it has to work harder to achieve the desired results. All that mechanical effort can cause the system to get increasingly loud, keeping you awake. Cleaning the ductwork will enable the system to ratchet down a gear or two and operate more quietly and smoothly.
By eliminating mold and mildew
A thorough cleaning of your air ducts will not only remove dust, dirt, debris and other materials that have collected there, it will also rid your air ducts of mold and mildew. That's important because these are two major causes of respiratory distress whose airborne spores can aggravate asthma, bronchitis and other conditions.
By eliminating unpleasant odors
It's not just dust mites and pollen that can keep a person awake at night. Musty, acrid odors emanating from the ductwork can also cause a person to lie there sleeplessly, or to wake from their sleep. Cleaning the air ducts will eliminate the source of these odors so you can sleep the whole night through.
Explore Our Air Vent Cleaning Services
To learn more about the air vent cleaning services we offer throughout the Denver area, visit the page below.The Importance of Regular HVAC Cleaning for Good Sleep
Few states have as many different types of airborne contaminants constantly bombarding homes as Colorado. From clouds of dust off The Plains, to all types of debris blown down off the mountains, and of course, the assault of pollen and other allergens that occurs every spring. As such, having your air ducts cleaned only once is not a viable option. The smart approach is to schedule duct cleaning every year or two at the most.
Sleep Better With Help From Steve's
The connection between dirty air ducts and restless, even unpleasant sleep, cannot be ignored. If you've had enough of waking up wheezing, coughing and sneezing in the middle of the night it's time to call Steve's at 720-419-7792 and schedule air duct cleaning.
Start Breathing Easier.
Your air ducts are the lungs of your home and keeping them clean keeps you and your family healthier and your HVAC equipment working optimally.
