How to Improve Indoor Air Quality During the Winter
As the kids return to school and the days grow colder, we are reminded that flu season is rapidly approaching. Good hygiene practices obviously help keep seasonal bugs away, but have you considered that the thing impacting your family’s health this winter most could be your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ)?
Why is it important to maintain indoor air quality in winter?
Maintaining air quality in your Minnesota home during winter is crucial for the comfort and health of your family. Here’s why:
- Cold weather means keeping windows and doors shut — which traps dust, allergens and pollutants inside.
- Winter air can be dry, especially with indoor heating, which often leads to respiratory irritation and dry skin
- Humidity from everyone being indoors can condense on cold surfaces, creating a breeding ground for mold
- Proper ventilation helps regulate moisture, preventing damage to insulation and reducing heating costs during the coldest months of the year
- Poor air quality can aggravate asthma, allergies and other respiratory issues
If anyone in your household is suffering from headaches, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, or exasperated allergies this winter, it might not be early signs of a cold or the flu — your home might just have poor air quality.
What are signs of poor indoor air quality?
Actually, your home is pretty good at letting you know there is a problem with the air quality inside. Common signs something is wrong include:
- Condensation on the windows
- Warped wood floors
- Loose drywall tape on ceilings and walls
- Discoloration of walls, carpets and ceiling
- Musty smells and mysterious, dank odors that may be signifying a mold problem
Mold isn’t the only cause of unhealthy air quality in your home. Other sources of pollution include:
- Humidity
- Harmful gasses or fumes (like carbon monoxide or radon)
- Dust
- Smoke (if someone in your home is a smoker, fireplaces, etc.)
- Pet dander
What should I do to improve my home’s indoor air quality in winter?
Regularly cleaning your home will make it feel more comfortable, but there are other steps you can take to ensure good air quality in your home – especially during the winter.
Keeping your humidity in check is a big factor in improved air quality. A general rule-of-thumb is to keep your home’s humidity levels under 50%. During the winter, that usually isn’t a problem. However, dry homes can also foster respiratory problems and damage your home’s woodwork or furniture. Humidity can also make the air feel warmer, so you can save money on your heating bills with a quality humidifier. Of course, for the summer seasons, a dehumidifier will help balance your IAQ.
Homes stay closed up throughout the winter, which can cause the air to stale. However, a good air exchanger can efficiently make your time inside healthier and much more comfortable. Air filtration systems can also help keep your family healthy. These can easily be attached to your heating/cooling system to filter out a lot of the causes of poor IAQ.
Let Sedgwick help by addressing your home’s air quality, so you can help keep your family happier and healthier year round!