Are you concerned about the large amounts of dust coming out of the vents even after regular cleaning? There is probably one thing that you need to pay more attention to; preventing the dust build-up in the first place.
Dust from vents affects the air quality. This can be a major concern if your house has people with allergies and breathing-related conditions like asthma and bronchitis. Apart from the potential to trigger attacks, dust can also aggravate breathing disorders.
In addition, dust creates a mess and may also cause problems to your HVAC system by making it less efficient and prone to breakdowns.
So, before you spend more energy cleaning vents, why don’t you work on how to stop dust from vents in the first place?
Below are a few suggestions on how to do this.
How To Keep Dust From Coming Out Of Vents
- Change Air Filters Regularly
Most HVAC appliances such as air conditioners and furnaces usually have filters to catch dust and other debris. Unfortunately, these filters fill up quickly and then start pumping dust back out to your air vents.
So if you have been wondering how to keep dust from coming out of vents, keep checking the air filters to ensure they are working well. The filters should be replaced regularly to ensure maximum efficiency in cleaning dust.
Ideally, air filters should be replaced at least once every three months. And if you have children and pets, you should even do it more regularly.
A new filter helps your system to work efficiently, distributing conditioned air and preventing dust from building up in the vents.
- Clean and Seal Leaky or Dirty Ductwork
Another reason why there could be excess dust build-up in your home is leaky ducts. If the air ducts have a problem, they start pulling in debris and dust. This dust then spreads throughout your house.
As a result, your HVAC system has to overwork to keep the air clean. If the ductwork is not fixed, the HVAC will not be able to keep up. Therefore, the dust and debris get caught in the vent grill and eventually start coming out of vents.
So if you see that your vent is dust-laden, it could be an indication that the ductwork is dirty or leaky. So ensure that you keep the duct clean and sealed.
However, sometimes it is difficult to tell when ductwork needs cleaning because most areas of ductwork are hidden. That is why it is advisable to get a professional HVAC technician to check these hidden areas for any leaks or dust buildup.
- Get The Right Vacuum Cleaner
Do you know that vacuuming could be responsible for spreading dust around your house? Unusual as it may sound, it is true. Some vacuum cleaners allow tiny elements like dust and debris to pass right through the filter. They become airborne and then later settle back down on your surfaces, eventually finding their way to your air vents.
This happens if your vacuum cleaner has substandard filters. So what’s the solution? You need to start using a vacuum cleaner with effective HEPA filters. Such vacuum cleaners have good suction. They will capture and trap all dust and debris without spitting it back out. They are also fairly inexpensive.
Remember to clean the vacuum cleaner filters regularly to prevent the buildup of dust and debris. And as recommended earlier, change the filters regularly to maintain efficiency.
- Ensure Your Central HVAC System Has the Right Filters
It is close to impossible to find dust on hospital surfaces. Do you know why? Because hospitals invest in quality HVAC systems with highly effective filters.
You should do the same in your home. Remember, your central HVAC unit is like a vacuum cleaner for the whole house. It filters the air in the home and then circulates it back.
So, if it has an excellent filtration system, it will catch and hold even the tiniest of debris or dust particles.
Most hardware stores sell cheap disposable filters which do not prevent dust accumulation in the home.
In addition, do not be overly dependent on freestanding machines or devices for air filtration in your home. Most of these devices are not effective because they only allow a small volume of air to pass through. This means that most of the air in your home remains unfiltered, leading to dusty air vents.
- Clean Key Spots Properly
Although most people clean their homes regularly, some don’t do it right. And that is why even after all the cleaning and vacuuming, you may still find your vents are dusty.
When cleaning your home, ensure that you target the key spots where dust accumulates. Some of these places are not easily accessible but collect a lot of dust. They include the tops of light fixtures and fans, furniture, and bookshelf tops.
And in case you use rags and microfiber cloths to clean your home, replace them regularly. If you use them for too long, they become less absorbent and even lose their ability to pick up dust.
It is also important to engage the services of professional cleaning services from time to time. Professional cleaners have the experience and equipment to clean every crook and cranny in your home, which is one of the most effective ways of how to stop dust from vents.
- Seal The Sources Of Air Infiltration
Dirty air leaks into the house through different places such as cracks and gaps in doors and windows. Poorly built features like plan shelves, ceilings, and attics also let a lot of dust into your home.
Usually, this may not be obvious using the naked eye. But if you were to use special equipment like blower-doors and infrared cameras, you would be shocked at the amount of dust-laden air that leaks into your home through these places.
To prevent all this, have your house air-sealed. This will reduce dust that gets into your home and also help your HVAC systems run efficiently, thus preventing dusty air vents.
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