Arizona Dust Storm Danger
Dust storms occur worldwide, notably in the southwest of the United States. Winds from thunderstorms most often create dust storms. It’s no wonder that, with Arizona’s expansive desert, dirt and debris kicked up, resulting in disastrous dust storms. If the dust and debris affect your home, breathing it in can worsen coughing, asthma, and respiratory tract diseases. That’s why keeping clean air in your house before, during, and after a dust storm is crucial.
Stay Ahead of the Storm with Weather Alerts
A motto from the Arizona Department of Transportation is “Pull aside, stay alive.” Make sure you know your safe routes home, and if you see a storm potentially starting, refer to the Arizona Emergency Information Network for more information. At home, designating a secure indoor space is helpful. Staying on the lowest level of your home, away from cracks and windows, will make it less likely for you to face any dust entering the rooms. Afterward, you can follow up with the network’s updates to see if it’s safe again.
Maintaining A Healthy Indoor Air Quality
You want to maintain healthy air for easy breathing! Taking the steps outlined below in the event of a dust storm will save your family’s health and home.
Air Filter Maintenance
Changing your air filters is crucial to keeping your home safe. These filters purify every space in your house to remove pollutants. Not regularly cleaning them will build up germs, mold, and debris inside them. After a dust storm, it is important to keep out trapped dirt by changing your clogged air filters.
Installing Air Purifiers
In-duct air purifiers are one of the most effective solutions to reduce pollution inside your home. Installing an air purifier before a storm is a wise decision. There are several types of whole-home purifiers to consider:
- UV purifiers- Neutralize pollutants with UV light as they pass through the purifier.
- Ionization—The purifier’s ionization molecules attach to debris and weigh it with gravity, removing it from the air stream.
- Extended media filters—Most parts of an air filter are already installed in your HVAC system. Extending them gives you extra protection by catching dust with additional layers.
Whatever you choose, having an air purifier installed will prevent risk before and after the storm.
Air Conditioner Rules
You’ll want to keep your AC unit turned off during a dust storm. However, you should still take precautions, such as cleaning the outside of your AC unit. This will make the HVAC unit less likely to clog, helping it run more smoothly later. After the storm, make sure to clean it thoroughly again.
Regularly Clean Your Air Conditioner’s Air Ducts
Cleaning your air ducts is necessary. Make sure your ducts are well sealed to reduce breakages. Sealing your air ducts will add extra prevention to keep dust from circulating through holes.
Why Trust the Air Duct Cleaning Experts of Chandler for Repairs After a Dust Storm?
We want to keep you safe during and after the storm! Even if the wind has subsided, we can still help you clean and repair your HVAC units to ensure that none of the parts broke in the middle of the storm. Our Air Duct Cleaning Experts of Chandler team will always be there in an emergency. We also have special offers to prepare for the next dust storm, including discounts when you schedule a whole house air duct or dryer vent cleaning! Check us out today to learn more about air purification, air duct cleaning, or ductwork installation, and schedule an appointment.
