There are a number of daily chores that we need to perform to keep our homes clean and tidy, such as cleaning, vacuuming, and dusting. All of these tasks are important, but many homeowners may feel that they are dusting too often, and they could be correct. If you feel like you’re struggling to keep up with the amount of dust in your home, your HVAC system may be contributing to the problem. Let’s examine this issue in more detail and look at some ways to identify and solve this problem.
Check the Air Filter
Every HVAC system has an air filter that’s used to trap airborne particulates to prevent them from entering your HVAC equipment. This is the best place to start if you’re having dust issues or other performance problems. The air filter should be checked at least once per month to see if it’s clogged with dirt and debris. If the air filter is dirty, it should be cleaned or replaced in line with the instructions in the owner’s manual. If you’ve misplaced your owner’s manual check the manufacturer and model number and search online for a pdf version for reference.
If you have pets that shed their hair regularly, you may need to check your air filter more frequently. Pet hair is a major cause of clogged air filters, and a loss of airflow can affect your HVAC system. There may be a loss of performance and eventually a system failure leading to an expensive repair bill.
When you examine your air filter, you will notice that the surface is covered with a layer of dust, dirt, and debris. This material has been removed from your home as the treated air circulated through it and standard air filters are only designed to protect the HVAC system.
Switching to a Higher MERV Rating
The Minimal Energy Reporting Value or MERV rating is a measurement for the effectiveness of air filters. The higher the MERV rating, the smaller the particles that it can trap in the filter and prevent from being circulated back into the home. This comes with a tradeoff; higher MERV ratings require more energy to force the air through to smaller apertures in the filter. An air filter with a higher MERV rating will also cost more to buy.
Changing the Air Filter
Locating the air filter is easy, and it’s designed to be easy to remove without any tools. Some air filters can be cleaned; simply remove the surface dirt and wash them in warm soapy water, allowing them to fully dry before you place them back in the system. Other air filters are designed to be replaced, and you must ensure that the model number on the filter matches the replacement air filter. If the air filter is not the correct size or it’s replaced incorrectly air can move past the filter and enter your home. If you buy air filters in bulk, you can often save money, and it’s worth shopping around for a good deal.
Air Leaks
There may be air leaks in your ductwork where air and dust being carried by that air could escape back into your home. This is a common problem, in many cases, the air leaks are very small, and they may not be visible to the naked eye. Other gaps may be easier to locate, and over time they could develop into large cracks.
Ductwork air leaks can develop slowly over time due to the age of the ducts. But, in many cases, these air leaks are caused by poor workmanship during the installation. There could be gaps in the ductwork in the attic or basement or other dusty areas, and this could be introducing more dust into your home. In this case, the dust would be bypassing the air filter entirely and passing straight out of the nearest vent and into the room. If you take some time to examine the vents in each room of your home, you may notice a buildup of dust around the vent or on the fins. This could be an indication that you have at least one air leak somewhere in your ductwork.
Locating an air leak can be tricky; many sections of ductwork will be hidden and hard to reach. Other sections in the attic or basement can be checked safely, turn out the lights and examine the ductwork with a flashlight and you may even see dust particles escaping in an air leak. Duct tape can be used to provide a simple temporary repair, but you should contact a local licensed HVAC technician for expert help and advice. They will be able to evaluate the integrity of the ductwork with a pressure test, and then they can advise you on the best course of action. A repair may be possible using a liquid mastic that can coat the interior of the ductwork with a fine mist to seal any holes or gaps. If the damage is extensive it may be cheaper and easier to simply replace the ductwork.
A Dry Climate
If you live in a drier climate, your home will be dustier naturally because dust can flow freely in dry air. This will allow the dust to move easily through your HVAC system, and it will take longer to settle. This can even present a problem in winter months, and it will be exacerbated by leak ductwork. The dry, dusty air in the attic or basement can be pulled into the ductwork easily and distributed far and wide throughout the home. Fixing any leaks will help, but installing a whole home humidifier will introduce some moisture to make the air less mobile. A humidifier may also help you to avoid health issues, such as dry skin, itchiness, and sore nasal passages. It will also protect your wooden furnishings and trim from excessive dryness that can make them brittle and prone to breaking.
Smarter Dusting
Finally, you can regularly dust smarter to keep the dust at bay using the following simple trick. Make sure your air filter is clean and set the thermostat fan to “On” before you beginning your dusting. Then as you’re dusting any dust that is kicked up will enter the HVAC system and get forced into the air filter by the fan where it will be trapped. The set the thermostat fan setting back to “Auto” when you finish dusting.