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How Much Dust Does A Radiator Give Off?

How Much Dust Does A Radiator Give Off?

Dust is in every home in various amounts, dust, dirt and other strange debris can quite easily find a home in between and behind the back of your radiator- that really shouldn’t be there!

The dust and dirt we find between the fins of the convectors and behind your radiators can prohibit heat from escaping, and this will mean your radiators have to work extra hard to heat your room.

If you leave the dust on your radiators you heating will become less effective, which means that it will have to work harder, which costs more energy and more money!

Radiators are manufactured in such a way that dust and dirt can become trapped there quite easily and it takes a considerable amount of time to make sure it’s all gone.

 

What is a Dust Bunny?

Dust bunnies are small clumps of dust that form under furniture and in corners that are not cleaned regularly. They are made of hair, dead skin, spider webs, dust, and sometimes light rubbish and debris, and are held together by static electricity.

They will probably be found in places you cannot see or reach – one being behind and in between the radiator!

Why are they called "dust bunnies"? it is not clear, but it might have something to do with the fact that they're fluffy and tend to multiply quickly!

Dust bunnies - dust behind the radiator - dust accumulating in the home

In your home, atmospheric dust combines with plant pollen, pet dander, human hair and dead skin, clothing fibres and other tiny particles to form dust bunnies when static electricity binds these items together.

More disturbing though, is their potential effect on your health.

The organic matter found in dust bunnies, such as human hair, Pet Dander and dead skin, is the perfect source of “food" for house-dust mites.

House dust mites exist in all homes – 1 gram of dust can house almost 200 house-dust mites. House-dust mites produce allergens that can trigger asthma and contribute to a variety of respiratory problems.

By cleaning your radiators at least once a year this can help to reduce the buildup of house-dust mites’ allergens which can reduce their negative health effects.

how to clean behind a radiator - how to remove a radiator for cleaning

It is advised that you get into the habit of thoroughly cleaning your radiators at least once a year- in the summer months when the central heating is switched off. This way you’ll keep on top of the accumulation of dust and dirt that builds up.

It is a fact that many of us do not consider or associate central heating radiators as having an influence on our wellbeing or poor indoor air quality issues.

Dust is the key factor as it contains various allergens and VOC’s (Volatile organic components) that are known as potent triggers for allergic reactions and respiratory infections.

As you can see from the photo’s below over time radiators collect and accumulate reservoirs of dust that travels through the radiator and the wall behind!

how to clean behind a radiator - dust behind radiator - remove radiator from the wall for cleaningdusty radiator - how to remove radiator from the wall for cleaning

DON’T BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE DUST!

how to remove a radiator from the wall to clean paint and decorate

For Example:

Did you know? – There are circa 190 million radiators installed across the UK

If each radiator installed across the UK collected just 1 Gramm of dust this would equate to 190 TONS approx. of dust that’s being circulated in the air that we breathe indoors!

 

Conclusion:

From the photo’s you can see clearly the amounts of dust that can be accumulated in or behind radiators and the wall.

But this is only a percentage of the dust that continually travels through a radiator when in use being carried by heat convection.

By having full access behind and to the bottom of the radiator would be the ideal solution to enable you to use your vacuum cleaner to remove all the accumulated visible dust,  and also the hidden dust inside the convectors by using a vacuum attachment at the bottom of the fins.

 

 how to remove a radiator from the wall - how to clean behind a radiator


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