How Cold Weather Affects Air Quality
When the temperatures start to dip, you may wrap yourself in scarves, jackets, gloves, and other warm gear to keep out the frigid chill. In addition to having chillier skin, you might also notice that you’re coughing, sneezing, and experiencing itchy, dry eyes in the winter weather. These uncomfortable situations can lead you to question if the cold weather somehow affects air quality. The short answer is yes, cold weather can reduce the quality of indoor air. Learning about the connection can help you to find ways to ameliorate the issue, create a more comfortable environment at home, and reduce health issues associated with poor air quality.
HVAC Problems
During the winter months, you’re likely using your home’s heating system more frequently. If the system has problems or is older, the unit could be releasing irritants or pollutants into the air. One of our team members can identify any such problems and offer resolutions. Also, you might have a heating system that isn’t energy efficient. The extra energy demands could cause problems with indoor air quality. By getting a more energy-efficient system, you can improve your home’s air quality while cutting down on the monthly bills.
Dry Air
Both inside and outside of the home, the cold weather can lead to dry air. If you’ve noticed that your lips or hands are chapped more regularly in the winter, dry air is likely the culprit. Adding moisture back into the air with a device such as a humidifier is a step that many people have taken to make their homes more comfortable. You could, for example, add a humidifier to each bedroom if the dry air is keeping you up at night. You can put humidifiers in any other rooms where the air quality is poor too.
Time Spent Indoors
If you’re like many people, you simply spend more time inside during the winter months. This extra time indoors can mean that you’re dragging more pollutants around the house. For example, you might be carrying dirt, dust, and other particles around the house on your shoes. Keep in mind that the windows are probably closed for most of the winter season. Therefore, the irritants have nowhere to go. Instead, these substances just stay in your home polluting the air. Also, plenty of people host holidays in their homes during the winter. Not only are your own household members and pets bringing a mess into the house, but so are all of your guests. This situation can contribute to a further decline in air quality.
Use of Fireplaces and Ovens
Some people like to curl up next to the fireplace with a good book on the coldest days of winter, and other individuals like to get the kids together to bake cookies and other treats. In other words, you may be using some of your appliances more regularly during the winter. These appliances can emit fumes or other pollutants into the air. Getting a professional inspection is critical here. These issues can become dangerous or even fatal if not identified and treated properly.
Residual Dirty Air
You can take many steps to address the source of air pollutants in your home. For example, you might choose to get a new, energy-efficient heating unit, or you may decide to make important upgrades to your oven. However, these fixes won’t get rid of the dirty air already circulating in your home. Fortunately, you can purchase devices that are specifically designed to clean the dirty air. Our team of professionals can install devices too.
Our team members at Mullen Plumbing, Heating and Cooling improve the air quality in your home. We conduct indoor air quality checks and offer solutions to air quality problems. Our team also provides a wide range of other services in South Charleston and the surrounding areas. We offer repair, installation, and maintenance services for heating and cooling systems. In addition, we provide an array of plumbing services, including faucet repair and installation, drain cleaning, backflow prevention, and toilet repair and replacement. Staff members are available to answer the phone 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Ask about our financing plans, too. To schedule an appointment to get started on the path toward a more comfortable home, contact Mullen Plumbing, Heating and Cooling today.
