We’re smack dab in the middle of the holiday season and Iowa – along with rest of the world – is not yet done with the Fight against COVID-19.
Let’s talk about your home’s ventilation and filtration challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to fight the spread, more and more of us are working from home. Now that it’s getting colder, the amount of time we spend in our homes keeps growing. Now, more than ever, is a great time to evaluate your home’s air.
Did you know that your home can be up to 5 times more polluted than the outdoor air? Your house relies on filtration and circulation to reduce airborne allergens, particles, dust…and viruses! Regulating humidity levels is an another way to reduce viruses and also fix common winter air issues. If your current HVAC system is outdated or inefficient, chances are the air you breathe indoors is not as clean as the air you breathe outside.
Clearly, this is a problem that goes beyond our current pandemic. In this article, we’re offering solutions to fight the spread AND to keep your home healthy after the pandemic-battle is won. Here are three things you can do to protect you and your family this winter – and through every other winter virus to come.
Install a Whole Home Healthy HVAC System
Stagnant air in your home needs to be recycled by a fresh air ventilation system. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends the most effective way to prevent proliferation of airborne viruses is by installing a whole home healthy HVAC system that contains:
- Humidity Control: Helps to maintain proper levels between 30-60% which will help to reduce the amount of bacteria and viruses in the air
- Air Filtration and Cleaners: Captures up to 96% of airborne particles that pass through the system
- Fresh Air Ventilation: Brings in outside air to remove contaminants that are present in the indoor air
Fight the Spread with an Air Purifier
Bi-polar ionization helps to reduce airborne and surface contaminants and pollutants. The iWave Air Purifier uses bi-polar ionization to create equal amounts of positive and negative ions. When these ions are injected into the air stream, they break down passing pollutants and gases and turn them into harmless compounds like oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor. The iWave is a device that can be installed in any HVAC system. Some advantages of the iWave include:
- Actively purifies the whole house
- Kills viruses, mold and bacteria
- Maintenance-free and self-cleaning design
- No replacement parts
Invest in a Humidifier to Fight the Spread of Coronavirus
Maintaining relative humidity in the 30-60% range is a healthy tool to fight COVID-19 this winter. As we start heating our home’s, our indoor environments become very dry, well below the healthy range. You can do this with a small electric humidifier in each room. OR, for complete control and convenience, a whole-home humidifier is the way to go.
Humidity helps to fight COVID-19 due to the added moisture in the air that helps to decay viruses faster than dry conditions. So if humidity is good, why is it that we don’t want to go above 60 percent? Mold growth. Between 30-60% is the perfect level where we get the benefits of humidity and stay away from the drawbacks of too much. Not only does a humidifier help fight viruses, but there are also other benefits including:
- Clears sinuses and improves breathing
- Helps alleviate sore throats
- Eliminates dry and red, itchy eyes
- Eliminates dry skin and cracked lips
We’re about to spend a lot more time inside as it keeps getting colder, so making sure your indoor air is healthy is extremely important. We recommend these three steps to help fight COVID-19 this winter.