Dander, Fibers, and Pollen

Dander
What is dander?

Dander is another term for material shed from the body of animals and humans. Dander is microscopic and makes up about 80% of dust in a home. The dander is then food for dust mites and can enter the mucous membranes of the nose and lungs causing allergies and aggravate asthma mostly through the allergy proteins in the bodies of the dust mites. Homes with animals or large families will be more susceptible to dander buildup, and dander is a large reason for allergies with animals. The standard for Air Quality is considered to be less than 6000 cm .

How do you get rid of dander?

While there is no way to be completely free from dander as the human body naturally produces some amount, there are ways to reduce the amount in the air of your home. The first step is to be sure all bedding is cleaned regularly as it is a common high concentration area. The next would be if you have carpet to have it cleaned properly and to use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter which is changed regularly. Once the dander is in the air, it is usually picked up in the heating and cooling systems. This is where we come in! We scrub out all air ducts and the heating and cooling system with our proprietary system which vacuums any particles out of the air ducts and stores them to be removed from the premises so the home does not become recontaminated. We also have a special coating which is added to the air ducts which prohibits any bacteria, mold, and other unwanted growth for a long lasting clean.

A sample from a particular home of a fiber, dander, and pollen test which shows extremely high concentrations of fibers and dander, and a lack of pollen due to being taken in the middle of winter.

Fibers
What are fibers?

Fibers are small fibrous particles which often come from sources such as clothing, bedding, carpets, and furniture which break off from normal wear and make their way into the air. Floating, these particles can find their way around the home and can become concentrated enough to cause irritation to the respiratory system. The particles often find their way to the intake of any heating and cooling systems, where filters are often not high enough specification to catch all of them and so the go through the air ducts where they may settle, get stuck, or get blown to the rest of the home. The standard for Air Quality is considered to be less than 100 cm .

How do you get rid of fibers?

While there is no way to be completely free from fibers as cloth and other fibrous materials will create some amount through normal wear, there are ways to reduce the amount in the air of your home. The first step would be to use a vacuum with a proper HEPA filter and be sure to change the filter regularly. Many of the fibers in a home can from from vacuuming carpet without a HEPA filter where the fiber particles can find their way back into the air. The next step is to have the air ducts cleaned because if fibers are present in the system it will be redistributed throughout the home each time the system turns on. We scrub out all air ducts and the heating and cooling system with our proprietary system which vacuums any particles out of the air ducts and stores them to be removed from the premises so the home does not become recontaminated. We also have a special coating which is added to the air ducts which prohibits any bacteria, mold, and other unwanted growth for a long lasting clean.

Pollen
What is pollen?

Pollen is a substance created by plants which is often dispersed through the air on a nice breeze. Pollen is what provides many of the things we enjoy, but it can be a nuisance inside a home. Because many plants spread their pollen in the air, it is easy to make it's way into your home and settle on any surface where it can later be disturbed and reintroduced into the air. This is particularly problematic inside an air duct, where small crevices may provide ledges for pollen to get caught where it can remain for some time until it is eventually dislodged and sent back into the air of your home.

How do you get rid of pollen?

While the issue is most evident during the warmer months, if plants are moved inside or the home was heavily affected by pollen, it can be an issue during the colder months as well. The process to remove pollen is much the same as for dander. Be sure to clean any possible surfaces, particularly cloth such as bedding and furniture if possible. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is strongly recommended to prevent stirring the small pollen particles back into the air where they can simple land elsewhere. We scrub out all air ducts and the heating and cooling system with our proprietary system which vacuums any particles out of the air ducts and stores them to be removed from the premises so the home does not become recontaminated. We also have a special coating which is added to the air ducts which prohibits any bacteria, mold, and other unwanted growth for a long lasting clean.