Another email. Yes, another email about the diseases going around your kids’ school. Croup. Strep. Flu. Respiratory syncytial virus. Just reading the words is enough to send moms and dads into a panic. The CDC announced that RSV results in an average of 57,527 hospitalizations among kids five and under each year in the US. So how do you help make sure your family is safe?
Understand Indoor Air Pollution
The CDC warns that poor indoor air quality can lead to 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 illnesses are either caused or compounded by polluted indoor air. The Texas DSHS noted 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 key causes of poor indoor air quality:
- Pollutants (cleaning solutions, inadequately maintained or dirty heating and cooling or humidification devises, tobacco, etc)
So all this info – what is it for? What do you do? How can you make sure you and your kiddos aren’t breathing contaminated, disease-inducing air?
Luckily, we have options.
Get Proactive On Air Filtration
Have you ever been irate and had to bite your tongue to keep from saying something regrettable ? That’s a filter. Have you ever used water from the refrigerator dispenser and had your thirst immediately satisfied? That’s the filter. Filters keep toxicity in check and avoid miserable consequences. You filter your words for amity, you filter your water for health, why not filter your air?
Several hospitals use a high-efficiency air filtration system called HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air), which you can invest in for your home if you have a family member with a low immune system or someone who’s highly susceptible to sickness. Even if there aren’t any respiratory issues in your family, you’ll be very surprised by the almost instant change from a standard air filter to a High Efficiency one.
If you’re not interested in such a high-grade air filtration system, there are many other options to help clean your family’s air. From regular air cleaners to electronic air cleaners, see below to help determine which air filtration and purification system is right for your home.
Help Control Germs With Germicidal Systems
Germi-huh? Germicidal UV Light Systems help reduce airborne biological contaminants – germs – by safely producing high intensity UV light from within your home’s air flow system. These bacteria-destroying contraptions can kill germs and even assist in stopping further germs from accruing in your home. According to one study, roughly one out of five people with allergies suffer from exposure to fungi and bacteria in their duct systems. A UV light unit will help clean and disinfect 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 choose one rather than the other? For home comfort, humidity levels should be between 35% and 50%. Too much humidity can cause microbes, condensation and even wood damage. Too little humidity can lead to itchy skin, sinus sickness, splitting wood and sore throats. Depending on where you live, you most likely have too much or too little humidity.
Humidifiers add the right amount of moisture to your air, helping with sickess, itchy skin, and contorted 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 practically spring and that means spring cleaning! Don’t forget your ducts during this time of renewal. Since the majority of our in-home air enters through our duct system, it’s vital to keep it from getting dirty with bacteria, microbes, and dust. When you have your ducts cleaned, ask the company to check for duct leaks, as well. Leaks in the duct system can cause more contaminants to enter your air and circulate throughout your home. Guaranteeing they are clean and maintained will help keep your air clean and your children safe.
Increase Ventilation
With the shift to become more energy-efficient, homes are often sealed tighter and insulated more thoroughly 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 lower amount of airflow, less circulation, and reduced movement. This can cause the air to become static and contaminants (indoor air pollution) are staying 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 each hour, decreasing the concentration of airborne contaminants.
Get A Home Health Report
During your next A/C system tune-up, request a complete indoor air quality report from your air conditioning contractor. An expert A/C system company like Service Experts will provide a copy of your report with professional suggestions to address these and other air worries in your home.
So, yes, it’s troubling to know that your little ones are being exposed to scary respiratory diseases but next time you get that note from your childs’ school, wash their hands, cover their cough, and invest in a system to help your indoor air quality be as strong as possible.