One thing is for sure. If your ducts and vents are not cleaned of the dust and debris that can collect there, it can make you sick. The area inside the vents can become a culture for germs that then get circulated throughout your home.
Being sure to have your ducts inspected and cleaned when needed will help keep you and your family healthy during heating season. However, there are other things you can do to avoid illness.
Bring in Fresh Air – When you turn on your furnace for the first time each season, open your windows first. Keep them open during the day, allowing the fresh air in and encouraging polluted air to escape. Close the windows at night and use an air purifier to cleanse the air. Be sure to check your filters every month and change them when needed to be sure dirty air isn’t being recirculated.
Maintain Humidity – Your heating system removes moisture from the air, so it is important to use a humidifier – either portable or whole house – to keep your home’s humidity at optimal levels. If you find that you have a stuffy sinuses or dry nose, you want to be sure to hydrate with plenty of drinking water. Use a nasal saline or gel to soothe a dry nose and help prevent sinusitis. Your eyes can dry out too. Relieve the dryness with eye drops or an eye gel.
Increased Blood Pressure – To maintain good health, it is important to understand the physical changes temperatures may cause. According to the Mayo Clinic, blood pressure increases in the winter and decreases in the summer in most people. The diameter of blood vessels constricts in cold temperatures, causing the heart to work harder to push blood through the veins and arteries. Keeping your home temperature at a constant neutral temperature in every occupied room helps to keep the blood pressure constant too. This is especially vital to persons with hypertension, especially the elderly.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Be sure you have a carbon monoxide detector near the boiler or furnace, as well as on each level of the home, outside each bedroom.
If you have questions about the “health” of your heating system, call Nashoba Air & BoilerWorks at (978) 540-8676 . We’ll be happy to answer all your questions.