Do you tend to suffer respiratory problems during winter? Do you worry about contaminants in your air? The cold air can actually impact your indoor air quality (IAQ), leading to increased allergens and contaminants, sore throats, and more. Here’s how winter affects your IAQ and what you can do about it.
Winter Air Pollution
Though summer is when pollen and allergies are at their peak, winter is when air tends to be most unhealthy overall. This applies both to outdoor air and the air in your home.
In the colder weather, you’re more likely to take your car than to walk, which increases pollution in general. Additionally, even the most efficient gas furnaces emit some exhaust, while your electric AC doesn’t. You’re also more likely to use your fireplace in winter, which can cause pollution both indoors and outdoors.
When it comes to IAQ, the best way to get clean, fresh air into your home is from the outdoors. The problem is, in winter, your home is sealed to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. That means the same contaminants circulate through your HVAC system again and again, building up over time. Plus, running your furnace lowers the humidity, which in turn lowers air quality.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
To get rid of those contaminants circulating through your air, consider investing in an air purifier with a HEPA filter. It can remove far more contaminants than your HVAC filter can, down to a much smaller size, to keep your air healthy. A UV air cleaner can help as well, killing mold and bacteria on contact.
Another good investment is a whole-house humidifier. It lets you balance out the loss of moisture in your air by setting your home’s humidity to your preferred level. That way, you can keep it in the Goldilocks Zone: not too high, not too low, but just right, between 30% and 50%, where you can stay comfortable and breathe easier.
For help improving your home’s air quality throughout the year, contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We provide Indianapolis with quality HVAC solutions.
