Another message. Yes, another message about the diseases going around your kids’ school. Bronchitis. Strep. Influenza. RSV - Respiratory syncytial virus. Just seeing the words is enough to send mamas and daddies into a panic. The CDC announced that RSV results in an average of 57,527 hospitalizations among little ones younger than five each year in the USA. So what can you do to help ensure your family is safe?
Understand Indoor Air Pollution
The CDC warns that poor indoor air quality can result in lung diseases such as asthma and also cause headaches, nasal mucus, and tiredness. In fact, the American College of Allergists report that 50% of all diseases are either caused or intensified by polluted indoor air. The Texas DSHS said that air within homes and buildings can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and in extreme cases, 1000 times more polluted. There are two main causes of poor indoor air quality:
- Pollutant substances (cleaning agents, improperly maintained or unclean heating and cooling or humidification units, cigarette smoke, etc)
So all this data – what is it for? What do you do? How can you make sure you and your little ones aren’t breathing adulterated, sickness-inducing air?
Luckily, you have options.
Get Proactive On Air Filtration
Have you ever been mad and had to bite your tongue to keep from saying something awful ? That’s a filter. Have you ever used water from the door of a refrigerator and had your thirst immediately satisfied? That’s because of a filter. Filters keep toxicity in check and avoid miserable outcomes. You filter your words for amity, you filter your water for health, why shouldn’t you filter your air?
Many hospitals use a high-efficiency air filtration system called HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air), which you can purchase for your home if you have someone living there with a low immune system or someone who’s extremely susceptible to disease. Even if there aren’t any respiratory issues in your house, you’ll be instantly surprised by the almost instant change from a basic air filter to a High Efficiency unit.
If you’re not interested in such a high-grade air filtration system, there are many other options to help clean your home’s air. From regular air cleaners to electronic air cleaners, review the chart below to help determine which air filtration and purification system is right for your home.
Help Control Germs With Germicidal Systems
Germi-who? Germicidal UV Light Systems help remove airborne biological contaminants – germs – by safely giving off high intensity UV light from within your home’s air flow system. These bacteria-destroying machines can kill germs and even help stop further germs from building up in your home. According to one study, almost 20% of people with allergies suffer from exposure to fungi and bacteria in their air systems. A UV light system will help sanitize and decontaminate indoor air to help you reach the highest air quality possible.
Optimize Moisture with Humidifiers or Dehumidifiers
Um, don’t those two machines do exactly the opposite of each other? Why would I install one rather than the other? For home comfort, suggested humidity levels are between 35% and 50%. Too much humidity can cause microbes, condensation and even wood damage. Too little humidity can lead to itchy skin, sinus illness, splitting wood and sore throats. Depending on where you live, you probably have too much or too little humidity.
Humidifiers add the ideal amount of moisture to your air, helping with sickess, itchy skin, and warped wood furniture and instruments. Dehumidifiers pull out moisture from your home, helping to destroy bacteria growth, and improving indoor comfort immensely.
Don’t Dismiss Duct Cleaning
It’s almost spring and that means spring cleaning! Don’t exclude your ducts during this revitalizing time. Since a great amount of our in-home air arrives through our duct system, it’s crucial to keep it from getting dirty with bacteria, mildew, and dust. When you have your ducts cleaned, ask the technician to check for duct leaks, also. Leaks in the duct system can cause more contaminants to enter your air and flow throughout your home. Making sure they are clean and maintained will help keep your air clean and your children healthy.
Increase Ventilation
With the move to become more energy-efficient, homes are often sealed tighter and insulated better to make sure air isn’t escaping while our heating and cooling systems work to keep our home comfortable. Energy-efficiency is a great thing, but it also means a decreased amount of airflow, less circulation, and reduced movement. This can cause the air to become stagnant and contaminants (indoor air pollution) are remaining inside your home’s air – the air your family breathes. An air ventilation system observes indoor and outdoor temperatures and humidity and continually brings the required air replacement. This can add 5% to 10% more fresh air every hour, decreasing the concentration of airborne contaminants.
Get A Home Health Report
During your next Precision tune-up, inquire about a complete indoor air quality report from your A/C contractor. An expert heating and cooling company like Service Experts will provide a copy of your report with professional recommendations to address these and other air issues in your home.
So, yes, it’s troubling to know that your children are being exposed to scary respiratory diseases but next time you get that note from your little ones’ school, wash their hands, cover their cough, and invest in a system to keep your indoor air quality as strong as possible.