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 correct. Although human skin is a part of dust, dust is actually a variety of 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 form from, indoors and outdoors, and we are the ones that are tracking dust inside from the outdoors. The outdoor part of dust forms from soil particles and pollen brought in on our shoes or through open doors and windows. This contributes to about two-thirds of the dust in your house.

The indoor source of your dust is a number of various 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 as well.

Dust Mites

Whenever we speak of 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 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 carries a number of products that advance 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 allows 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 perfect as possible. If you have any questions about your air quality or anything related to the comfort of your home, our professionals are just a phone call away. We make it easy to schedule an appointment with us by giving us a call at 877-389-2465.