3 Ways to Keep Your Home and Family Healthy This Winter

With winter on the horizon, your family’s health becomes a major concern. Cold and flu season swings into full force, and you have to do all you can to keep your household healthy. You can combat these problems at the source. By following a few tips, you can easily transform your Arlington Heights, Illinois, home into a healthy refuge from the cold. Here’s how to do it.

Consider a Humidifier

According to the EPA, the ideal indoor relative humidity is somewhere between 30 percent and 50 percent, yet it isn’t always easy to maintain this level. Winter air is dry, and when coupled with the air from the heater, your humidity can easily fall in the 10 percent to 20 percent range if left untreated. To counteract the dryness, you have two choices. The first is to purchase portable humidifiers to place in rooms you frequent the most. However, a better option is to consider a whole-home humidifier, which puts your home in the optimal humidity range year-round.

Change Your Filters

It’s safe to assume that your heater has been dormant for several months before winter. Also, you probably haven’t changed the filter since you last used the furnace. These filters are vital to your family’s health because they help trap pollutants including dust and pet dander. You will also need to change the filter in your humidifier so that it can continue to effectively eliminate viruses, bacteria and other contaminants and prevent them from entering the air ducts. Clean filters keep your furnace running smoothly, cutting energy usage and bills in the process.

Clean More Frequently

Another proactive approach is to clean all the surfaces and fabrics in your home at least once a week. Surfaces such as bathroom sinks, kitchen counters, and door knobs all act as small Petri dishes for germs and viruses. Fabrics such as bedding and carpet are notorious for trapping allergens and pet dander, making a weekly wash essential for your health.

When it comes to the health of your family, don’t take chances. If you’re concerned about your indoor air quality, contact the pros at Tempco Heating and Air. Give us a call today at (847) 670-7000 for effective IAQ equipment and services.