I bought my air purifier because I was suffering from severe allergies and wanted all irritants in the air gone.
And while my air purifier did a fantastic job, not long after, I noticed that my air purifier was releasing white dust, or at least that’s what I thought.
In the beginning, I was shocked just as much as I was confused.
Nobody told me I could expect white dust to come out of my unit; frankly, I didn’t either.
I was scared that I might have damaged my unit or that it might be releasing toxic waste that I didn’t know about.
That made me quickly search around to see what other people had to say about white dust coming out of an air purifier.
And if you’re in a similar boat to when I was just a few months ago, you’re in the right place.
In this article, I’ll go over why your air purifier releases white dust and what you can do to stop it.
But, before I do any of that, I first want to put you at ease by telling you what white dust is and if it’s dangerous or not.
What Is White Dust?
White dust is the byproduct of certain air purifiers, which is why you may see it around your home or the air purifier itself.
White dust is often a good sign because the unit works as intended.
The dust is the dried-up leftover mineral content in the water often used in dehumidifiers and water-based air purifiers.
In other cases, white dust can be actual dust from your basement, evidence of a carbon monoxide leak, or other events.
But is white dust something to worry about?
In the following section, I’ll get into more detail about the safety surrounding white dust.
Is the White Dust Dangerous?
One thing I was thrilled to learn when researching the cause of white dust around my air purifier was that white dust usually isn’t dangerous.
Generally, white dust from humidifiers or water-based air purifiers is harmless to humans and pets.
So, the main concern is that it can make your house and various surfaces appear dirty or dusty, but that’s about it.
Since the white dust is usually a result of excess mineral deposits from the water you use in your appliances, you don’t have to worry about them.
The minerals that end up as white dust are likely also present in our drinking water and are entirely safe.
That said, if you notice white dust around your home and aren’t sure if it’s 100% your air purifier, it could be coming from your vents.
In such a case, it could be a result of a carbon monoxide leak, which is a situation that requires immediate attention.
Why Is There White Dust Coming From My Air Purifier?
Sometimes, the white dust can come directly from the air purifier.
This is only the case if you have a water-based air purifier loaded with hard water.
Loading hard water with many minerals in these air purifiers can release some minerals into the air.
And once these minerals dry up, the byproduct you will find around the unit, and your home is white dust.
But if you don’t have a water-based air purifier, the white dust likely isn’t coming from this appliance.
I know this because I don’t own a water-based air purifier, yet I had white dust in my home.
You’ll find white dust around your home for many reasons, and I’ll explain them in the following section.
You Use an Ultrasonic Humidifier
First, using an ultrasonic humidifier, you might find white dust in your home.
These humidifiers balance the humidity levels indoors by releasing moisture into the air.
This can be helpful during the winter months when the air starts to dry.
Suppose the water you load into the humidifier is packed with minerals.
In that case, the humidifier will release minerals along with water vapor.
And while the water vapor makes its way into the air, the mineral deposits eventually fall onto different surfaces, which is the cause of white dust.
This is especially true if you use hard water in your humidifier, which refers to water packed with various minerals.
This isn’t necessarily bad, but you’ll have to do more cleaning than usual.
So, if you have an ultrasonic humidifier at home, that’s one of the biggest reasons behind white dust.
The Dust Is Coming from Your HVAC System
If you’re unsure that the dust is coming from your air purifier, check if you have a centralized HVAC system at home.
If you do, then that can be another source of white dust.
HVAC systems use an intricate network of vents around the house to give you complete control over indoor air conditions.
These systems are great for heating and cooling entire homes without buying multiple appliances.
However, there may be gaps in the ducts and vents that allow dust from the basement and other rooms to enter the HVAC system.
And when the HVAC unit releases air into different rooms, that dust might come with it.
I suggest getting an in-duct air purifier IF you have an HVAC system to prevent this.
Or, you can use air purifiers in different rooms in the house to capture this white dust and prevent it from getting into your respiratory system.
Chemical Reaction in Your Furnace
If you have a furnace at home, there could be a chemical reaction involving zinc, galvanized steel, and the furnace exhaust.
This reaction results from white dust, which you might find on different surfaces in your home.
If this is the case, you should clean the furnace properly and keep an air purifier on in the home so it captures the dust immediately.
Mass Use of Paper Products at Home
This probably won’t be the primary cause of white dust at home, but it’s something I came across on a forum during my research.
Using paper products like notebooks, sticky pads, tissues, and other similar items could add to the white dust at home.
Whenever you rip up tissue or paper, it produces fuzzies that enter the air.
Most of the time, you won’t notice these fuzzies, and your air purifier should capture them right away.
But sometimes, the fuzzies can build up over time and stick to different surfaces at home, which you might see as the white dust we’re talking about.
White Dust Coming Out of the Air Vents
When I read about the different causes of white dust at home, I figured that my air purifier wasn’t the culprit.
Since I used a HEPA air purifier, I knew it wasn’t the cause of the white dust I find on various surfaces at home.
That’s when I decided to look at the air vents of my HVAC unit.
And when checking it out, I learned that the white dust was coming from my air vents.
This is a problem that many people encounter with HVAC systems, and many things can cause it.
If you have a new HVAC system, the white dust could be remnants of oil and film in the vents.
This is relatively harmless and disappears after a while.
But if your HVAC unit isn’t new, there could be other issues.
To start, white dust from your vents could indicate a carbon monoxide leak, which is very serious and something you need to address immediately.
Granted, this isn’t that common, but it’s essential to keep it in mind and check if you see white dust coming out of your vents.
Another reason that white dust could leak out of the vents is because of the humidifier present in some HVAC units.
As mentioned earlier, if you use hard water for your humidifiers, you might find mineral deposits on various surfaces at home which look like white dust.
And if you live near the coast, the white dust could be caused by the high salt content in the air.
There are many ways to fix the issue of white dust coming from your HVAC unit.
If the HVAC unit is new, you must wait for the leftover oil and film in the vents to be released.
For old HVAC systems, you can prevent white dust by ensuring the unit is always clean and well-maintained.
And to add an extra layer of protection, you can also use an air purifier to capture the white dust before you breathe it in.
How to Get Rid of White Dust at Home
Until you resolve the cause of white dust, the best way to get rid of it is to wipe down your surfaces with a dampened cloth.
The best way to resolve the issue with the white dust from your air purifier is to start using soft water or water that doesn’t contain as many minerals.
Most of the time, tap water has a high mineral content, so you might want to switch to distilled purified water to eliminate white dust at home.
So, I highly suggest putting soft water in your humidifier or air purifier, as it’s the easiest way to eliminate white dust.
Another effective measure you can take is using a demineralization cartridge.
Most modern humidifiers and water-based air purifiers have a slot where you can put the cartridge.
When you do this, you will filter out white dust and other mineral deposits before they leave the appliance.
But suppose the above techniques aren’t ideal for you.
In that case, consider switching out your air purifier and humidifier.
For example, use a HEPA air purifier. You will never have to deal with white dust as these devices cannot produce it.
But at the end of the day, white dust isn’t dangerous to humans, so if you notice it at home, you should have no reason to panic.
Making Sure Your Air Purifier Eliminates White Dust
Your air purifier likely isn’t the cause of the white dust around your home.
But did you know that you can use your air purifier to ensure you don’t deal with white dust?
Remember, air purifiers are designed to filter out particles like dust from the air and keep them from getting into different surfaces and away from your lungs.
To ensure your air purifier effectively eliminates white dust, you must place it in the right spot.
Air purifier placement is crucial if you want the device to function correctly.
Ideally, you want to place the air purifier in the middle of the room or in an area with the best airflow.
When you do this, you ensure that most of the air in the room passes through the air purifier so it captures white dust and all other particles.
Additionally, elevate the air purifier slightly and ensure no obstructions.
If you don’t have much space in your room and need to place your air purifier next to a wall, feel free to read my guide to get the best results.
Lastly, ensure you get the right air purifier for the room.
If you have a large room, you need an air purifier with the power to match.
That way, it captures all the room particles, including white dust from other appliances.
Conclusion
If you just bought an air purifier and noticed white dust around your home, chances are that the air purifier isn’t the reason for the dust.
Most of the time, the white dust comes from ultrasonic humidifiers, HVAC systems, and other appliances in your home.
But if you see white dust in your home, you don’t have to panic as the dust is safe for humans and pets.
If you use your air purifier properly, you won’t have to deal with white dust as much.
So, ensure that you place your air purifier in the appropriate spot and have the right air purifier for the room.
And you won’t have to deal with white dust at home often when you do that.