What is Dust Made of and How Does It Affect Your Indoor Air Quality?

June 09, 2016

According to an old story, dust is made up of human skin. Of course in reality, it’s not completely factual. Although human skin is a part of dust, dust is actually a variety of things. So what exactly is dust comprised of and how is it affecting your indoor air quality?

The Source

There are only two locations that dust can stem from, indoors and outdoors, and we are the culprits that are bringing dust inside from the outdoors. The outdoor part of dust consists of soil particles and pollen scuffled in on our shoes or through open doors and windows. This contributes to about two-thirds of the dust in your house.

The indoor source of your dust is a number of different things. A tiny part of which is, in fact, human skin. A large amount of it is fibers from your carpet, furniture or bedding, and if you own a pet, there is also some pet dander and fur as well.

Dust Mites

Whenever we bring up dust, we must also talk about dust mites. Dust mites are little arachnids and their main food source is dead human skin cells and they make up a huge percentage of dust. Dust mite droppings are the top cause of allergy and asthma symptoms according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Dust mites also love humidity, so by upholding a successfully humidified home, you’re able to lower their impact.

What Can You Do?

Lennox carries a number of products that advance your indoor air quality. We carry a PureAirTM air purification system which is the only single indoor air quality system that fights all three classes of contaminants. We also have whole-home ventilation systems which brings fresh air into today’s tightly sealed homes. And, of course, we have many whole-home humidity control options.

Your indoor air quality is important to us. We will work with you to keep your home environment as comfortable as possible. If you have any questions about your air quality or anything related to the comfort of your home, our specialists are just a phone call away. We make it effortless to schedule an appointment with us by giving us a call at 201-268-5663.