Why do allergies get worse in the winter? Why are colds and flus more prevalent? One of the biggest factors is your indoor air quality. As temperatures go down, pollutants in your home rise. Here are several reasons why your home’s IAQ decreases in winter — and what to do about them.
- Humidity. The air is naturally drier in winter, so running your furnace removes even more moisture from the air. When the humidity gets too low, it fosters contaminants such as dust, viruses, and bacteria. With a whole-house humidifier, you can control your home’s moisture, keeping humidity levels safely between 30% and 50%.
- Winterization. When winter hits, you seal your doors and windows, keeping cold air out and warm air in. This is great for energy efficiency but bad for air quality, as the same air circulates through your HVAC system over and over instead of being displaced by clean, fresh, outdoor air. To combat this, remember to change your air filter regularly, and if it’s not too cold, open a window when you can, even if only for a few minutes.
- Pets. If you have indoor/outdoor pets, in winter they’re likely spending most of their time indoors. This means more pet hair, dander, and dirt throughout your home, exacerbating allergies. Dusting and vacuuming regularly helps reduce contaminants. Also consider investing in a whole-house air purifier that can clean the air more efficiently than your regular HVAC filter can.
- Smoke. Lighting a fire in the fireplace is a great way to keep warm, but the smoke isn’t great for your IAQ. Make sure the chimney is working properly and keep ceiling fans running to improve air circulation and IAQ.
- Carbon monoxide. If you have a gas furnace, carbon monoxide leaks can be hazardous and potentially fatal. Keep a CO detector on every floor, test them regularly, and replace the batteries every year to be sure they work properly and can alert you immediately to any potential problems.
For help boosting your home’s IAQ, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We keep the air clean and breathable in Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin homes.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area