How To Avoid “Sick House Syndrome” This Winter

You might think you have a better chance of not getting sick by staying indoors, but that may not be the case! In many homes across the nation (especially older homes), there is the phenomenon of “Sick House Syndrome” also known as “Building Sickness”. This isn’t an illness that spreads between people or can be contracted from an object. Sick House Syndrome is a reaction of your body being in a space with poor ventilation and contact with outside or inside pathogens in the air.

Some of the symptoms include:

• Headache
• Throat, eye, and nose irritation
• Dry cough
• Dry or itchy skin
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Nausea

If you and your family seem to be experiencing constant allergies or flu-like symptoms, there is a chance you may not be sick, but your home is! Below are a few ways Aire Serv can help ensure your home is a healthy place for you and your family during this winter season.

Installing An Adequate Ventilation System In Your Home

Arguably, the most important factor in fighting off Sick Home Syndrome is to make sure your home is properly ventilated.

(Source: Green Building Advisor)

Making sure your home is insulated and sealed up from the outside temperatures is important to all of us, mostly to try and save as much money as possible on electric bills! However, this focus has left people in a dangerous position of sealing themselves in an inadequately ventilated home with risk of high carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. A proper ventilation system will allow for fresh air to enter your home through a fresh-air intake duct and will keep your family safe from high CO2 levels.

Installing A UV “Air Scrubber” To Your Ductwork

Once you have fresh air coming into your home, it's understandable you may not want all the allergens or bacteria from outside coming into your home. Don’t worry, there is a solution! Having an In-Duct UV Air Scrubber (or UV Air Purifier) installed in your HVAC system can significantly reduce the allergens and bacteria entering your home or contributing to illness.

The Aire Serv in-duct air purifiers use germicidal UV light rays along with molecules of oxygen and hydrogen (the air's natural purifying system) to rid your air of all the harsh and dangerous impurities going through your air ducts!

Impurities these air purifiers cleanse include:

• Pollution
• Dust
• Smoke
• Pollen
• Mold
• Bacteria
• Pet hair
• Allergens
• Odors

See an air purifier in action here and learn more about the device from Aire Serv of Kalamazoo’s owner-operator Ben Farrer.

Be Healthy This Winter By Installing A Humidifier In Your Home

Now that you have fresh air coming into your home and it is free of impurities, the next step is to bring moisture back into the dry winter air. By adding a whole-house humidifier to your HVAC system, you can control the humidity levels inside your home. Whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifier systems are your front-line defenders against harmful mold and mildew growing in your home. They are also a great way to keep you breathing easy without a dry or itchy nose and throat. They can even help with dry and itchy skin! You will be comfortable through all of Michigan’s seasonal changes, no matter how dry or damp the outside tends to be.

If you are experiencing constant symptoms of allergies or flu-like symptoms, contact us today for an air quality evaluation, and we will get started making your sick home feel better right away!

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