Dust Mites

Do You Have A Dust Mite Allergy?

Dust Mite Allergies is very common. I have a lot of clients who react to Dust Mites. It can be very frustrating dealing with these creatures. It is hard to keep them under control especially if you have carpet in your house. My solution is to remove all carpet from the home. This way, there is a limited area that they may inhabit. My house has Porcelain Tile throughout to deal with this problem in my own life. It is easier to deal with it this way.

Understanding Dust Mites is very important. First, they are not parasites, but microscopic bugs that eat dead skin cells that fall or shed from our bodies or pets. Very seldom do we find them in air samples taken in homes unless the Air Conditioning Duct System is contaminated. If we do, we know the A/C System is contaminated. Remember, Dust Mites cannot fly, only crawl.

If you use a poor quality filter, it is a sure way of contaminating your A/C System. Keeping your system clean is relatively easy if you use a MERV 8 to MERV 10 Pleated Filter. Cheap filters only contaminate your system because they do not filter out the smaller particles that contaminate it. It is important to check with the A/C Manufacturer to make sure the Unit can handle the arrestance of the MERV Rated Filter. I had one client who used a high rated MERV Filter and burned the blower motor out within 6 months. The following will explain MERV Ratings.

The good filters are labeled with MERV rating number, this measures a filter's ability to trap particles ranging in size from 3.0 microns to 10.0 microns. Residential filters commonly have MERV ratings of 1-12. The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the filter is, and the more particles it can filter.

A MERV rating of 6 means the filter is 35% to 50% minimum efficient at capturing the measured particles.
A MERV rating of 8 means the filter is 70% to 85% minimum efficient at capturing the measured particles.
A MERV rating of 11 means the filter is 85% to 95% minimum efficient at capturing the measured particles.

This is an industry standard rating, so it can be used to compare filters made by different companies. Some manufacturers can also have their own rating systems. I would tend to shy away from manufacturers with their own rating systems. Why you ask, because for some reason they do not want to be compared to other filters. You can make your own decision about this. I personally on will use a MERV Rated filter.

Now back to our wonderful friends, Dust Mites. A simple solution for your bed is to cover the mattress and pillows with a Dust Mite protective cover. There are a lot of products to accomplish this. Just Google the word "Allergy Store Products" and you will see all the Internet Sites who carry them. I do not recommend plastic because they tend to get hot in the middle of the night. Some of my clients are allergic to the plastic types. Check it out for yourself. Better off with a Barrier Cloth material.

It is important to wash your sheets and bed covers once a week in hot water with a temperature of at least 120 degrees F or higher. I have seen a lot of advice on the Internet about how to get rid of dust mites. Be careful about some of the advice. Some recommend using chemicals. I do not recommend using chemicals, because if you have carpet, you will not get the dust mites down by the padding under the carpet. The only thing you have accomplished is killing a few and possibly making yourself sick from the chemical. Whatever you do, do it right the first time.

In conclusion, if you have a Dust Mite Allergy, HEPA Vacuum Cleaning your house is very important every week. If you have tile or marble floors, you have solved 70% of this problem. You will never completely get rid of them but you can keep them under control if the humidity is below 50%. This is easily accomplished with today's A/C Systems. There is no cure for Dust Mite Allergy, only prevention. Remember, always consult with your Allergist or Doctor before using this information.

For More Information: Asthma