While it’s important to be mindful of your indoor air quality all year, it’s even more critical in the winter months when we spend the majority of our time inside. This is also cold and flu season in Canada, and having better air quality can help you and your family fight these viruses and reduce your chances of getting sick. The link between flu season and indoor air quality 

Indoor Air Quality Tips to Stay Healthy During Cold & Flu Season

You can disinfect and wipe surfaces (and you should!) all day, but indoor air quality also plays a part in fostering illness. This is because cold and flu viruses are airborne, meaning they can spread through the air and infect people. In fact, they can survive in the air inside your home for days. That’s why you need to be aware of your indoor air quality.

Ensure Adequate Ventilation

We know that a lack of ventilation increases the risk of respiratory illnesses. We also know that properly ventilating indoor spaces helps circulate fresh air that’s low in or free from particles that carry viruses and bacteria. Ventilation introduces fresh, clean air that dilutes the viral load within the indoor air. This, ultimately, lowers your chances of being exposed to a virus. 

You can open your windows for natural ventilation, but you likely don’t want to in the Canadian winter. That’s where a mechanical ventilation system, like an HRV or ERV, comes in. These systems will vent stale air and enhance the overall air quality of your home. 

Purify Indoor Air

Air purification systems are also useful as a supplementary means to reducing transmission rates of airborne illnesses, like the cold, flu, and even COVID-19. This is because air purification systems remove pollutants and contaminants from your home. There are in-duct and stand-alone air purification systems, both of which can help capture and remove the particles that contain viruses.

If you want to learn more about air purification systems, the Comfort Specialists at Fahrhall can help! We also carry a variety of systems that can improve your home’s indoor air quality.

Get Some Plants 

Another way to naturally purify and boost your indoor air quality is by getting some plants. Just like trees and plants serve to cleanse the outdoor air, they can do the same inside your home. Some plants are more useful in this area than others, including Spider plants, Ivy, and Bamboo. Plus, they do double-duty as home decor.

Humidify the Space

While heating our homes in the winter is necessary, it really dries out the air. This causes negative effects, like dry skin, cracked lips, and increased transmissibility of the flu virus. Humidifying your home, then, is just as much a necessity as heating it in the winter. It could help mitigate viral transmission.

To achieve this, you can invest in a portable humidifier or whole-home humidifier. If you don’t know the right option for your home, contact Fahrhall and we can help you find the perfect system to suit your needs. 

Use HEPA Filters

Finally, a high-efficiency filter can do a lot to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Portable HEPA filters work by capturing the toxins, microorganisms, and debris from the air that passes through into your home. You can further enhance the effectiveness of a HEPA filter by changing it regularly. 

The Bottom Line: Air Quality Affects Your Family’s Health

It’s clear that poor air quality can significantly impact the health of you and your family, especially during cold and flu season. The good news is that there’s lots you can do about it, from proper ventilation to humidity control and air purification. 

If you’re concerned about your home’s indoor air quality, give Fahrhall a call.

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Fahrhall has been proudly serving the Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent regions since 1967. We are committed to providing our customers and our community with reliable service and quality equipment.