Is Dust In The Home A Sign Of Bad Air Quality?
Can a home that is extremely dusty be the fault of the air conditioning or furnace system? According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), one of the top five environmental risks is poor air quality in the home. There are numerous air pollutants commonly found in the home:
- Animal dander
- Bacteria
- Dust
- Dust mites
- Mold
- Smoke
- Viruses
If you suffer from asthma, indoor allergies, or seasonal allergies, then having a properly filtered HVAC system is critical. Cleaner outdoor air equates to better air quality on the inside of the home. However, depending on the climate zone you live in and the surrounding environment, it may not be possible to have the indoor air quality you need if your central air unit is not operating properly.
Having a properly operating unit ensures that you will have better air quality on the inside of your home. By itself, the standard air conditioning unit is not responsible for poor air quality. However, it could be a primary contributor to the indoor pollutants in your home. If it is not operating properly and your home is dusty, it will only compound the problem. This is especially true if your air filters are clogged up or not of good quality. Typically, the relatively large dust particles you see don’t make it to the air filter.
If you see dust particles floating in the air, there is a good possibility that a dirty air filter is the culprit. Consider these steps if any of the above issues apply to you and your home:
- Properly sized filters are very important. A filter that is the wrong size can cause the air conditioning unit to stall and merely circulate polluted air.
- Poor quality air filters allow more pollutants to circulate in the home.
- Changing air filters regularly or as needed ensures the capture of higher numbers of pollutants and so keeps your indoor air much cleaner.
- Instead of putting the fan setting on “auto”, consider turning it to the “on” position in order to keep the air circulating throughout the home. This setting will enable the filter to capture more dust particles.
- An air conditioning unit that is not functioning properly because of clogged or poor quality filters has to work considerably harder to do its job.
In conclusion, you must install high quality air filters to optimize the capture of airborne allergens and dust particles. Regular filter replacement is a key component of an HVAC system in a healthy and comfortable home.
Visit Bell Brothers Heating and Air Blog for more articles on indoor air quality and HVAC system maintenance and other helpful home care articles.