Because air conditioners are used so frequently during the long cooling season in Southwest Florida, indoor air quality is a concern for many people. Air that is constantly recirculated throughout your home can carry unwanted particles such as pet dander and dust.

These particles can settle on surfaces and be inhaled by you and your family, causing potential health issues. One of the first steps to improving indoor air quality is to control dust in your home.

Regular cleaning is essential for controlling dust, but in some cases it is simply not enough to vacuum and change the bedding on a weekly basis. There are a number of ways you can control dust in your home with the help of indoor air quality solutions:

• Use an advanced air filter: Your furnace or air conditioner filter traps particles as air flows through. However, many standard filters do not trap smaller particles. Upgrading to a high-efficiency filter can reduce the amount of dust that is allowed to pass through, but they can also restrict airflow. Ask your contractor what type of filters are appropriate for your system.
• Install a whole-house air cleaner: Although portable air purifiers are effective for removing dust and other contaminants in individual rooms, they only impact a small area. A whole-house system is integrated into your ductwork to provide clean air to every room in your home.
• Control the humidity: Dust mites thrive in a humid environment. Although your air conditioner does have some impact on your indoor humidity level, installing a whole-house humidity control system is a much more effective way to control dust in your home. You will also enjoy improved home comfort.

If you want to control dust in your home, contact the indoor air quality experts at Conditioned Air. We’ll help you find and install the products that make the most sense for your family. Serving Southwest Florida, we’re always happy to help.

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

Indoor air quality image via Shutterstock