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

June 09, 2016

According to folklore, dust is made up of human skin. Of course in reality, it’s not true. 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 affecting your indoor air quality?

The Source

There are only two locations that dust can come from, indoors and outdoors, and we are the ones that are bringing dust inside from the outdoors. The outdoor part of dust consists of soil particles and pollen scuffled in on our shoes or through open doors and windows. This adds up to about two-thirds of the dust in your home.

The indoor source of your dust is a number of assorted things. A tiny part of which is, in fact, human skin. A majority of it is fibers from your carpet, furniture or bedding, and if you own 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 miniscule arachnids and their main food source is dead human skin cells and they make up a large part of dust. Dust mite droppings are the top 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 properly humidified home, you’re able to lower 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 numerous whole-home humidity control options.

Your indoor air quality is crucial to us. We will work with you to keep your home environment as perfect as possible. If you have any questions about your air quality or anything important to the comfort of your home, our professionals are just a phone call away. We make it simple to schedule an appointment with us by giving us a call at 812-825-8695.