In a new sealed home without ventilation on, where does all the dust come from.?

Answer 1

Most home buyers probably don"t have the oportunity but if you do there is is a major source of dust that can be eliminated before the floor coverings are installed. I had advice when I built my home. It is to thorougly scrub the tremendous mess and dust from the drywall installation before covering the floors or this dust will continue to fly around the house probably for years. It is so fine that most vaccum cleaners will get plugged if you try to vacuum it up. At your point in time it is a matter of alot of elbow grease as others have suggested. Also be sure to clean out the cold air returns if you have forced air heating. Install a Hepa High Efficiency filter on your furnace. That is why hot water or steam heat is so great you don't have the air movement blowing dust around.

Answer 2

When the contractors were there, they probably did some drywalling and that dust just doesn't go away over night. You move one thing and the whole place goes up in dust. So it is coming from the inside. It would be better if you did turn the ventilation system on, it would help get rid of that dust quicker than if you left it off. Don't forget to check and change your filters.

Answer 3

Not sure of actual proportions, but here are the typical big four, in no particular order...

1) Already mentioned by others: human and pet dander (skin flakes).

2) Carpeting: Most effective vacuums use a beater bar to vibrate dirt to the surface, but at the same time they cause wear on the fibers. (FYI - Teflon treated carpets hold up best to traffic and vacuums and can be somewhat better at minimizes their dust contribution.)

3) Clothes Dryer: Just look at your filter, and how things like towels get thinner over time. These things beat the heck out of your clothes. Dry them outside. But who can resist how soft towels are from the dryer compared to hanging on the line?

4) Cheap to install heating systems that use forced air. These blow the dust around as so many people just use those $.89 filters you can see through. Those filters are really designed just to keep the equipment safe and functioning. They do little to improve air quality, get the pleated kind. $4 to $7 dollar ones are a good compromise if you don't want to shell out for the $12 to $15 "Filtrete" by 3M. Radiators at least didn't forcibly blast dust, regardless of source, all over the place.

Answer 4

There might have also be dust in the ventilation system, you carry in dust on you, also there is no such thing as a sealed home. You probably have a Scuttle or similar air exchange to the outside, that lets in a little.

New homes have all that trapped dust during construction. Takes time to clean it out...vacuum daily with an HEPA system.

Answer 5

lots of dust is dead skin cells and the excrement and carcasses of dust mites. that's right: yuck! and your well-sealed home is actually part of the problem. the best thing to do is open up your windows when you clean and whenever the weather is nice. your home and family will benefit from the fresh air, especially the with all the off-gassing from new materials. get an ostrich feather duster, which will allow you to actually pick up dust--not just move it around like other dusters!--without having to move every little knick-knack. i bought mine at flylady.net and i love it. and it's really pretty so dusting is fun. (even my fiance thinks so! i was soooo pleasantly shocked.)

Answer 6

Unless you have a r-90 house, dust is going to get in.

But---just how much dust are you talking?

Answer 7

Most household dust is actually made up from human skin. It's true!

Answer 8

unless you live in a vacuum there will always be dust. that's just what life on earth is all about.

Answer 9

skin