Dust Removal -- Ways To Enhance Your Indoor Air Quality

For many people, cleaning dust may often seem like an endless battle, but dust removal is necessary for healthy indoor air. The dust in your home likely contains dust mites, mold spores, viruses, bacteria, chemical and/or biological pollutants, dirt particles and other contaminants. Use the following strategies and tips as part of your family’s clean-air home-comfort plan:

Choose high-quality air filters

An easy and sensible place to start is choosing a filter with a high MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating. If you use a furnace, however, don’t go too high, since high-efficiency filters are likely to reduce air flow through your HVAC system. Make a habit of checking your filters every month, especially during high-use months and pollen season.

Air-purification systems

An air-purification system that combines technologies, such as UV lights, a HEPA filter and/or electronically charged collection plates, is excellent for removing dust and contaminants, and for eliminating odors in your home. There are many models to choose from, including portable units or whole-house systems.  The whole-house systems are usually the most effective and least expensive overall to help the entire home.

Cleaning and ventilation tips

Cleaning activities can stir up dust into the air. Turn on the furnace fan or air handler while vacuuming and dusting your home, and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes after you have finished. This will circulate the air back through the system’s filter.  Make sure that the vacuum cleaner you use has a good dust catching system, either bagged or bag-less.  Many people use old inefficient vacuum cleaners that put a lot of dust back into the air every time they try to clean.

Attached garages are sources for dust, contaminants and pollutants, and studies have shown that these contaminants may be drawn into the living space. Make sure that the door from the garage to the home is weather stripped and sealed to minimize this leakage.  Also, make sure that the outside garage door is left open for a little while after the car is turned off in the garage to help ventilate it.

Place a shoe rack by the front door and institute a “no shoes” policy in your home. Not only will this keep more dust and dirt out of your home, but your carpet and floors will last longer and stay cleaner.

For more information on indoor air quality and dust removal tips, call CCAC, Inc.and speak to one of our friendly professionals. We proudly serve Corpus Christi and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Clean air image via Shutterstock

Mathews CCAC Air Conditioning and Heating services Corpus Christi, TX. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!