As winter settles in, the air inside your home can feel heavier or less fresh. That’s because indoor air quality can worsen during the colder months. With your house sealed tight against the chill, pollutants and allergens can become trapped, leading to health concerns.
At Putnam Mechanical in Charlotte, NC, we understand how important it is to keep the air in your home clean and healthy, especially during winter. In this blog, we’ll explore why indoor air quality often declines in winter and how you can improve it.
Why Winter Air Quality Takes a Hit
In the winter, homes are sealed tight to keep the cold out, and this can trap more than warmth. Sealing windows and doors also cuts down on airflow and ventilation. With everything tightly shut, pollutants like dust, pet dander, and chemicals from cleaning products have nowhere to go. These particles can build up in the air, making your living space uncomfortable, especially for people with allergies or breathing issues.
Many heating systems, like furnaces and space heaters, can also affect air quality in your home. These systems can dry out the air, making the atmosphere uncomfortable and breathing issues worse. Needing fresh air but having to stay inside for warmth, you may feel like your indoor air is stuffy and stale. And, if you have a fireplace or use gas heating, you could introduce carbon monoxide into the air, which can be dangerous if ventilation isn’t properly maintained.
Dust and Allergens
With less outdoor airflow to carry away particles, dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores tend to settle on furniture, carpets, and bedding. When you use your heating system, it can stir up these particles, making them airborne again and causing them to circulate throughout your home.
The dry indoor air in winter can also worsen allergy symptoms, as it can dry out your nasal passages and airways. The increased use of space heaters can further contribute to this dryness, making it harder for your respiratory system to cope with allergens.
Heating System and Humidifiers
Your heating system plays a major role in winter indoor air quality. While they’re necessary to keep your home warm, many heating systems — especially forced-air systems — can contribute to air quality issues. Forced-air heaters blow warm air through ducts and vents, which can stir up dust and allergens that have settled in your home. This causes particles to become airborne, circulating throughout the house and making breathing harder.
If you have a furnace, the air it blows into your home can be dry, affecting your comfort as well as the air quality. Dry air can cause cracked lips, dry skin, and irritated airways. It can also make breathing problems, like asthma, worse. To fix this, try using a humidifier to add moisture to the air, especially in the rooms where you spend the most time.
Consider Your Home’s Building Materials
Be mindful of the materials used in your furniture and home decor. Some materials, like certain paints, furniture, and carpets, can give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that make the air less healthy. Over time, these VOCs can build up and affect the air in your home. To mitigate this, choose low-VOC or VOC-free products when possible, and make sure your home is properly ventilated.
Bring on the Fresh Air
The lack of ventilation in winter can also significantly impact your indoor air quality, preventing fresh air from entering your space. Without enough ventilation, moisture from things like cooking, showering, and simply breathing can build up inside. This creates a perfect environment for mold to grow. Mold thrives in damp areas, and its spores can easily spread into the air you breathe, lowering its quality and leading to possible health issues.
To improve indoor air quality during winter, find a way to bring in fresh air. You don’t have to leave windows open all day, but try to air out your home occasionally by briefly opening windows to allow air to circulate. If you live in an area with extreme cold, consider using an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) or heat recovery ventilator (HRV).
Our HVAC Company
Improving your indoor air quality during winter doesn’t have to be complicated. Taking simple steps like using air purifiers, improving ventilation, and keeping your HVAC system in good shape can go a long way in creating a healthier home environment. Our team at Putnam Mechanical can help you do these things. We also offer heating, air conditioning, and electrical services.
If you’re looking to boost your indoor air quality in Charlotte this winter, contact Putnam Mechanical.
