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

June 09, 2016

According to an urban legend, dust is made up of human skin. Of course in reality, it’s not completely factual. Although human skin does contribute to dust, dust is actually multiple things. So what exactly is dust comprised of and how is it changing your indoor air quality?

The Source

There are only two locations that dust can stem from, indoors and outdoors, and we are the people that are tracking dust inside from the outdoors. The outdoor part of dust is made up 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 interior.

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

Dust Mites

Whenever we bring up dust, we must also talk about dust mites. Dust mites are tiny arachnids and their primary food source is dead human skin cells and they make up a large part 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 prosper in humidity, so by maintaining a correctly humidified home, you’re able to cushion their impact.

What Can You Do?

Lennox provides 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 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 a number of whole-home humidity control options.

Your indoor air quality is crucial 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 affiliated to the comfort of your home, our experts are just a phone call away. We make it easy to schedule an appointment with us by giving us a call at 308-321-4703.