Dust

Household dust is comprised of particles varying from 0.01 microns up to 100 microns. (The diameter of a human hair is 100 microns). Particles 10 microns and larger are normally visible to the naked eye. Pollutants in this category include pollen, lint, and some dust particles. Particles less than 10 microns, such as dust and tobacco smoke, are only visible with a microscope. Particle size affects the efficiency. An air cleaner can deliver 99% efficiency in the case of pollen, and up to 90% in the case of dust, dirt, and other smaller sized particles.

If you purchased your air cleaner for the primary purpose of removing dust, you'll need to run the blower on your furnace for several hours after vacuuming. Many thermostats feature a switch position for "manual" or "fan" which allows you to control the blower operation. Vacuuming "stirs up" a large volume of particulates, some of which are "heavy," and fall back onto household furnishings before reaching the air cleaner. Leaving the blower on for 20-30 minutes (assuming air is circulated 4-5 times per hour) after vacuuming will increase the air circulation and the amount of particles being removed. When cleaning your house, vacuum first, wait several hours, then dust!

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