Any suggestions on how to better control the dust? I realize we're in the desert (AZ), it's dry, weather has been nice enough to leave our windows open most of the time and the end result is that dust continues to accumulate, no matter how many times I dust.
We have an air purifier and that helps some, but we're both starting to sneeze a bit more after spending more and more time in the desert.
We love it here, don't want to head anywhere else for the winter, but want to find someway to deal with the dust.
Any suggestions?
lindy said
08:30 PM Nov 21, 2013
If it's possible to reverse your ceiling vent fans, then you can cut and make a filter to fit up in there similar to the insulation pillows (but not as thick), ensuring you have good air flow thru the filter. Then with the ceiling vents drawing the air IN thru the filters it will slow/prevent the dust from coming in the windows, it makes sort of a pressure over effect so that the air flow will then be out the windows.
Terry and Jo said
08:51 PM Nov 21, 2013
Ruth,
This is NOT an answer to your problem, but it is related. I grew up in the Oklahoma Panhandle (Cimarron County) and that was part of the very epicenter of the Dust Bowl. I can't say how many ladies that lived in that time told of wetting towels and hanging them over the window. In short order, those towels would be almost black from the dust coming in. The Dust Bowl was during the '30's, so I didn't get to experience that one. However, we did have another drought period during what we called the "Gritty Fifties" and saw similar, although much less intense dust storms. By then, we had windows that were a lot better.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 21st of November 2013 08:52:08 PM
The Bear II said
11:00 PM Nov 21, 2013
Depending on where you are staying.... most RV'ers spend time during the day watering down the area around their RV. Many have a water bladder and pump just for this use if boondocking.
We just use the A/C and keep the RV closed up as much as possible unless the day is very still.
No shoes in the RV....take off shoes before climbing up the steps. Vacuum and Dust at least once a day if not using the A/C.
Keep in mind in the desert people have come down with respiratory issue due to spores in the dust/air. In Quartzite it is known as the Quarzite Crud... I've heard it called other things in other parts of AZ. It seems to be the same type of symptoms.
My DW got it one year in Q after a bad dry wind storm...it took about 3 months to shake it with no doctor involvement.
NWescapee said
11:56 PM Nov 21, 2013
Bear - OK, have never heard of this Quartzsite crud, thanks for the heads up. Any early symptoms to be aware of?
SnowGypsy said
01:14 AM Nov 22, 2013
This thread might ties into issues in the desert: rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t43910415/camping-boondocking-in-arizona/ And, I always miss the AZ desert in the winter but reading about the "crud", well, not missing it so much. I had a lot of issues with the dust both with my throat and my eyes. Once my son had a dust devil come upon him, raise his hat in the air straight up and blow away, he just screamed when it left. It isn't just dust that blows but dirt. If you leave your windows open and get the gusts, it is nightmare to clean up, dirt not dust.
NWescapee said
06:36 PM Nov 22, 2013
Thanks all, appreciate the links and the feedback.
WestWardHo said
08:49 PM Nov 22, 2013
Ruth,
Certain areas of (AZ & CA)have more blowing dust. I really noticed it in Chowchilla, CA while we were there for our truck repairs, both in my breathing (asthma) and household and car dust. Not so much in the Far East Phoenix valley. The crud is known by Valley fever, symptoms are:
When a baby is born to a pregnant woman infected with Valley Fever, will the baby have it?
Valley Fever is rare in newborn babies. Most babies who get Valley Fever probably acquire it during or shortly after birth, through inhaling fungal spores from the environment.
Symptoms:
Most cases (60%) have no symptoms or only very mild flu-like symptoms and do not see a doctor. When symptoms are present, the most common are fatigue, cough, fever, profuse sweating at night, loss of appetite, chest pain, generalized muscle and joint aches particularly of the ankles and knees. There may also be a rash that resembles measles or hives but develops more often as tender red bumps on the shins or forearms.
What is Valley Fever Skin rash like?
Valley Fever can cause rashes that look several different ways. A common presentation is as painful or tender, slightly elevated red nodules or bumps, which may change color to bluish to brown and often occur on the legs, but may occur on the chest, arms and back. Another common form of rash is a red raised rash which may have blisters or somewhat pointed pimple-like bumps. It's important to note that other diseases may also cause rashes that look the same. The names of the rashes are Erythema Nodosum (the most common) and Erythema Multiforme.
How long will I be sick?
The length of illness depends on the severity of the infection. Most cases have no symptoms, others may take months to even more than a year to resolve. Persons frequently complain of fatigue and joint aches lasting months. The chronic forms of Valley Fever may last years, with a waxing and waning course.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is obtained by use of a specific blood test (called a coccidioidal or cocci serology) which measures the level or titer of antibodies to the fungus. A positive titer is usually measured or reported in dilutions of the patient's serum that continue to react to the fungal antigen. Titers are reported as 1:2, 1:4, etc. In early disease, the cocci serology must be repeated in 2-4 weeks if negative because the antibody level is too low to be detected. Culture of sputum, tissue, biopsies, or body fluids or histopathologic (microscopic) evidence from the same sources are diagnostic. The doctor also uses the x-ray as a means of following the progress of the disease.
Sherry
Ps, it's not been an issue for me in my 5 years in AZ and I think you'll find the rain we're having will knock it down.
Any suggestions on how to better control the dust? I realize we're in the desert (AZ), it's dry, weather has been nice enough to leave our windows open most of the time and the end result is that dust continues to accumulate, no matter how many times I dust.
We have an air purifier and that helps some, but we're both starting to sneeze a bit more after spending more and more time in the desert.
We love it here, don't want to head anywhere else for the winter, but want to find someway to deal with the dust.
Any suggestions?
Ruth,
This is NOT an answer to your problem, but it is related. I grew up in the Oklahoma Panhandle (Cimarron County) and that was part of the very epicenter of the Dust Bowl. I can't say how many ladies that lived in that time told of wetting towels and hanging them over the window. In short order, those towels would be almost black from the dust coming in. The Dust Bowl was during the '30's, so I didn't get to experience that one. However, we did have another drought period during what we called the "Gritty Fifties" and saw similar, although much less intense dust storms. By then, we had windows that were a lot better.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 21st of November 2013 08:52:08 PM
We just use the A/C and keep the RV closed up as much as possible unless the day is very still.
No shoes in the RV....take off shoes before climbing up the steps. Vacuum and Dust at least once a day if not using the A/C.
Keep in mind in the desert people have come down with respiratory issue due to spores in the dust/air. In Quartzite it is known as the Quarzite Crud... I've heard it called other things in other parts of AZ. It seems to be the same type of symptoms.
My DW got it one year in Q after a bad dry wind storm...it took about 3 months to shake it with no doctor involvement.
Certain areas of (AZ & CA)have more blowing dust. I really noticed it in Chowchilla, CA while we were there for our truck repairs, both in my breathing (asthma) and household and car dust. Not so much in the Far East Phoenix valley. The crud is known by Valley fever, symptoms are:
When a baby is born to a pregnant woman infected with Valley Fever, will the baby have it?
Valley Fever is rare in newborn babies. Most babies who get Valley Fever probably acquire it during or shortly after birth, through inhaling fungal spores from the environment.
Symptoms:
Most cases (60%) have no symptoms or only very mild flu-like symptoms and do not see a doctor. When symptoms are present, the most common are fatigue, cough, fever, profuse sweating at night, loss of appetite, chest pain, generalized muscle and joint aches particularly of the ankles and knees. There may also be a rash that resembles measles or hives but develops more often as tender red bumps on the shins or forearms.
What is Valley Fever Skin rash like?
Valley Fever can cause rashes that look several different ways. A common presentation is as painful or tender, slightly elevated red nodules or bumps, which may change color to bluish to brown and often occur on the legs, but may occur on the chest, arms and back. Another common form of rash is a red raised rash which may have blisters or somewhat pointed pimple-like bumps. It's important to note that other diseases may also cause rashes that look the same. The names of the rashes are Erythema Nodosum (the most common) and Erythema Multiforme.
How long will I be sick?
The length of illness depends on the severity of the infection. Most cases have no symptoms, others may take months to even more than a year to resolve. Persons frequently complain of fatigue and joint aches lasting months. The chronic forms of Valley Fever may last years, with a waxing and waning course.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is obtained by use of a specific blood test (called a coccidioidal or cocci serology) which measures the level or titer of antibodies to the fungus. A positive titer is usually measured or reported in dilutions of the patient's serum that continue to react to the fungal antigen. Titers are reported as 1:2, 1:4, etc. In early disease, the cocci serology must be repeated in 2-4 weeks if negative because the antibody level is too low to be detected. Culture of sputum, tissue, biopsies, or body fluids or histopathologic (microscopic) evidence from the same sources are diagnostic. The doctor also uses the x-ray as a means of following the progress of the disease.
Sherry
Ps, it's not been an issue for me in my 5 years in AZ and I think you'll find the rain we're having will knock it down.