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Are the Dust Mites in Your Home Causing Health Problems?

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Are the Dust Mites in Your Home Causing Health Problems?

By Ruth MacEachern

Product Manager

Aug 21, 2021

Having good quality indoor air might not be something that’s at the forefront of your mind, but it is vital to a healthy home, and can be a lifeline for people who suffer from asthma, Hayfever and other allergies.

Poor indoor air quality can lead to a variety of problems with respiratory health including worsening the symptoms of asthma, and one of the primary culprits is the house dust mite, which is a major contributor to the allergens that are present in homes.

The household dust mite thrives in damp conditions where it consumes any dust that collects around floors.  The microscopic droppings from these tiny creatures are lightweight enough to be carried around on the weakest air currents where they can be inhaled and cause irritation and allergic reactions in the airways of asthma sufferers.

House dust mite allergens also contribute to other conditions including childhood eczema and eye irritation.

Preventing Household Dust Mites

Household dust mites are so small that they are practically invisible to the naked eye, and are present in almost all homes, although in most cases, their populations do not grow to a level where they can cause problems for residents.

Controlling the population of household dust mites in your home means avoiding creating the circumstances where they can thrive.

Household dust mites do well in environments where there is a lot of damp.  Dampness means that dust – their food and home – can build up and is less prone to being disturbed.  The most common cause of damp in most UK homes is condensation from bathing, cooking, and cleaning.  The moisture released into the air during from our daily activities can collect as condensation on cool surfaces where it creates damp patches that serve as homes to dust mites.

Taking simple steps to reduce condensation such as not drying clothes indoors and keeping the bathroom and kitchen doors closed when in use is a good start towards reducing condensation, but the most effective way to reduce dust mite populations is through improved ventilation.

Extractor fans help to remove moisture from your home before it can settle, while whole house ventilation systems such as PIV take things one step further, creating a gentle and constant flow of air through your home that prevents cold and damp spots from forming while also preventing the accumulation of dust.

What You Can Do

If you suffer from asthma, dust in your home could be making your symptoms worse!  Contact us today to book a free home ventilation survey from one of our local specialists.  They will assess the levels of condensation in your home and be able to provide advice about the best way of reducing the damp that allows dust mites to thrive.

Need help with condensation, mould or damp problems?

One of our local experts will contact you to learn more about your problems, offer free expert advice and make recommendations for a permanent solution.

During the free survey we will

  • check Assess any condensation, damp or mould problems in your property
  • check Take readings of the relative humidity levels
  • check Identify any underlying problems and make recommendations for a permanent solution

Arrange a FREE Home Survey now