The wall of dust rolls in and the afternoon goes dark. An hour later the storm is gone, but the dust isn't. It's on the counters for days, and if you have allergies, you feel it.
Your AC pulls in air from every room, cools it and sends it back out. That makes it the best tool you have for clean air after a haboob, as long as it's set up for the job.
What a haboob leaves in your house
A haboob carries more than dirt. It picks up fine dust, pollen, bacteria and other pollution from across the desert.
Once it gets inside, most people notice more sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. For anyone with asthma or other breathing problems, it can be a lot worse.
A basic filter catches the big bits. The finest dust, the kind that bothers you most, can slip right through. Then it keeps moving through the house for days or even weeks.
How to keep the fine dust out
A higher-rated filter
Filters are rated on the MERV scale. A basic filter might be a MERV 4. A filter rated MERV 11 to 16, or a whole-home HEPA system, catches far more of the tiny stuff, like fine dust, pet dander and pollen.
A whole-home air cleaner
This fits inside your HVAC system. An electronic air cleaner uses a static charge to pull dust out of the air, a bit like a magnet. It's very good at clearing the air after a haboob.
A UV light in the system
Monsoon season brings more humidity. Inside a cool, dark AC system, that damp air lets mold and bacteria grow. A UV light fitted in the system kills them before they reach your rooms.
Our residential HVAC work covers better filters and UV air purifiers. We'll tell you which ones make sense for your system and what each one costs.
Sealed ducts
Even the best filter can't help if dusty air goes around it. Over time, ducts get small leaks, cracks and loose joints.
In a haboob, those gaps pull dusty air in from the attic or crawl space. It rides the ducts straight to your rooms and never touches the filter.
Sealing the leaks fixes that. It also helps your AC run better, which can lower your bill in triple-digit heat. Duct repair starts with an inspection, and we show you the leaks before we seal anything.
Before, during and after a storm
- Before the season, book HVAC maintenance. Once a year is the least it needs, and spring is the best time. A clean, well-kept system handles heat and dust better.
- When you see a storm coming, close every window and door. Turn the AC off for a little while, so it doesn't pull in the thickest wave of dust.
- Once the dust settles, check your filter. It may be clogged enough to change right away, and a clogged filter chokes the airflow and makes the whole system work harder.
Haboobs are part of life in the Valley. Breathing that dust for weeks after one doesn't have to be.
Want us to look at your filter or your ducts? We'll tell you what we find and what it costs. There's no pressure to buy.