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Can rats in air vents make you sick?

Infestations Can Make You Sick In the United States, several types of rodents can carry and spread HPS, including the white-footed mouse, the deer mouse, the cotton rat and the rice rat. The disease is spread when mouse droppings and urine become disturbed and are then inhaled, such as when an HVAC system kicks on.

northeastairconditioning.com - Is My HVAC System Making Me Sick?

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Is My HVAC System Making Me Sick?

Not feeling well? It could be your HVAC system that’s to blame. Heating and cooling systems that aren’t regularly inspected and maintained can harbor all kinds of scary secrets, and the worst of these could make you or your family seriously ill. Having an annual inspection performed on the unit and on the ductwork that connects it to every room in your home is a simple fix that could quite literally save your life. Here’s what we know about the dangers of a neglected HVAC system.

Black Mold Can Spell Disaster

You’ve probably heard of black mold, and maybe you’ve even seen it. Many homes suffer occasional breakouts of this toxic form of mold. Severe or prolonged exposure to black mold can cause hospitalization or permanent respiratory issues. Small patches can be cleaned up safely with tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract. But when mold grows undetected inside your home’s ductwork, your HVAC system can spread spores throughout your home, causing a variety of problems for everyone who lives there, including:

Chronic Cough

Sneezing

Headaches

Chronic Fatigue

Allergies

Pneumonia

Luckily for homeowners in South Texas, black mold is an uncommon occurrence. However, many homeowners often mistake mildew in their HVAC systems for black mold. Mildew can be relatively harmless and usually only affects people who are very sensitive to allergens. The remedy for mildew is often a UV light that can damage the equipment. Homeowners should be aware that there are a lot of HVAC companies that sell a ton of useless, expensive accessories and services by scaring homeowners with “mold” when it’s actually just harmless mildew. There are legitimate uses for UV lights and electronic air cleaning, but it’s also an easy sell to an over-concerned, under-informed homeowner. The good news is that you can keep toxic molds and bacteria from taking root in your home simply by having your unit, filters and ductwork inspected by a professional HVAC technician once or twice a year.

Infestations Can Make You Sick

If mice regularly use the ductwork in your home as the quickest way to get from point to point, your vents could be filled with mouse urine and droppings — two known causes of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, or HPS. In the United States, several types of rodents can carry and spread HPS, including the white-footed mouse, the deer mouse, the cotton rat and the rice rat. The disease is spread when mouse droppings and urine become disturbed and are then inhaled, such as when an HVAC system kicks on. blows air across the contaminated feces and into the rooms of your home. Symptoms of HPS include:

Fever

Fatigue

Muscle Pain

Respiratory Issues

Gastrointestinal Distress

Preventative maintenance to your HVAC system can help with early detection of infestation. A pest service can then be called to remediate the problem, after which your HVAC technician can professionally clean or replace affected ductwork. Keep yourself and your family healthy and happy. If it’s been too long since your HVAC system in San Antonio or the surrounding areas has been inspected by a professional, call North East Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today.

Photo by Brandon Nickerson

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What happens if your roof isn't vented?

They say that poor or non-existent ventilation might cause attic temperatures to rise to 150 degrees or higher in the summer. That can lead to damaged shingles and other roofing materials as well as a buildup of condensation and development of mildew and mold.

hansonroofinginc.net - What happens if my roof isn't properly ventilated? - Hanson Roofing

By: Angie Hicks

Dear Angie: What happens if my roof isn't properly ventilated? — Rick M., Collegeville, Pa. Dear Rick: What you and other homeowners don't know about attic ventilation might cost you in possible roof damage. The Federal Housing Administration recommends at least 1 square foot of ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic space. Top-rated roofing experts tell our team that many attics are insufficiently or improperly ventilated. They say that poor or non-existent ventilation might cause attic temperatures to rise to 150 degrees or higher in the summer. That can lead to damaged shingles and other roofing materials as well as a buildup of condensation and development of mildew and mold. Pro roofers say ventilation systems should bring the attic temperature as near as possible to the outside air temperature. During winter, cool air entering the attic through intake vents above the eaves helps prevent ice damming, according to Energy Star, an Environmental Protection Agency-driven program that promotes energy efficiency. Ice dams develop when snow melts, often due to attic heat buildup, and then refreezes at the roof's edges.

There are two main ways to vent an attic:

■ Rooftop turbines, which spin via wind power.

■ Ridge vents, which cut into the peak of the roof and extend its length.

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