Since you and your family spend a lot more time indoors in the winter, it’s important to pay attention to indoor air quality (IAQ), which tends to worsen during this particular season. Hader HVAC elaborates on why IAQ usually drops in the winter and shares some tips on how to improve it below.
Why IAQ Drops in the Winter
An essential part of winterizing your home is making sure that there are no air leaks and that there’s adequate insulation. Unfortunately, as your interior becomes more insulated and airtight, the indoor air can become increasingly stagnant, especially since any openings that allow in drafts have been sealed shut. Without sufficient airflow, the air becomes stale, and contaminants such as bacteria, mold, dust mites and chemicals from household cleaners become trapped inside, lowering the overall IAQ.
What Are the Health Risks?
Poor IAQ can in turn trigger allergies and aggravate respiratory conditions. Since their bodies are still developing, children are more sensitive to allergens. Keep in mind that asthma symptoms last longer in adults, so older family members face a sizable health risk as well.
How to Improve IAQ
What then are the best ways to improve IAQ? We’ve listed them below:
- Switch on your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to keep the air from becoming too stale
- Have a contractor inspect your home for any leaks or moisture. Remember, a damp environment is the perfect breeding ground for mold, which can spread spores throughout your home.
- Have your HVAC or air conditioning system inspected by a contractor before and after winter, and make sure the air filters are changed. Although how often you’ll need to replace the air filters depends on how dusty your home is, the standard practice is to replace or clean the filters every 30 days.
Make sure to vet the HVAC contractor before hiring them. The amount of experience a contractor has in the industry usually indicates their level of expertise.
Hader Heating and Cooling has been providing trusted comfort solutions to local residents since 1883. For inquiries, you can call us at (513) 661-1910 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Cincinnati, as well as surrounding communities.
