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Liz R
Liz R Stone Mountain, GA
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Windows & Doors

How can I determine what kind of dust is covering my furniture?

Duct cleaning and blower door test and air quality tests have not given me the answer.

Liz R

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on Sep 25, 2011 | 171 Views
13 Comments
  • Hudson Designs Loganville, GA
    Hi Liz,

    Do you have any pets? It could be pet dander.

    on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 0
  • Micci S Roswell, GA
    Or feather beds or goose down comforters? And how old is the carpeting?

    I've seen tons of dirt left behind UNDER the carpet during the installation!

    on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 1
  • SawHorse.net Atlanta, GA
    Send me the results of your home performance test and I will do my best to answer that question. We have sealed hundreds of houses and reduced the amount of dust in them. info@sawhorse.net
    on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 1
  • Liz R Stone Mountain, GA
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
    on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 0
  • Liz R Stone Mountain, GA
    I don't have pets. Down or goose comforters not used in summer.
    on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 0
  • Micci S Roswell, GA
    OK Liz, hmmm....you mentioned having the ducts cleaned, are the filters new as well? Some say they should be changed once a month. Also, is there any construction or burning going on in your area?
    on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 0
  • Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ
    You need to do swab tests and check for this answer. Testing can be done by many home inspectors. There are tests just for household dust, pollen and or mold. To determine what test you want will be based on what the reason is your doing it. If your suffering from sneezing and coughing the pollen and mold counts would be the test. If its just to determine why you have so much of this dust then a basic house dust test will suffice. In any case most times what you find on the tables and ...»
    furniture are skin cells, dander, and dust that is released from the back of your vacuum after cleaning as wall as area mold spores that are always found in the air. Those molds that are found are based on how well your home is ventilated and the area in which the home is located.

    During the day when light is entering into the room, if you see dust floating in air, then what your seeing is common household dust.

    If you own a forced warm air heat system and or have Central AC you can purchase a HEPA filter system, or electronic air filter and attach it to the ducts. This will go a long way in keeping the dust down.

    Also lots of dust is dependent on your location. Areas of wooded lots tend to have more microbial forms of dust while homes near high traffic locations tend to have more carbon based dust partials in the air.

    In any case, filtration and use of a true HEPA filter vacuum not HEPA like vacuum will make a big difference in the dust on the furniture.

    on Sep 26, 2011 · Like 2
  • James A Roswell, GA
    What color is the dust ... light or dark? Where does it appear heaviest .. by an entry way? If you have changed the HVAC filters, you can remove the register and look down it using a flashlight and mirror. Sounds like Woodbridge and others have some good options. Might send sample to Sawhorse as he suggested.
    on Sep 26, 2011 · Like 2
  • Liz R Stone Mountain, GA
    Filters are changed regularly. Dust is light gray. Registers have been examined. Thanks for your suggestions. I will try a few.
    on Sep 30, 2011 · Like 0
  • Micci S Roswell, GA
    Hi Liz, sorry, you may be getting tired of all the questions. KMS asked some important ones though. Years ago, a friend's house suddenly became covered w/gray and black dust. It seemed to cling to plastic, She had a new baby and all of the toys and toy boxes started to get swirls of dust, and more dust in odd places. She burned a lot of candles so we considered that. She smoked outside only, she was an avid gardener (dirt dust), but she was anal about keeping her house clean. ...»

    It turned out to be (construction) burning taking place several miles down the road. Insurance verified, and the entire neighborhood had to have fire cleanup crews come in.

    Just another idea

    on Sep 30, 2011 · Like 1
  • Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ
    Do you burn candles? Did you install the filters in the HVAC system with proper direction to air flow?

    And are there people who within the home are suffering from any unexplained illness? Do you open windows and use fans to vent the house? What changed in the surroundings of the rooms effected? That can lead to clues. ...»

    Dust can come from many things. Color, texture, greasy or not it all has a source that must be found and controlled. Getting it analyzed by a professional lab is the only sure fired way to determine what it is, and armed with that you can figure out the cause.

    Even a failure of a electrical fan motor or failure of insulation within the duct system if it exists can cause this occurrence.

    on Oct 03, 2011 · Like 1
  • Liz R Stone Mountain, GA
    I do not use candles, no open windows, no changes in surroundings, filters are changed regularly, no unexplained illness, just history of allergies

    Thanks for your help. Will try some of these

    on Nov 08, 2011 · Like 0
  • Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ
    I would suggest then a dust wipe evaluation. I would contact EMlab P&K in Phoenix AZ and get them to send you a dust check testing system. This little device attaches to the vacuum cleaner and you vacuum a square foot of surface. You then simply mail it back for analysis and they tell you what you have. The test device is under 7 dollars and the test is around $35 or so for each area you check. But this will tell you what is on the surfaces that you have concerns about. But my ...»
    thinking its just air-borne mold and common household dust partials.

    http://www.emlab.com/app/store/Store.po?even...

    on Nov 08, 2011 · Like 0

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