In the winter, being snug as a bug in a rug in your home can be cozy, but it can also play havoc with your indoor air quality (IAQ) here in Ohio, creating some significant health problems. At Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, we recommend taking precautions to avoid the common issues associated with winter indoor air quality.
Why Does Winter Cause Problems?
During the warmer months, you open your windows and let the fresh air into your Brunswick home. During the colder months, you do the opposite, locking everything up tight, caulking, and blocking anywhere cold air can seep in.
While this keeps you toasty, unfortunately, it traps your indoor air, containing all the impurities from your home. With homes being built more and more energy efficient, there are fewer ways for outdoor air to infiltrate your home and help ventilate it.
What Are Some Common Issues?
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study found levels of “about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were in rural or highly industrial areas.” Dr. Marilyn Black, an early pioneer of indoor air-quality research, noted, “poor indoor air quality was directly related to the 500 to 1,000 volatile organic compounds [VOCs] coming from everyday materials, such as paint, floorings, furnishings, and printers.”
In addition, pet dander, cleaning products, environmental tobacco smoke, mold, dust, mildew, personal-care products, asbestos, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and a host of other factors also contribute to your indoor air’s pollution. As a result of poor indoor air quality, you or someone in your home may experience some of these common symptoms regularly:
As a result of poor indoor air quality, you or someone in your home may experience some of these common symptoms regularly:
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Itchy eyes, nose, and/or throat
- Worsened asthma, allergies, or chronic illnesses
Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality in the Winter
Just because it’s winter, do not assume you have to suffer through poor indoor air quality. There are things you can do to help improve it. Here are some of our recommendations:
Get your ductwork inspected and cleaned. Having your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system’s air ducts inspected can alert you to leaks where unconditioned air could be leaking and contributing to your problem. Then, having your ducts cleaned will remove any dust and debris buildup, preventing it from entering your airflow.
Have your furnace cleaned and checked. Ensuring your furnace and its filter are clean helps keep more dust and debris from making it into your lungs. Your furnace is an integral component in your home’s HVAC system, so having it regularly checked and tuned up keeps things working efficiently for a long time.
Consider installing an air purifier. Your HVAC system’s air filter can only stop so many types and sizes of particles. Many particles are not visible to the human eye yet can still cause harm. An air purifier can eradicate them from your home’s airflow.
Check your home’s humidity levels. Optimally, your home’s humidity level should remain between 30 and 50 percent all year long. During the colder months, your home’s air becomes drier. Be sure your humidifier is keeping your home humid enough while not over-humidifying. Too much moisture, amongst other things, breeds mold and mildew, which are both toxic to your body.
Open your windows every day (or at least a few times a week) for short bouts of time
During the winter months, your home’s ventilation does not bring in as much outdoor fresh air as other times of the year. Your home is shut up tight to keep the cold out. An easy measure to take is simply to open your windows daily for a short time, even for a few minutes. This will bring some much-needed fresh air into your home and help diffuse the stuffy air.
Use more natural cleaning and personal-care products. Chemicals from cleaning and personal-care products will linger longer in your home’s winter air without the flow of fresh air. Concentrated like this, they can do real damage over the long term to your body. Look into substituting healthier alternatives.
Decorate with houseplants. Houseplants clean and purify your home’s air. Adding more to your home can only help remedy the toxins and stuffiness present during the colder months.
Clean your home regularly, paying special attention to carpets, floors, and dusty areas. Cleaning your home once a week goes a long way in keeping dirt and dust from entering your home’s airflow. Carpets are particularly bad for harboring unwanted. Vacuuming regularly, especially with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum, can dramatically cut down on your air’s pollution.
Contact Us for All Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Call us at 330-723-4104 or request service online today to discuss how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
For many homes, a mid-range filter can capture more dust, pollen, and pet dander without stressing airflow. The best MERV rating depends on your system and ductwork, because filters that are too restrictive can reduce comfort and efficiency. If you are not sure what your equipment can handle, an HVAC pro can recommend a filter that fits your setup and your indoor air goals.
During heating season, check your filter about once a month and replace it when it looks loaded with dust. Homes with pets, allergies, or a lot of indoor activity often need changes more frequently. A clean filter helps your HVAC system move air properly and keeps more particles from recirculating through your home.
It can, because more circulation means more air passes through your filter. The tradeoff is higher energy use and more wear on the blower, especially if the filter is dirty. If your thermostat has a “circulate” option, that can be a good middle ground for many homes in Medina County and surrounding areas.
Yes. These can add smoke, tiny particles, and strong odors that linger longer when homes are closed up. Use an outside-venting range hood when cooking, keep fireplaces and wood stoves properly vented, and limit heavily scented products if they bother your breathing. Upgrading filtration can also help reduce what stays in the air.
A whole-home air cleaner works with your HVAC system to filter air throughout the house, while a portable purifier targets a single room. Portable units can be great for bedrooms or home offices, but they will not treat every space. A whole-home option is usually better when you want more consistent results across the entire home.
If your home feels stuffy in winter or you have a newer, tightly sealed build in areas like Strongsville or Brunswick, a ventilation system designed for cold weather can help bring in fresh air without wasting as much heat. These systems can be especially helpful when indoor odors linger or moisture builds up. An HVAC evaluation can confirm whether your home would benefit and what size makes sense.
Radon can be a year-round issue, but winter conditions can make it easier for it to build up indoors because windows stay closed and stack effect can pull air from the soil into lower levels. The only way to know your level is to test. Short-term kits are a good starting point, and long-term testing gives a clearer picture over time.
Start with working carbon monoxide alarms on every level and near sleeping areas, then replace batteries as recommended by the manufacturer. If an alarm sounds or you feel symptoms like headache or dizziness, get fresh air and seek help right away. For prevention, schedule a professional heating safety check so Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical can verify proper combustion, venting, and overall furnace operation.
