Multiple factors influence the amount of dust that exists in the home, degrading indoor air quality. It’s impossible to improve the state of air inside your home by eliminating dust. You can, however, take actions to decrease the amount of dust through preventive measures.
Dust contributors
Dust exists in nearly every environment due to:
- Cracks and leaks in the home that allow outside pollutants to enter the home
- Decomposition of organic matter
- Pet dander if there are pets in the home
- Operating a forced-air heating system, which will stir up existing dust
- Dust mites and their droppings
- The shedding of human skin
- And more
Controlling dust
Follow one or more of these tips to control dust, which range from changing habits to implementing more effective cleaning practices.
- Choose a better furnace filter. Furnaces come installed with basic furnace filters that trap only very large dust particles. If you want better control over dust, consider installing a higher-rated filter. Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is the ratings system for furnace filters. Consult the owner’s manual for the furnace or your HVAC contractor to choose a filter with a higher efficiency that will achieve optimal airflow.
- Boost circulation while you clean. Running the furnace fan while you clean helps to circulate the air in the home—along with dust that’s stirred up from cleaning. As a result, more dust will move through the furnace filter, where it will become trapped—instead of settling again on the surfaces throughout your home.
- Change how you clean. While dusting, use a material that permanently captures dust. Dry rags just spread dust around. Regularly shake area rugs and cushions outside, and wash bedding, blankets and draperies often. Finally, use High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration, which uses a high-efficiency vacuum filter to trap dust particles inside the system.
Give your home a once-over, and discover preventive measures that control dust and improve indoor air quality. For more expert advice, contact Arpi’s Industries today! We’ve served greater Calgary homeowners since 1963.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about dust control and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Image courtesy of Shutterstock
