Signs Your Winter Air Isn’t Healthy Enough

The quality of your indoor air takes a hit during the winter for a few different reasons. You’re opening your windows less, if not leaving them closed 100% of the time during New York’s frigid winters, and most of the humidity is zapped out of your air by your heating system.

But another concern you need to worry about is your health when exposed to poor quality indoor air for an extended period of time. Here are some indicators of unhealthy indoor air during the winter and how you can improve your home’s air quality with ductless heating. 

Your Nose and Lips Are Often Dry 

Your mucous membranes will naturally begin to dry out in the winter, especially if you spend a significant amount of time outside. The tip of your nose may become red and chapped, and your lips may become dry and cracked or flaky. Your skin may also become drier, particularly if you tend to take hot showers when it’s cold outside. If the humidity in your house is extremely low, this may even happen indoors. 

If you experience chapped lips or your nose or skin feel drier than normal, this could be an indication that your indoor air quality needs improvement. You can get temporary relief by drinking more water, using lotion or skin cells, or putting portable humidifiers your home. However, if this happens frequently, you may want to consider more permanent changes to improve the air quality in your home.

You Have Asthma Attacks  

If you suffer with asthma, you know how debilitating and frightening asthma attacks can be. You know that the quality of your home’s air is essential to reducing the number and duration of asthma attacks that you have. If you begin to experience more asthma symptoms than usual, or you begin to get frequent asthma attacks at home, this may be a sign that your indoor air is of poor quality.

You Still Have “Seasonal” Allergies  

If you are still experiencing the symptoms of seasonal allergies that are usually associated with the exposure to pollen in the winter, these symptoms may not be due to seasonal allergies at all. They may be indicative of a problem with the quality of your indoor air. You may simply be sensitive to drier, warmer indoor air, or you maybe allergic to something that is off-gassing VOCs in your home. 

While opening your windows during the spring is usually a bad idea because it lets more pollen into your home, doing so in the winter may help relieve allergy symptoms caused by the buildup of toxins in your air.

You Use Your Fireplace 

Ash and soot are ever-present in your home’s air if you heat your home with a fireplace or wood burning stove in the winter. Not only can this cause immediate upper respiratory symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes, it can also cause long-term damage to your respiratory system. 

Avoid using any heating methods that require the combustion of organic material to generate heat if at all possible. If there are no other heating options in your home, consider portable electric heaters instead as a temporary fix until you can update your home heating system.

You Aren’t Opening Your Windows  

If you’re not getting a lot of fresh air in your home, carbon dioxide may naturally build up. This isn’t as much of a problem in the spring and fall, but it can be an issue in the summer and winter when your windows and doors are closed for air conditioning.

You Scent Your Home  

Candles, air fresheners, and burning incense emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can be harmful to your health over time with long-term or chronic exposure. If you scent your home to cover up unpleasant odors or just for enjoyment, you could be putting yourself and your family at risk. This can be compounded in the winter when you are not opening your windows and letting in fresh air on a regular basis.

Scent your home with natural essential oils in a diffuser if you want to get rid of cooking, pet, and bathroom odors instead of burning candles or incense.

Call Jones Services For Home Heating Help In Goshen, NY  

If you suffer from the effects of poor air quality in your home during the winter, we can help. At Jones Services, we can test the air in your home for the presence of toxins or dangerous gases and can help you obtain safe, healthy heating that doesn’t worsen your health. Contact our office today to learn more about ductless heat pumps and how they can drastically improve your air quality both during the winter and summer. Call now at 845-295-3887.