A dusty home isn’t just annoying. It’s also a serious health issue.
The average American spends up to 90% of their day indoors. If you’re retired or work remotely, days may pass without you even stepping outdoors.
Dust holds a lot of gross and toxic stuff like mold spores, carcinogens, and synthetic chemicals.
Some dust is normal. However, problems with air conditioning and a dusty home go hand-in-hand.
A Chronically Dusty Home from Air Conditioning Is a Serious Health Concern
When your home is always dusty, you are bound to breathe in some of the dust. It’s unavoidable.
Unfortunately, that also means you’re breathing in the toxic substances inside the dust such as
- Decaying insects
- Food debris
- Carpet fibers
- Lint from clothing or bedding
- Pet dander and hair
- Human skin
- Soil
- Soot
- Particles from smoke
- Lead
- Arsenic
- DDT
- Chemicals like PFAS
Pretty gross, right?
A major emerging concern is a family of chemicals known as PFAS.
Used in waterproofing, carpeting, and nonstick coatings since the 1950s, researchers have recently found that PFAS from items around our home may leach into the air. PFAS and other household contaminants can lead to cancer, thyroid problems, low birth weight, asthma, hormonal changes, and various other health issues.
Even for healthy people, this isn’t an ideal environment. Humans need clean high-quality air to breathe! You literally can’t live without it. For people struggling with health issues like asthma or compromised immune systems, however, high-quality air is even more critical.
5 Reasons Your House Is Always Dusty from Air Conditioning
Roughly 60% of dust particles inside your home started outdoors, making their way inside from windows, doors, and your feet. That’s why it’s so important to take your shoes off before entering your home.
It’s also why you should immediately question your air conditioning when your home is always dusty. Your HVAC system filters the air that moves around your house. When something goes wrong, dust starts to accumulate and it doesn’t stop!
1) Your HVAC Filter Needs to Be Changed
Your air conditioning filter is the floodgate protecting your indoor air from dust and contaminants.
When your HVAC filter is clogged, nothing stops the dust and toxins from blowing right back into your home.
A fiberglass filter can trap major dust particles, and studies show that chemicals like PFAS may bind to the glass. Meanwhile, polyester and pleated air filters can remove up to 45% of pollutants inside your home.
If your air conditioning is making your home dusty, it’s also important to swap out your filter regularly:
- Every 90 days in pet-free homes
- Every 60 days in homes with one pet
- Every 30 days if you have at least two pets or a family member with allergies or asthma
2) Your Ductwork is Leaky
Energy Star estimates that ductwork in the average home loses up to 30% of the air due to leaks.
You may assume a leak would draw OUT precious clean air. However, it actually sucks dusty air from the surrounding area outside the leak back INTO the ductwork and through your air vents.
Remember that your ductwork isn’t located in the cleanest of places. Your ductwork sits in the attic, behind walls, or under your floor. These are naturally grimy and dusty places.
Our experienced team at Home Comfort USA can run a routine check of your HVAC system to find any leaks that could be drawing nasty toxins and dust back into your home. Once we find them, they’re easy to fix and your air quality will skyrocket!
3) Your Ductwork Needs Cleaning
Even in the cleanest of homes, ductwork gets dirty. It’s a fact.
- The intake vent pulls the dusty air into the ductwork and it gets trapped along the edge before reaching the filter
- Ductwork leaks pull dust into the system where it accumulates
- Pet dander, fur, and dust seeps into the floor vents when they aren’t running and get trapped
Ideally, a pet-free home without anyone suffering from allergies or asthma should clean their ductwork every three to five years. That’s the absolute minimum.
If air from your air conditioning is regularly dusty and you can’t remember ever cleaning your ductwork, you’re definitely overdue. Give us a call and we’ll get it done ASAP. Don’t put your health on the line.
4) Your Intake Vents Are Clogged
Intake vents get dirty. These vents are typically larger than the other vents in your home. You may find them in your living room or master bedroom.
They’re also much dustier than other vents in your home because they suck air into the system rather than push it out.
Over time, pet hair, dander, dust, and dirt can accumulate and block the intake vent. Not only will this make your home unnecessarily dusty, but it will also sabotage the efficiency of your HVAC system.
You can easily unscrew and pop off the intake vent cover to clean that part out yourself. You’ll be surprised how dirty it is!
However, a clogged intake vent often signals that the ductwork in your home is also dirty and could use a thorough cleaning. So, after you finish cleaning your intake vent, call the professionals to clean your ductwork.
5) Your HVAC System Needs an Update
Finally, an air conditioning blowing dusty air could signal that your entire HVAC system isn’t running at full strength.
Sometimes you can get away with replacing a few parts in the motor or compressor to help it run at full strength. Air conditioners need tune-ups too – just like cars!
If your HVAC system is over 10 or 15 years old, we’re sorry to say it’s probably time for an upgrade.
For homes with allergies, asthma, pets, or compromised immune systems, a new HVAC system is worth the investment for healthy air.
Schedule a Cleaning and Inspection Now to Stop Dusty Air Conditioning
Stop playing catch-up with dusting, vacuuming, and expensive cleaning products. Take a proactive approach by targeting your dusty home at its source: your air conditioning.
Our highly skilled and trained technicians will examine every inch of your ductwork and system to identify leaks, clean out years of dust, and hook you up with a high-quality air filter.
Do your health a favor and stop breathing dusty air! Contact Home Comfort USA to schedule a detailed HVAC inspection and cleaning today.
