Health Risks of Dust Mite Allergens

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Health Risks of Dust Mite Allergens

Lions and tigers and bears oh my!

Lions and tigers and bears oh my!

The idea of wild animals may have been terrifying on the road to Oz, but you know what might be just as terrifying? Taking a sophisticated microscope into your Illinois or Northwest Indiana home and seeing all the microscopic dust mites in your HVAC ducts or in your carpets. Merts Heating & Air Conditioning wants to be very clear about one thing, even if you are a clean freak, dust mites can still be a problem. Our goal isn’t to criticize your housekeeping, but rather finding ways to improve your indoor air quality.

The problems they cause

Clearly dust mites aren’t dangerous in the sense of lions, tigers, and bears, but research shows they can adversely affect human health. Even two micrograms of mites per gram of dust can cause problems including:

  • Runny noses
  • Congestion
  • Inflamed nasal tissue
  • Asthma
  • Skin inflammation causing rashes and itching

Here’s the 4-1-1 on dust mites

You can’t see them without that microscope we were talking about which is probably a good thing for our peace of mind. Dust mites feed on skin cells and other materials that make up dust. The mites then leave behind their waste products (feces) which in turn become part of the dust. As disgusting as they might be, the mites do not bite.

Fighting back against the tiny invaders

There are several ways to reduce the number of dust mites. Obviously, you should do the best you can to reduce dust levels, but as we mentioned earlier it’s often a losing battle. Another weapon is to control humidity as part of your indoor air quality strategy. Too much moisture in the air can cause dust mite populations to increase. When humidity is too low, it’s easier for dust to go airborne and harder to control. The humidity in your Illinois or Northwest Indiana home should stay between 40 and 60 percent. A whole house humidifier or dehumidifier is the best way to do that.

Merts is ready to help

As summer arrives chances are many of you are going to be dealing with allergies. Some of it will be classic hay fever which is tough to avoid. But many will also suffer because of the dust and dust mites inside your house. Call Merts Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more about improving your indoor air quality. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.