Removing Dust Mites From Your Home
Dust mites are tiny. So tiny that many of us interact with them on a daily basis without even knowing it. Typically, this isn’t too big of a problem. However, if you or a member of your family struggles with a dust mite allergy you may experience uncomfortable symptoms* including (but not limited to):
Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms
• Cold and flu-like symptoms
• Itchy skin, nose, and ears
• Uncomfortable rashes
• Congestion
• Postnasal drip
• Increased asthmatic symptoms
• Trouble sleeping
* If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms, we encourage you to contact your doctor. These tips are not meant to substitute medical advice.
Nobody wants to be uncomfortable in their home, especially when there are ways to reduce the problem. That’s why Spencer Heating & Air decided to create a list of steps to protect you and your family against dust mites in your East Alabama home. While it is impossible to remove dust mites from your home entirely, here are some steps to significantly reduce the number of dust mites you encounter daily.
Levels of Humidity
Did you know that dust mites thrive in humid environments? This is one of the reasons why dust mite allergies can be particularly invasive during the summer. In Auburn and East Alabama, we know that humidity is a struggle that we all face. While running the air conditioner is a great step in drying out your air, we recommend investing in a humidification system to work in tandem with the AC, monitoring your house’s humidity levels and removing moisture from the air when needed.
Air Quality and Ventilation
The first step to improving air quality is proper ventilation. If the air in your home sits stale, it can perpetuate the collection of dust mites wreaking havoc on your allergies. After ensuring proper ventilation, it is essential that the air filter in your HVAC system is efficiently filtering out as many of the gross, microscopic dust particles as possible. That’s why we suggest consulting one of Spencer Heating & Air’s qualified technicians when deciding the type of air filter that will meet your unique needs. Regardless of your filter type, make sure to check and change it frequently!
A good test to see if you need to change your filter is removing the filter and holding it up to a light. If light cannot easily pass through the filter, it needs to be changed. On average, we recommend changing your AC filter every 30 days. Additionally, air purifiers work in tandem with your HVAC system to clean the air in your home so they can be a great investment if you’re struggling with dust mite issues. If you have any questions about air purifiers feel free to call Spencer Heating & Air at 334-887-9020.
Pillows and Mattresses
Unfortunately, one of the main places in our home where dust mites run rampant is in our beds. This is because our mattress, pillows and blankets are ideal for housing thousands of dust mites. To combat this, we suggest investing in high quality, non-plastic dust mite covers to keep dust mite allergies from interrupting your sleep. Further, be sure to wash your bedding (and anything that rests on your bed– like stuffed animals) approximately once a week in hot water.
Cleaning Tips
The more frequently your house is cleaned, the less likely dust mites are to accumulate. We recommend regularly vacuuming with high-quality filters to capture the microscopic dust particles. If possible, reduce the amount of carpeting in your house and opt for hardwood floors instead.
Contact Us
Overall, be proactive about dust mite prevention by following these steps. Spencer Heating & Air specializes in air purification, so if you have any questions or concerns, remember that we are here to help! If you live in the Auburn, Alabama area and you’re looking to remove dust mites from your home, visit our website, https://spencerheatingandair.com/, or call us at 334-887-9020 for assistance.
Spencer Heating & Air is a team of fully licensed and insured HVAC Contractors serving the Auburn, Opelika, and Phenix City areas.
