Worried About Having a Bad Duct Cleaning Experience?An Explanation of Dust Mites and Their Allergies Problems
Dust Mites and Allergies in the Pittsburgh Areas of PA
Dust mites are tiny enough to live in your air ducts, carpet, and even bed, and are known to complicate allergies. Most microscopic dust mites live in the dust accumulated in your air ducts. Most household dust is made up of skin, hair, food, and fecal matter, which is perfect for the dust mites. Doctors usually refer to home dust mites as HDM, although their latin name is dermatophagoides farinae. These dust mites are a frequent cause of asthma. The mites have 6 legs when in the larval stage and then grow a fourth pair when they become adults. Individual dust mites live only around 19-30 days each. Conversely, females live for up to two months, laying eggs for the last 30 days.
The only good thing about dust mites is that they do not bite. Shed human skin cell dust are what most dust mites live on. On average people lose from 0.5-1 lb. of skin per year, all of which is available to the dust mites as food. Due to the moisture as a result from people sleeping (perspiration and saliva), dust mites often live in beds and bedding. The reason dust mites are bad is that they are a big source of allergens and can cause asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and dermatitis. Dust mite poop contains an enzyme that causes allergic reactions of the skin,, lungs, and other body functions.
The dust mites usually live in the most humid parts of your house, which is not generally the air duct system. Air ducts are a huge source of the dust particles that the mites live off of however. Dirt built up in these systems is then circulated around the house by the fans. Daily use of your vent system cause fresh food to be flung into the air for the mites.
Below are a number of good ways to control dust mite populations:
- All carpets in your home should be vacuumed regularly, and a HEPA filtered vacuum is recommended.
- Daily dusting of household surfaces.
- Have you carpets, drapes, upholstery, and air ducts professionally cleaned, at least twice a year.
- If you replace your carpets with vinyl or wood you will reduce dust mies and cleaning required.
- Get allergen proof covers for your pillows and even furniture.
- You can freeze your kids stuffed animals.
- Although it may be hard to do, keeping the humidity below 70% will make it much harder for mites to live in your house.
Now you should be able to live a much more allergy free live, with nearly so many dust mites in your home.
Well, that wraps-up our dust mites article. Hopefully you have a better handle on what the process involves and what you might search for in an duct cleaning company. Since most duct cleaning companies also clean dryer vents, you might want to read our dryer vent cleaning tips article as well. Having your dryer vent cleaned while the technicians are already at your home cleaning your air ducts, will save you money.
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