Is Your Home Cooling System Making Your Home Dusty?

Air circulation is an important and often overlooked contributor to home comfort: properly moving air will help reduce dust accumulation, stabilize indoor temperatures, prevent mold growth, and even help you control humidity in your Hudson Valley home.

Of course, there will always be some days when steamy summer air will make maintaining consistent airflow a challenge, but you can cut down those days and relieve some of the burden on your home cooling system by following these six tips.

6 tips to reduce the dust coming from your A/C system:

1. Stay on top of house cleaning – Dust and dirt are natural enemies of forced-air heating and cooling equipment; by keeping your house clean, you won’t overburden your A/C filters (see #3 below), which means your air will move more freely and your equipment will run more efficiently. Mop hardwood, tile, and composite floors once a week and vacuum carpets regularly – preferably with a HEPA-rated filter.
2. Consider professional duct sealing – Did you know that forced air cooling systems (central air conditioners with vents) could make your home more dusty? Holes or cracks in your ductwork can draw dust in and redistribute it throughout the house. Unfortunately, not all of those cracks or holes are in places that can be easily seen; to solve the problem, you need professional duct sealing – an investment that could be worthwhile, considering that you could be losing up to 15 percent of the air you pay to cool via duct leaks.
3. Let the air in – Whenever possible, keep fresh air circulating in your home. On low-humidity days, open windows to encourage cross-ventilation and run ceiling fans to keep air moving. If you have an attic, consider installing an attic fan to remove stagnant hot air from your home.
4. Change or clean your air filters – A clogged filter will inhibit airflow within your home cooling system. That will make your home less comfortable, raise your energy bills, and overwork your system, which could lead to avoidable (and costly) air conditioning repairs.
5. Get professional A/C maintenance – When it comes to getting the most out of your home comfort equipment – including making sure air is flowing the way it should – there’s no substitute for a comprehensive tune-up from a qualified technician. With proper maintenance, your cooling equipment will keep the air clear and moving throughout your home.
6. Upgrade old cooling equipment – An old, inefficient central air conditioner has a harder time moving air than a new, high efficiency unit; if your A/C is well into its second decade, consider an upgrade – it will likely pay for itself in just a few years in energy efficiency alone, not to mention keeping your family more comfortable along the way.

Follow these six tips to keep the air in your house moving this summer!

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