If you think of your home as a safe haven against the world’s outside threats, you may experience disappointment and frustration when you
struggle against environmental challenges such as household dust. Add a dust mite allergy to your woes, and you may experience constant
sneezing, itching, eye irritation, and wheezing.
Thankfully, the right combination of everyday household practices and professional HVAC care can help you conquer your battle against the tiny particles of dust that can cause health problems and make your life miserable. Take a look at four strategies you can employ to start enjoying cleaning.
1. Make Smart Air Filter Decisions
Your choice of air filter can make a big difference in how much dust makes its way from the ducts into your home’s various rooms. Cheaper
fiberglass and electrostatic air filters may prove cost-effective to replace, but neither of them can remove airborne dust. Consider using a HEPA or pleated air filter instead.
Make sure the air filter you select fits the dimensions of the vent opening. Even a small gap around the perimeter can undermine the filter’s efficiency. Replace the air filter (or wash a washable air filter) periodically to get the best dust-removing results.
2. Choose the Right HVAC Setting While Dusting
Every time you dust your home, you remove particles that might otherwise irritate your nose, lungs, and eyes. However, your HVAC system can
either help or hinder this smart home care routine. An HVAC system set to auto only runs intermittently, meaning that any airborne dust particles may simply float around and trouble you.
You can make your HVAC system a more valuable housecleaning ally by turning it on while you dust, returning it to auto after you’ve finished
stirring up the dust. When your system runs continuously, it does a better job of drawing that airborne dust out of the room.
3. Control Your Household Humidity Levels.
A dry home frequently means a dusty home. With no moisture in the air to catch and bind dust particles, the particles float freely all over the house. Drier air also gives dust mites a better chance to thrive, promoting allergic reactions.
If you constantly struggle with airborne dust due to relatively dry air, consider purchasing a humidifier. This device can add just enough moisture to make those dust particles stick together and make them heavy enough to fall out of the air.
4. Get Your Ducts Professionally Inspected and Fixed
As the primary conduits for pushing cooled or heated air through your home, your HVAC ducts naturally collect a fair amount of dust over time, even if you use a high-quality air filter and change the filter regularly. You might assume that you can simply vacuum the ducts, but this can prove an unfortunate strategy.
Accumulated dust inside ducts usually stays put without responding to everyday air movement. Your attempt to vacuum it may only kick it up and send it through the vents. The real dust problem, and one you can more easily correct, may lie in leaky spots along or around ducts that permit unfiltered air to escape.
If you blame your ducts for your dust issues, ask experienced HVAC technicians to inspect every inch of the duct system, including the seals
around the joints. These experts can pinpoint any leaks and tape them up so dust can’t escape through them.
Triangle Heating & Cooling can help you improve the cleanliness and efficiency of your HVAC system while offering guidance on how you can
optimize your home’s air quality. Contact us today to tell us about your problem and request our services.
