Clear the Dust in Your Home to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Dust is as much a part of your Corpus Christi home as the walls and roof, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. For those with allergies or asthma, dust can trigger a reaction, making it difficult to breathe or mimicking cold symptoms. Improve indoor air quality and alleviate allergies by implementing the following tips.

Inspect Your Ducts

Leaking ductwork can cause dust problems in a home.  Duct leaks loose conditioned air to the attic which can cause a pressure imbalance in the home.  This negative pressure in the home will cause more hot, humid, dusty air to be drawn in around cracks and leaks from the outside or attic space.  Periodically inspect visible ductwork and seal any breaks you find with foil-backed tape or duct mastic.

Cozy Up to Clean Sheets

Dead skin is one of the major components of dust and a favorite snack for dust mites. Change bedding weekly, using hot water to kill mites.

Perform Annual Maintenance

In addition to the benefits of a prolonged lifespan, fewer repair bills, increased efficiency and comfort, having your HVAC equipment cleaned and serviced each spring and fall can also help improve indoor air quality.

Clean Out Your Closets

Clothing fibers are a major contributor to dust. Pack away seasonal items, and keep items off the floor for ease of cleaning.

Clear the Air

As you clean and vacuum, dust is whipped in to the air, eventually settling on every flat surface. Catch and filter these particles before they land by turning on the thermostat fan while you clean. This action turns the blower on without cooling or heating and filters the air. Leave it on for 15 minutes after you’re done and return the thermostat setting to “auto.”

Set a Trap

Clean using an electrostatic or microfiber cloth to trap dust rather than spread it around, and invest in a good quality vacuum with a HEPA filter.

For more tips on how to improve indoor air quality, call the experts at CCAC, Inc. For over 35 years, we’ve been proudly serving homeowners in the South Texas area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas 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.

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