Health Hazards Associated with Neglecting Annual HVAC Maintenance


It may seem like a minor issue, but neglecting annual HVAC maintenance can have a big impact on your health. We always recommend that our clients schedule preventive maintenance during the shoulder seasons so that they are prepared for weather conditions that place greater demands on their heating and cooling systems. If you haven’t yet scheduled an appointment for your Arlington Heights, Illinois, home, consider how neglecting to do so could put your family’s health in jeopardy.

Reduced Indoor Air Quality

Your home’s indoor air quality partly depends on your HVAC’s system’s ability to eliminate toxins, pathogens, and irritants from the air inside your home. Neglected HVAC care can contribute to increased contaminant levels, which can aggravate respiratory conditions or make you feel ill. This proves particularly true for allergy and asthma sufferers because the contaminants irritate the nasal passages and throat, causing flare-ups.

Increased Potential for Mold Growth

Molds can cause serious health risks even to those who do not suffer from respiratory problems. If we do not inspect your HVAC system in the spring and fall months, leaks and condensation from normal air conditioning processes can encourage mold growth, especially around the evaporator coils and drainage system of your air conditioner.

It is essential to address problems with molds as soon as possible. We’ll also look for any signs of moisture damage, which can prove costly to fix if you don’t catch it early. Leaks and overflowing drainage pipes can lead to moisture issues.

Dirty Ducts

Your home’s ducts are like the arteries and veins in the human body. Instead of transporting blood to organic tissue, ducts transport air to every room in your house. When they become dirty, they can spread contaminants and pathogens that might make you sick.

Additionally, if pests make their homes in your ducts, you could be exposed to the effects of bacteria and other harmful substances from their waste. Animals and insects can die in your ducts, which increases the health risks and creates a foul odor.

We’re happy to inspect and service your heating system this fall. Call Tempco Heating & Air Conditioning today at (847) 670-7000 to schedule an appointment.