How Your Home Can Keep You Healthy This Winter

Stay healthy this winter, with some help from your home!

Have you or a loved one been battling an illness lately? Our immune systems are battling to keep us healthy in this time of increased sickness, and when you add in the cold and dry air of winter, it's a true recipe for disaster. As we enjoy the holiday season and hunker down in our homes more, wouldn't it be nice to know that you're in an environment actively working to keep you healthier instead of harboring more potential for getting sick? We wanted to share how your home can help keep you healthy this winter, and it's easier than you think.

Eliminate Sources of Dust and Allergens

If this seems like an obvious method of having a healthy home, we applaud you for already being conscious of the effect dust can have on your health! However, many of us might be vigilant dusters but there are many places where we are missing dust, allergens, and bacteria, because it's in places we seldom think about.

Some of the most common places dust and allergens can accumulate in are carpeting, upholstered furniture, and window coverings. Vacuuming can help keep the dust and allergens down in carpeting, but it won't eliminate all of it. Scheduling regular deep-cleaning treatments specifically for floors, furniture, and drapes will go a long way in keeping dust and allergen counts low. Make it hard for new dust and allergens to enter your home by using mats on both sides of entry doors to your home. Removing your shoes before entering your home will also help keep allergens and bacteria from being tracked throughout your home.

Another place that dust, allergens, and bacteria will thrive is in your air ducts. Your HVAC system's air filter will take care of the majority of air contaminants, but inevitably, trace amounts of allergens and bacteria will find their way into your duct work and thrive in its dark and sometimes damp conditions. Again, scheduling regular air duct cleaning will help keep everything clean and clear.

Keep The Air Moving In Your Home

When it's cold outside, you're probably not running ceiling fans or opening windows…and this is a big mistake when it comes to staying healthy in your home. Your home's indoor air quality can have 2-5 times more air pollution in it than outdoor air, and it's because indoor air is not usually moving as regularly as outdoor air.

On days when temperatures are more mild, open a window or two for an hour or so to let outdoor air in and release some of your indoor air back outside. When you're cooking, be sure to have your range vent running, especially if you're cooking something that is producing a lot of smoke or strong odors. Use your bathroom fans whenever you're taking a shower and let them continue to run for 20-30 minutes after you're done showering. But if you have too dry air maybe you should think about Home's Humidity decreasing.

Use an Air Purifier

Again, this might seem like a no-brainer, but air purifiers are one of the easiest ways your home can help keep you healthy. Yet many homeowners either get too overwhelmed by the amount of options out there, or think an air purifier is way out of their price range. We would like to help simplify this for you! Contact us today and a Shumate Comfort Advisor can discuss your home's layout with you and identify which products would best suit your needs and budget. It's an easy step toward long-term improved air quality in your home, which means less chance of sickness!

Address Any Aging or Damaged Areas of Your Home

Has your shower tile been missing grout or pieces of tile for longer than you can remember? Are your windows sagging a little, or do you feel a draft of cold air every time you walk by your front door? Little fixes that sit on your honey-do list for months at a time might actually be contributing big time to a negative effect on your home's indoor air quality and your health. Sagging, damaged, or off-balance doors and windows could not only be letting cold air in, but are also allowing excess moisture and outdoor pollutants into your home. Addressing these entry points for bad air will not only keep your healthier but will also improve your home's energy usage which means saving on your monthly utility bill.

Damaged or missing grout in a bathroom leaves your shower or floor susceptible to mold and mildew growth, which is incredibly harmful to your health. When properly grouted and sealed, your bathroom will be able to operate efficiently and will also require less frequent deep cleanings. Reducing places for moisture to hide out will also help keep potential pest infestations like silverfish or roaches at bay.

If you realize that your home has accumulated quite a few maintenance projects, give yourself the gift of a Shumate handyman! We offer handyman services to metro Atlanta homeowners and can assist with a wide variety of projects. Give us a call today to set up an appointment for a quote!

Stay healthy this winter and enjoy your home more! Contact Shumate today to learn how one of our certified technicians, comfort specialists, or handymen can help keep your home in top shape. Call us today at 678-SHUMATE or schedule online.