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 correct. Although human skin is a part of dust, dust is actually a variety of things. So what exactly is dust composed of and how is it changing your indoor air quality?

The Source

There are only two places that dust can come from, indoors and outdoors, and we are the ones that are tracking dust inside from the outdoors. The outdoor part of dust is made up of soil particles and pollen brought in on our shoes or through open doors and windows. This makes up about two-thirds of the dust in your home.

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

Dust Mites

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

What Can You Do?

Lennox produces a number of products that raise your indoor air quality. We carry a PureAirTM air purification system which is the only single indoor air quality system that battles 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 numerous 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 important to the comfort of your home, our specialists are just a phone call away. We make it simple to schedule an appointment with us by giving us a call at 309-517-7511.