Worried About Having a Bad Duct Cleaning Experience?Defending Your Home Against Dust Mites
Dust Mites and Allergies in the Columbus Areas of OH
Many people do not fully understand how dust mites could be living in their air ducts, carpet, and bed, or the way they complicate allergies. Dust mites are small enough that you need a microscope to see them, but they are all around your house living in the dust. The dust in your home is made up of tiny particles of hair, food, and skin that the dust mites live in and feed on. Abbreviated, HDM, home dust mites scientific name is dermatophagoides farinae. Anyone with asthma should be especially aware of dust mites because they are one of the commonest causes. The 6 legged dust mite larva turn into 8 legged adult dust mites. Each male dust mite lives for only about 19-30 days. The females, who lay eggs, can live up to 60 days.
Dust mites are not poisonous and do not bite. Dust mites eat the dust from discarded human skin cells. When you consider that the average dust mite sheds about one half to one pound of skin a year, that adds up to a lot of dust mite food! Dust mites are commonly found living in people's beds because they like the moisture (perspiration and saliva) from people sleeping there. The big problem with dust mites is that they are a huge source of allergens and can cause rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, and asthma. Present in all dust mite poop is the enzyme DerP1, which has been proven to be the source of many allergies.
The dust mites usually live in the most humid parts of your house, which is not generally the air duct system. However, the air ducts ofter are one of the best sources of dust, hair, and fecal matter. Air duct systems also use fans to circulate air all over your home. With the HVAC system constantly moving air around your house, the dust mites have an endless source of food.
Below are a number of good ways to control dust mite populations:
- Daily vacuuming helps a lot and it works even better if you have a HEPA filtered vacuum.
- Daily dusting of household surfaces.
- No possible dust mite home should be overlooked, and linens, drapes, and air ducts should all be professionally cleaned on a regular basis.
- Carpets can be replaced with either hardwood or vinyl that does not retain dust so well.
- There are sheets and pillow cases that you can buy that are anti-allergen.
- Protect your children by putting their stuffed animals in the freezer overnight.
- Finally, try to keep the humidity of your house below 70%.
Hopefully the above steps and information will help you have less allergies and illness.
Well, that wraps-up our dust mites article. Hopefully you have a better understanding of what the procedure involves and what you might search for in an ductwork cleaning company. Since most air duct 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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