While there is much to love about Fresno, folks from the West Side to Woodward Park all have to deal with something rather un-beautiful: dust. While most people understand that dust is made up mainly of dead skin cells, pollen and animal dander, “What’s in Household Dust? Don’t Ask,” an article from TIME Magazine, revealed an uncomfortably complete list of dust’s makeup:
- Dead skin cells
- Animal dander
- Decomposing insects
- Food matter
- Bits of fabric
- Chimney particulates
- Outside dirt and pollen
- Cigarette chemicals (more so in homes with smokers)
- Mold Spores
- Lead
- Arsenic (a poisonous material produced naturally by volcanoes and artificially during industrial work)
- DDT (a government-banned pesticide)
Obviously the last few are the most concerning – but is handling dust something the average person can manage? Absolutely. There are a number of ways to keep your living space clean and safe, and companies happy to help.
The good news is that removing or preventing dust particles that cause health risks can be easily taken care of by regular dusting, vacuuming, and a high-quality HVAC system. Mold spores can be reduced by ventilation fans and dehumidifiers. Preventing additional outside pollutants can be achieved through making sure your forced-air cooling and heating systems are fitted with high-efficiency filters that are replaced as soon as they get dirty (check the filter once a month). For those with serious pet allergies, hairless pets may be the only permanent solution in that situation. The most serious contaminants can be reduced by forbidding smoking in or near your home, and consistently cleaning all house spaces, including attics and basements.
If your home has a serious dust problem, perhaps caused by living on a dirt or gravel road, you’ll probably want to consider a dedicated air-cleaning system. At Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning, we’ll be glad to discuss your options with you.
With regular maintenance and responsible living, for most homeowners, handling dust is simple and allergies and health risks can be kept to a minimum. For more information on handling dust or any other HVAC information, contact the experienced professionals at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. For almost 40 years, we’ve been providing quality services in the Fresno area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).