Worried About Having a Bad Duct Cleaning Experience?Home Dust Mite and Allergy Information
Dust Mites and Allergies in the Cincinnati-Middletown Areas of OH
Tiny dust mites could be living in your air ducts, linens, and carpeting, and can be the root of allergy problems. Most microscopic dust mites live in the dust accumulated in your air ducts. The mites feed on the particles of hair, food, and skin that litter your home as dust. The official species name of home dust mites (HDM) is dermatophagoides farinae. Dust mites can cause serious respiratory problems, particularly asthma. Dust mite larva have 6 legs and adults have 8 legs. On average a male dust mite only lives for 19-30 days. The egg laying females live for up to 60 days.
One concern people don't have to have about dust mites is that they do not bite. Cells of human skin that are shed are the main food of dust mites. On average people lose from 0.5-1 lb. of skin per year, all of which is available to the dust mites as food. Dust mites often live in sheets, blankets, and other bedding because of the moisture from people's breath, saliva and perspiration. Even though they do not bite, do not think that dust mites cannot harm you because they are a source of the allergens that can cause asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and dermatitis. The microscopic feces that dust mites leave all over your house and floating in the air contains DerP1, an enzyme that causes allergies.
Dust mites prefer humidity, and because of that not many live in your air duct system. Air ducts do carry a lot of skin, and other dust particles though. The fans in air duct systems are constantly heaving this dust into the air and depositing it around your home. The dust mites never run out of food when they have your air duct system depositing more all over the house for them every day.
The following are all good ways to control dust mites:
- Daily vacuuming helps a lot and it works even better if you have a HEPA filtered vacuum.
- Make sure you dust and wipe down surfaces after use and on a regular basis.
- Household fabrics like linens, upholstery, drapes, and bedding should be sanitized in the wash.
- Replacing carpeting with wood or vinyl flooring is a good idea.
- Purchase anti-allergen furniture and bed coverings.
- Protect your children by putting their stuffed animals in the freezer overnight.
- Dust mites have a hard time living in a house if the humidity stays below 70%.
Now you should be able to live a much more allergy free live, with nearly so many dust mites in your home.
Well, that wraps-up our dust mites article. Hopefully you have a better take on what the technique involves and what you might look to in an duct cleaning company. Since most ductwork cleaning companies also clean dryer vents, you might want to read our dryer vent cleaning tips article as well. Having your dryer vent cleaned while the technicians are already at your home cleaning your air ducts, will save you money.
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