Dust mites are small arachnids that measure about a half-millimeter in length and live throughout the home, feeding off of particles of organic material. Even a very small amount of organic material is sufficient for a dust mite, with the 1.5 grams of skin that humans shed daily creating enough food for a million dust mites, according to WebMD. A female dust mite will lay 2-3 eggs every day, for a total of about 270 eggs over the course of their 30-100 day lifespan. National Wildlife Magazine has reported that the waste created by dust mites is responsible for 80-90% of the allergic component of house dust.
The dust mites feces is extremely allergenic, containing more than 15 potent allergens that can trigger reactions in predisposed people. 10% of the general population and 90% of asthmatic people are sensitive to the feces of dust mites, with many of the symptoms of the reactions being decreased or even completely eliminated simply by reducing exposure. American Family Physician has stated that dust mite control is the single most important measure you can make to help improve asthma and allergies in the home.
Dust mites need warmth, moisture, and food to survive. In a home, they will always find the warmth and food they need, as their acceptable temperature levels are similar to what a human would be comfortable with. A homeowner can make their house much healthier by washing their pillows and bedsheets at least once every two weeks, but this is not enough to keep the carpet, crawl space, and basement dust mite free. Most vacuums only kick dust mites and their waste into the air- creating a dusty, unhealthy cloud of allergens when they do.
The most important step to controlling dust mites in a home, however, is proper dehumidification. Dust mites cannot thrive with humidity levels below 60%, as they become unable to absorb moisture from the air and will dehydrate. Be warned, however- lowering humidity levels in the air will often cause the dust mites to retreat deeper into furniture, insulation, mattresses, and other materials, where the moisture has collected. Be sure to install a dehumidifier like Basement Systems’ SaniDry, which has a powerful blower that will send dry air all over the space, drying out wood and furniture as well as the air. As an added benefit, the filter included with the dehumidification system can filter out particles as small as two microns- small enough to filter out dust mite feces, pollen, mold spores, and other allergenic materials.
* What is a Free Estimate and Inspection? An authorized Basement Systems or CleanSpace® Crawl Space contractor will schedule a meeting during which a design specialist will inspect and measure your basement or crawl space FREE of charge, provide a free in-depth book on basement or crawl space solutions (valued at $14.95) and present you with a free written estimate at no cost.
** Warranties vary by product and service. Check with your local authorized Basement Systems or CleanSpace® Crawl Space contractor for specific warranty information.
