Ordinary house dust is anything but ordinary, consisting of infinite combinations of particulate from within your Fresno area home and around the globe. While the production and accumulation of dust is inevitable, there are several steps you can take to reign it in and gain control.
What Is Dust?
Dust is composed of minute particles that are invisible to the naked eye, unless floating around in the air in great number. The contents can range from harmless clothing and carpet fibers, to human skin cells, mold spores, insect parts and pet dander. Because it drifts with the air, these particles can make a significant journey before coming to land in your home. For those with allergies, asthma or compromised immune systems, an abundance of certain types of particulate can trigger a reaction or cause respiratory issues that can endanger their health.
Tips to Help You Take Back Control
- Consider the source. Keep windows and doors closed, consider replacing carpeting with hard flooring, and reduce clutter, to help reduce dust and the places where it settles.
- Control humidity. Keep an eye on humidity levels, aiming for a reading between 30 and 45 percent; any higher, and there’s an increased risk of mold production.
- Improve your cleaning habits. Clean often, using a vacuum with a heavy-duty or HEPA filter, and use a microfiber cloth for dusting, to trap it rather than spread it around.
- Purify. Consider installing an air purification system to remove up to 99 percent of particulates in the air and keep it from recirculating.
- Change your air filter. Regularly inspect and change your HVAC filter, every four to six weeks during peak seasons.
- Seal your ductwork. Leaky ducts can allow the entry of particulates from unconditioned spaces, such as your attic or crawl space. Check for holes or broken seams and repair them with a metal-backed tape or mastic sealant.
For more tips on how to control the level of dust in your home, call the experts at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning, with more than 40 years of experience serving homeowners 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).