Do you suffer from MILWG phobia? Having a tough time figuring that one out? It’s not politically correct, but our little acronym stands for Mother-in-Law White Glove phobia. In other words, your house is dusty all the time and you can’t figure out why.
It’s easy to blame yourself for not being able to keep your home clean, but there are many other causes for a dusty house. Merts Heating and Air Conditioning wants you to know your HVAC systems can often be a major culprit in a dusty house, but that doesn’t mean you have to start having fears about writing blank checks to fix the problem.
There are several steps you can take to fight a dusty house in the winter that will cost you little or no money.
- Clean or replace your filters:
- Filters are the first line of defense against dirt and dust. A dirty filter is an ineffective filter. They need to be changed regularly to keep your indoor air as clean as possible. The exact time frame varies based on the type of filter, but a good rule of thumb is to change the filter every month.
- Locate and seal cracks:
- You want to block any openings around windows and doors with with caulk or another sealant. It is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce the amount of dirt and dust entering the home.
- Don’t bring dirt into the house:
- As simple as that sounds, studies show 85% of the dirt in your home is tracked in from the outside.
- Do outside projects before they become extra dirty. Tell the family to take off their shoes immediately when they enter the house. This isn’t a debate, it’s a mandate.
If you have taken these steps, let’s examine some things that may require the help of our expert technicians. The dust accumulation in your home is often a product of airflow. If there is too much airflow there can be too much dirty, dust-filled air is floating around your home. If there’s not enough airflow, dust is allowed to settle on tables and other furnishings in the home. Merts can help you determine if there is an airflow problem.
Another problem can be the ductwork in your home. If there are leaks and gaps in the ducts, especially in the air return ducts, air is being introduced into your home without going through the filter so it’s full of dust.
Do not fear the white glove test. Whatever your indoor air quality concerns, call Merts Heating & Air Conditioning for help from our professional technicians. For more great information like this like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.