Safety Tips to Consider to Avoid Duct Hazards
More than often we tend to ignore important things in our life because we can’t see them. One of these important things is ducts in your home. The problem is that they are often underground or out of sight, and we rarely pay any attention to them. However, they can be hazardous if not maintained properly.
Maintaining the HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system of your home is crucial to a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, you can avoid accidents and mishaps. Additionally, faulty ducts can cost you more than well-maintained and functioning ducts.
HVAC ducts tend to collect dust and debris over a period of time. Here are some tips to avoid hazards related to ducts
1. Regular Cleaning
HVAC ducts can collect plenty of materials over time including dust, debris, allergens, mold, and even pests. It is important that you maintain these ducts and get them cleaned on a regular basis.
It is advisable to call in the experts for the air duct cleaning process. Check for faulty or exhausted parts and get them replaced sooner than later.
2. Do not Place items close to HVAC meters
HVAC units can become exceedingly hot. This puts adjacent flammable objects at risk of combusting. In order to be safe, keep things at a safer distance from the HVAC unit meter. A safer distance is approximately one meter.
Cardboard boxes, cleaning supplies, deodorants, and containers should be kept away.
3. Monitor Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide is among the most hazardous and even lethal gases. If inhaled, it can cause respiratory disorders. Likewise, if released in the vents or the air, it is extremely combustible.
Keep your HVAC ducts ventilated to avoid the development and accumulation of Carbon Monoxide. Make sure the HVAC’s warmth system is not broken. It can cause the gas to discharge. As a precaution, install a carbon monoxide indicator near the HVAC ducts.
4. Fire Dampers
Fire dampers are heat activated traps that can contain a fire for about 3 hours from combustion. These are installed in the ducts as a safety measure. They give enough time to evacuate and call in the experts to take care of the problem.
In the case of fire, it tends to spread rapidly through the duct system. Numerous houses have the fire damper system installed in the HVAC system. If you do not have one, contact the experts to get it.
5. Replace worn out parts
It is crucial that you check your HVAC system for faults and worn out parts. These parts can cause fire and lead to the expulsion of infecting substances that can attack your health. Get a constant service for your HVAC system.
6. Self-Check
If you do not have time or the resources to call for HVAC system management frequently, perform self-checks on your system. The easiest way to detect a problem is to notice if it takes longer than usual for your heating or cooling system to perform the job. Another indicator is stuffy or stale feeling of the air in your room.
If you detect any of these, look for exposed and broken ducts or call in the experts.
It is important to maintain your HVAC duct system in order to avoid any hazards. These hazards include combustion or release of harmful substance that affects the quality of life. In order to be safe, keep your system regulated by calling in the experts, perform self-checks, and get worn out part replaced. Additionally, keep combustible materials away from the systems. Install materials such as Carbon Monoxide indicator or Fire Damper for safety.
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