Indoor Air Quality Archives - Luxury Heating Company

Defend Your Home and Declare War on Cold and Flu Season

January 21, 20200

It’s war, folks, and we’re right in the thick of it. The wrath of winter, truly, knows no bounds. Is it not enough for this dreadful season that it makes us stay indoors? It also wants to make us sick? Winter creates the perfect conditions for the cold and flu virus to survive and flourish. Hands down, winter wins for being the worst. Fear not (and excellent choice for clicking this link), there are several ways you can defend your home against viral invaders, hopefully helping to keep winter’s minions at bay.

Here are some tried-and-true methods to fight back against the malady madness:

1. Minimize Mold

Mold is sort of a background fighter in the cold and flu war. It’s not directly linked to the virus but plays a part by impacting your immune system, thus making you more susceptible to illness.

Mold thrives in moist areas: keep your bathrooms clean and continuously wipe down wet surfaces.
Promptly replace broken tiles or worn out caulking.
Keep an eye on your pipes. Even the smallest leak can fester into a mold’s paradise.

2. Have a Handle on Your Home’s Humidity

Consider investing in a hygrometer: this device measures your home’s indoor humidity levels. Your home should fall between 40-50% humidity during the winter months. There is a fine line here: too much humidity provides a favorable environment for mold and bacteria and too little helps along the little virus villains.
Ask an HVAC professional what your options are for whole home humidification.

3. Temperature Control

Adjust your thermostat. Viruses thrive in cold temperatures. Viral particles released into the air (via cough or sneeze) can survive for up to 48 hours! 2 days people! Keep that thermostat at a minimum of 68° to fight these hardy invaders.

4. Decontaminate!

This one is pretty obvious, but its importance warrants mentioning. Cold and flu viruses are relentless little beasts; they can hold on for up to 8 hours on hard surfaces. Sharpen your wartime swords by washing your hands, sanitizing your counters, phones, doorknobs, refrigerator handles, everything! A steam cleaner goes a long way in this battle.

5. Pick Those Filters and Pick Them Well

Dirty filters are bad news. They are both harmful to your HVAC system and your family’s health. A professional can assist, but as a rule of thumb, select a filter that has a MERV rating between 7 and 12. These filters are pleated and trap bacteria, dust, pollen and pet dander. You will do well to know that filters with higher MERV ratings trap more pollutants, but can also restrict airflow, thus putting more of a strain on your HVAC system. Consider these filters your first line of defense. It’s recommended to change filters every 2-3 months during the annual cold and flu war.

6. Leave Your Shoes at the Door

Don’t aide the virus monsters by trekking their allies into your home. Flu viruses and bacteria are known to reside in mud, dirt and debris. Keep a clean doormat on both the inside and outside of every door for good measure.

7. Launder Your Linens

Your home already has 2 strong allies in this war: your washer and dryer. Wash your linens, towels, rugs, and even your window treatments regularly in hot water.

8. Consider a Whole Home Air Cleaner

A whole home air filtration and purification system would be like a 5 star general in your war against the cold and flu virus. These systems work in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to capture and destroy up to 99% of harmful airborne particles in your home. In addition, consider an ultraviolet light component. If there was a 6 star general rating, adding a UV light factor to this system would earn it.

The annual cold and flu war is a long one, and they put up a good fight. If you haven’t been beaten down already, you’re not out of the woods yet. Utilize these tools and declare war on these ruthless viruses. Good luck, soldiers.

Combat the Harmful Effects of Dry Air

Winter can be a magical time of the year, glistening snowfalls, hot chocolates by the fire and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. But alongside winter’s cold weather temperatures, also come the less than desirable effects of dry air. Few aspects of winter can be as annoying as battling cold and flu season or scaly skin and nasal congestion. Dry air can wreak havoc not only on your health and appearance but on your home as well.

Ideal relative humidity for comfort and health ranges between 40-50%. However, it is not uncommon for the dry winter air to cause your indoor humidity levels to plummet to 20% or less. Low humidity levels can cause a number of problems including:

Dry Skin & Cracked Lips

Dry skin and cracked lips are especially common in the winter months. When there isn’t enough humidity in the air, the moisture in your skin evaporates more quickly. By using a daily moisturizer after bathing, you can lock in moisture and your skin can retain its soft appearance.

Static Shock

Spending a winter season in Northeast Ohio, makes you accustomed to the jolts of static electricity that happen when you touch a door knob, flip a light switch or open your car door. When air has the proper level of water vapor / humidity, electrons are free to travel and less likely to collect. Drier, less humid air doesn’t allow electrons to pass through it as easily – causing them to build-up and collect on surfaces. When you come in contact with those surfaces and are wearing something that is carrying the opposite charge – ZAP!

Dried Out Sinuses

Ever wonder why you are more prone to headaches, sinus pressure, nasal congestion, sore throat and nosebleeds during the winter? It’s because dry air pulls moisture from your mouth and nose causing them to become dried out and highly irritable.

Increased Risk of Sickness

As gross as it may sound, the mucus membranes in your nose help to trap foreign bacteria as well as viral invaders. When your nose dries out, the mucus membranes aren’t as effective at capturing harmful contaminants, making you more susceptible to catching the common colds, flu, infections and more.

Damage to Home & Furnishings

When air doesn’t have enough humidity, it pulls moisture from anything and everything it can. Suddenly your home structure, furniture, wood flooring and musical instruments all become at risk for serious damage. Dry air can cause furnishings to crack, window and door frames to shrink and gap, and wood floor panels to shift and creak.

You may think that dry air is just an aspect of winter to suffer through and get used to. But balancing humidity levels year-round is easier than you think. A whole-home humidifier works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to circulate air that has the right amount of moisture to maintain maximum comfort and optimal health.

Contact our indoor air specialists for more information about our whole-home bypass and steam humidifiers and find out which one is right for your home.

Tag: Indoor Air Quality