As the warmer weather approaches, you may find yourself opening more windows to let in fresh air. But with that fresh air comes dust and pollutants, making your home look untidy.
If spending your free time brandishing a duster doesn’t sound appealing, follow these top tips to keep home dust down with the help of your HVAC system.
What Causes Home Dust?
All homes suffer from dust. And no matter how much you wipe and polish, it seems like a never-ending problem. So where does all the dust come from?
It sounds gross, but most dust is a combination of dead skin cells, pet dander, pollen, and even tiny bits of bugs and insects. And by leaving it to accumulate in your home, you could be affecting your health.
Not only is dust unsightly, but it also triggers respiratory illnesses like COPD and asthma. Even if you’re healthy, dust can cause coughs and sneezes.
Prevention is better than cure, so don’t underestimate the importance of keeping your home as dust-free as possible.
How to Keep Dust Levels Down in Your Home
Let’s face it; dusting is a necessary chore. Nobody likes spending their free time with a duster in hand. But by keeping your HVAC in good working order, you can lessen the amount of dust in your home.
Replace HVAC Air Filters
A simple step to keep your home dust-free is regularly replacing your air filters. Air filters are the dust-busting superheroes of your HVAC – filtering out the tiny particles and leaving your indoor air fresh and clean.
However, the more dust in your home, the harder the air filter has to work. Until eventually, the filter becomes clogged with particles and struggles to work efficiently.
Changing the filters prevents your HVAC system from overloading and ensures your home’s air is dust free. But there’s a little bit more to it than that.
When choosing a filter for your HVAC system, opt for one with a higher MERV rating. The higher the rating, the smaller the particles it can catch. Generally, a filter with a MERV rating of 6-13 is ideal for home HVAC use.
Anything below 4 won’t catch smaller dust particles, and anything above 13 uses too much energy to be considered beneficial for residential use (most often used in hospitals and pharmacies).
Use the HVAC Fan While Cleaning
Air filters are great for catching dust, but only if the dust is in the air. For example, filters can’t suck up dust that’s lying on work surfaces or household furniture.
So, what’s the best solution?
Turn your HVAC fan on, grab your duster, and start polishing. What dust you miss with the cloth will be forced into the air and picked up by the air filters.
Check the HVAC Ducts
Let’s face facts – if dust is collecting in your home, chances are it’s also collecting in your HVAC ductwork. And how many times does the ductwork get cleaned?
If your HVAC ducts are full of dust, the air filters need to work harder, meaning you spend more on energy bills. Moreover, each time you turn on the air conditioner, the dust inside the ducts gets blown back into your home.
It’s like a vicious circle. You dust your home. The dust settles in the ducts. The HVAC system blows it back into the house. And the process starts again.
Regularly cleaning your HVAC ducts prevents accumulation of dust, keeping your home tidy and your energy bills low.
Clean Air Vent Registers
An air vent directs the airflow around your home. It’s like a grill with moving parts; you can open it, shut it or set it to point the airflow in a specific direction.
However, dust loves gathering on air vent register sections. So when you turn on the HVAC, the dust gets blown back into your clean home. Solve this by remembering to give the air vent registers a weekly wipe-down with a damp cloth.
Install an Electric Air Cleaner
If dust is still bothersome, think about buying an electric air cleaner. These handy devices, installed as part of your HVAC system, filter out microscopic impurities from your indoor air.
They use electricity to attract the particles, similar to how static energy makes your clothes cling.
The good thing about electronic air cleaners is that they don’t only trap dust. They also capture bacteria, viruses, and harmful mold spores.
Book Regular HVAC Tune-Ups
Your HVAC system works hard to keep your home cool and free from dust and pollutants. Scheduling regular HVAC tune-ups prevents any unexpected repair costs and keeps your system energy efficient.
Need a HVAC tune-up? Contact the HVAC pros at Adeedo and keep your home dust free this summer.
