Allergy sufferers have immune systems that mean well, but are a little over-reactive, releasing chemicals like histamine to get rid of normally harmless substances called allergens. Histamine triggers the body to push the allergens out, using your nose, eyes, and mouth as exit routes, which creates inflammation and general allergy-related symptoms in the process. If […]
HEPA (High‐Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuums differ from conventional vacuums in that they contain filters that are capable of trapping extremely small, micron‐sized particles. A true HEPA filter can trap 99.97 percent of all airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns. To illustrate how small this is, a human red blood cell is usually between 6 and 8 microns wide. […]
Dust mites are tiny bugs that are too small to see. Every home has dust mites. They feed on human skin flakes and are found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bed-covers, clothes, stuffed toys and fabric and fabric-covered items. Body parts and droppings from dust mites can trigger asthma in individuals with allergies to dust […]
Dust comes from several sources and is difficult to eliminate completely. Increased dust could be a sign that it is time to change a dirty furnace or air conditioner filter or vacuum cleaner bag. Activities that produce dust (such as sanding) can also be a source an increase. Dust can also be introduced into your […]
Dust mites are tiny microscopic relatives of the spider and live on mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets and curtains. These tiny creatures feed on the flakes of skin that people and pets shed daily and they thrive in warm and humid environments. No matter how clean a home is, dust mites cannot be totally eliminated. […]
If cold, wintry weather is keeping you indoors, remember: Year-round, that’s home to many of the peskiest allergy and asthma triggers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. So if you have allergies or asthma, it’s a good idea to ensure that your home is as free of triggers as possible—or at least find ways to […]
SamplingVolumetric sampling of the air has repeatedly shown that concentrations of mite allergens are generally very low to undetectable. The International Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (IAACI) has recommended sampling settled dust to evaluate exposure to dust mite allergens. The ACGIH has stated that it is important to sample multiple indoor locations to obtain […]
Introduction Dust mites are microscopic creatures that are not visible to the naked eye. Female dust mites are generally between 200 to 500µm in size, with males being smaller. They prefer warm, moist surroundings close to sources of food. Since one of their food sources is human skin scales, they are most prevalent in high-use […]
This photo shows the same basement in the process of getting HEPA vacuumed. HEPA, which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, is a type of air filter that the EPA and the United States Department of Energy require as a standard for Lead and Mold Remediation projects. A HEPA air filter must remove 99.97% of […]
Part 1: HEPA Vacuums Through years of being in the restoration business I’ve started to notice a recurring theme seen mostly in mold remediation companies: Lack of Required Equipment. One of those required and industry standard pieces of equipment when doing any restoration project that should be used, is a HEPA vacuum. HEPA, which stands […]