As you clean up around your house, you may start to notice more dust on your surfaces than usual. While some dust is to be expected, it can begin to significantly increase if you have a problem with your air conditioning system. If you have an issue with your air conditioner, you may need to have it serviced to ensure there are no issues that are causing the excessive dust buildup. If you have too much dust in your home and you believe it is due to your air conditioner, here are some things you can try:

Make Sure the Air Filter Is Clean

When the dust is becoming a problem in your home, you should first check your air filter. The air filter is the gatekeeper for dust in an air conditioning system. The goal of the filter is to help keep dust from getting inside your home and prevent clogs. You can easily clean or replace the air filter yourself.

You need to check your air filter monthly. If your system uses disposable air filters, you can purchase new filters and replace them. For reusable filters, be sure to take it outside and clean it off with the garden hose. If the air filter stays dirty, the dust in the system will recycle the same dusty air through your home. This is not only aggravating to constantly clean the dust away, but it is also bad for your system.

Check for Leaky Ductwork

You also should take a look at your ductwork. As time goes by, the ductwork can develop tears or gaps. Dust can collect in these areas and cycle through the air conditioning system. If your air filters are clean and you still see dust in your home, the issue could lie within your ductwork. If you have access to your ductwork, be sure the area is dark and shine a light through it. You should look for any holes or tears. If the tear is small and you can reach it, you can repair it with some duct tape. Otherwise, you will need to call your HVAC contractor to repair it for you.

Check the Humidity Levels in Your Home

If you live in a humid climate, you may run a dehumidifier to help dry out the house. However, you can have more dust if you have no humidity in your home. If the air is dry, dust can more easily travel in the house. Humidity helps to weigh the dust down, which keeps it from flowing through the house as much.

If you continue to have issues with dust, you should call local air conditioner services.