Healthy Humidity | Healthy Air |

Ask Nurse Kate: Filtering Out Indoor Air Pollution at Home

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Whether you like it or not, your home could very well be filled with indoor air pollutants. So, what’s the best way to increase Indoor Air Quality at home? Clear the air, of course!

By using an air purifier (whole-home or room), you’ll be able to alleviate your home of these respiratory irritants.

To drive this home, we asked our resident health expert, Nurse Kate, to answer some key questions.

Question One: Aren’t our bodies naturally able to filter air thanks to mucus and nose cilia? What does a purifier do that our bodies don’t do already?

Our bodies are pretty good at filtering out large pathogens and pollutants, thanks to our body’s structure.  However, we often experience unpleasant symptoms such as cough, congestion, and shortness of breath associated with this natural filtration process. At times, our bodies can have difficulty keeping up with all of the air contaminates we are exposed to. This can worsen respiratory irritation, illness, and chronic diseases. The right air purification systems can help support our body’s natural defenses by filtering out more pathogens and pollutants than our bodies can do alone, without all the pesky side effects.

Question Two: What conditions can stagnant, unfiltered air exacerbate in people with allergies or respiratory conditions?

Stagnant, unfiltered air can increase any of the symptoms associated with allergies and respiratory illnesses simply because our bodies are exposed to more irritants than if the air space was properly filtered and ventilated. If you find that your indoor air seems stuffy, stale, or stagnant, consider improving your Indoor Air Quality through source control, as discussed by the EPA.

Question Three: Are children more susceptible to the effects of unfiltered air than adults?

Children’s bodies are still developing, so they are likely to be more sensitive and susceptible to the effects of air contamination, particularly if they are prone to asthma and allergy attacks. The American Academy of Pediatrics took a stance on how indoor air quality can affect children’s respiratory health, going as far as to say reducing exposure to indoor air pollutants can be “as effective as medications.”

Question Four: When is it most beneficial from a health perspective to use a room purifier versus a whole-home purifier? Why?

Indoor Air Quality in your home can have a major effect on the health of you and your family. In fact, the EPA has classified indoor air pollution as one of the top environmental risks to public health. Whole-home air purification systems are typically regarded as the optimal way to improve Indoor Air Quality. However, there are situations where a portable room air purification system is more beneficial versus a whole-home purifier. The following are just a few examples of when a room purifier may be more beneficial from health perspective:

  • Cost: Whole-home air purification systems are very effective, but can be costly for some. Utilizing a portable room air purification system is an affordable alternative to make your home a healthier place by improving air quality in the areas of your home you spend the most time in.
  • Applicability: Many older homes don’t have central heating and cooling, making whole-home purification systems not applicable. Room air purification systems are an easy way to reap the benefits of air purification in any home setting.
  • Localized filtration: If someone is sick in your household, it may be beneficial to utilize a room air purifier for quick acting, localized filtration that will limit the amount of germs that spread to other parts of your home.

Question Five: How can people protect themselves from poor Indoor Air Quality outside of their home?

 It can be hard to control the factors that affect outdoor air quality, but you can take steps limit your exposure to pollution by doing the following:

  • Check outdoor air quality forecasts and plan your daily activities accordingly. The EPA’s website has a great resource for local air quality conditions.
  • Opt to partake in outdoor activities when the air quality forecasts are looking good, and limit your time near heavy traffic or idling vehicles.
  • Opt for more environmentally friendly practices such as walking, biking, carpooling, and conserving energy when possible. Doing your part to lower air pollution can improve not only your health, but the health of others as well.
  • If you live or work in an area where heavy air pollution is unavoidable, don’t be afraid to utilize a medical or industrial grade face mask to protect your health when venturing outdoors.

Disclaimer:

The information contained on the Aprilaire website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment in any manner. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition. All information is for informational and educational purposes only and any use thereof is solely at your own risk.

 

Healthy Clean Air | Environment |

Top 5 Summer Allergens Invading The Home

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Top 5 Summer Allergens

Summer Allergen #1: Pollen

  • Six out of ten people are exposed to pollen trapped indoors

Summer Allergen #2: Dust Mites

  • An estimated 10% of the general population, and 90% of people with allergic asthma, are sensitive to dust mites

Summer Allergen #3: Pet Dander

  • An estimated 10% of the entire population may be allergic to pet dander

Summer Allergen #4: Mold

  • Roughly 15% of Americans are allergic to mold. Moisture control is the most important strategy for reducing indoor allergens from mold growth

Summer Allergen #5: Mildew

  • Scientists have identified over 1,000 types of mold and mildew inside houses in the United States

Prevent Irritants from Entering Your Home

Take measures to reduce allergens by making sure dust, dirt, and other pollutants are prevented from entering the house. Remove shoes before entering the household. Be sure to close and windows and doors during high pollen days. Do not allow smoking indoors.

Install a Whole-Home Air Purifier System

Whole-home air purifier systems remove up to 99% of airborne allergens and contaminants (even those one micron in size) and are 40 times more efficient than a standard furnace filter. This system removes allergens such as dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, pollen, viruses, fungi, mold, and other dangerous substances from the air throughout the entire home.

Maintain Humidity Levels at Home

Whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help control allergens with the perfect level of moisture—one in which dust mites, mold, and mildew are not likely to survive.

Environment | Healthy Home |

Spring Home Checklist: Your “Honey Do” list has arrived!

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Your “Honey Do” list has arrived! Below are some important and relatively easy home maintenance projects you can complete in a few weekends. Print this page out, hang it on the fridge, and check them off as you go.

Home Maintenance “Honey Do” List

  1. Inspect Your Foundation: From outside your house (and inside, if you have a basement), inspect your home’s foundation for cracks.
  2. Look in the Attic: Especially if it’s unfinished, the attic may be a place you rarely venture. However, like the basement, it says a lot about your house. Look for leaks and signs of rodents or bugs. Also, look for mold, which may appear as gray or black stains.
  3. Check the Gutters: No one wants to go out in a storm. But the next time a moderate rain blows through, throw on a slicker and take a quick walk around your house. Confirm that water is making its way to the downspouts and not running off the sides or over the top of the gutter.
  4. Service the Air Conditioner: A spring check of the cooling equipment should be performed each year. Maintained equipment runs more efficiently and last longer.
  5. Use a Pressure Washer: While spring cleaning is going on inside, there is plenty of home maintenance to do outside as well. A pressure washer is a great way to remove algae, mold, dirt, and other stains from a house with vinyl, aluminum, or other engineered siding.
  6. Repair Cracks and Potholes: In cold climates, ice and snow do a number on sidewalks and driveways. Fill in or patch any defects that could lead to injury for you, a loved one, or a passerby.
  7. Inspect Your Deck: Take a look under your deck and make sure there are no rotted boards or broken supports. This could be dangerous when you invite a big group over for a BBQ.
  8. Reset the Patio: Prevent stubbing your toe or tripping your mother-in-law by leveling out raised or sunken bricks. You will need paver sand, a trowel and a level.Home maintenance can also serve as marriage maintenance too.
  9. Sharpen your Lawn Tools: Grab a file and put a nice new edge on the blade of lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, and other gardening instruments.
  10. Perform General Indoor Cleaning: Deep cleaning carpets and dusting hard to reach places can remove allergens and other irritants. A whole-home air purifier also helps trap dust and allergens as they travel through the house.

Environment |

Summer’s Most Common Bugs

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When it comes to a love of humidity, humans and pests are on opposite ends of the spectrum. While we tend to despise air that is thick with heat and water vapor, most bugs actually thrive in it and need it to live.

Unfortunately, this means that the impending summer humidity in certain parts of the country is about to bring these summer pests out in a big way.

Summer’s Most Common Pests

Cockroaches

The German cockroach is the most common roach species infesting our homes in North America. They are attracted to warm and humid places, making your kitchen and the water heater in the basement their most frequented hideaways.

Silverfish

These small, wingless insects are nocturnal and need to keep their bodies moist at all times in order to survive. You are likely to find them beneath boxes or furniture in your basement, the shower, or hiding in your kitchen.

Centipedes

Carnivorous and nocturnal, with their 100 feet, these pests can move quickly and spend most of the day hiding in humid, secluded places. They are highly attracted to the moist, humid parts of the home because they need to rehydrate constantly in order to live.

Earwigs

Known to burrow into topsoil outside, these nocturnal bugs can also infiltrate dark and humid areas of your home. You are most likely to find them around floor drains, bathrooms, or under rugs or furniture.

Roly-Poly Bugs

Also known as pill bugs, sow bugs, potato bugs, or armadillo bugs, these bugs often infest damp basements.

Tips to Prevent/Eliminate Summer Pests:

Healthy Home |

Professionals Needed: Here Are The Home Projects You Should Never DIY

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So you bought your first house and can’t wait to rip up that crummy carpet. Go for it! But if you hit dirt, you might need to call in backup. As more millennials take the plunge into home ownership, it’s becoming more and more common to see DIY projects big and small. Things like carpet removal are doable. But no matter how many tips and tricks you’ve picked up from HGTV, Pinterest, or YouTube, there are some projects that simply aren’t worth the money, time, or risk to do yourself.

Setting Limits on DIY Home Projects

Skill Level for DIY Home Projects:

For some people, DIY is a way of life. For the rest of us, we need to be honest about our skills and level of experience. Sometimes a “simple” job can actually be a lot more complex than it appears. Hire a professional for these projects before you try it yourself and make a mistake that costs way more to fix.

  • Paving your driveway
  • Custom kitchen and bathroom jobs – backsplashes, flooring, countertops
  • Pest removal
  • Window Installation

Time Commitment for DIY Home Projects:

Some home improvement jobs can take weeks to complete when you try to do them yourself. For big projects, hiring a professional will mean a quicker and more efficient job done well so you can get back to enjoying your home without interruptions.

  • Large landscaping projects
  • Flooring
  • Demolition

Permission for DIY Home Projects:

Some home improvement projects require permits due to building codes. Save yourself the headache, and possible code violation, by hiring a professional who’s familiar with the process when it comes to these types of jobs.

  • Additions and remodels
  • Deck or patio addition
  • Major electrical/plumbing work
  • Pool installation and repairs

Safety Risk for DIY Home Projects:

If there’s any question of your ability to do something without injury or structural damage to your home, it’s most definitely a job for a professional.

  • Mold, asbestos, lead removal
  • Tree removal
  • Roof and foundation repairs
  • HVAC system installation and repair

When you’ve decided you need a pro, try to keep the process simple to save you time and headaches. Start by reaching out to a few trusted contractors in your area to get estimates on the work, (recommendations from friends are a great place to start) and then consider price and professionalism before making your decision.

When it comes to HVAC work, we make it easy to find a pro. Along with plumbing and electrical work, HVAC is an area where it’s crucial to get the job done right the first time.

Sources:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/millennials-take-on-diy-projects-with-more-confidence-and-budgeting-discipline-than-previous-generations-300813538.html

https://www.familyhandyman.com/smart-homeowner/10-home-projects-you-should-always-hire-a-pro-for/

https://www.ahs.com/home-matters/quick-tips/8-household-projects-to-leave-to-professionals/

https://www.rd.com/home/improvement/diy-home-improvement-projects/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/projects-you-should-not-diy_n_3923456

https://www.hallerent.com/blog/when-to-call-professional-for-home-improvement-repairs/

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AA Homepage Articles | Healthy Air |

Is It COVID-19 Or Fall Allergies? Know The Symptoms

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Changing Season Brings Fall Allergies

While the cooler temperatures of fall are welcomed by many, the changing of the seasons also brings about fall allergies’ symptoms for millions of people.

Those symptoms can include runny nose, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, cough, and possibly wheezing and shortness of breath.

Sound familiar?

Many of those are the same symptoms that we’ve heard about for most of 2020 as signs of COVID-19. So how do you know whether your symptoms are common fall allergies or if you should take them more seriously?

How can you tell the difference?

While there are some similarities in symptoms, fall allergies commonly come with itchy, watery eyes, and lots of sneezing.

If your symptoms turn into fever, cough, chills, body aches, and loss of taste or smell, you should plan to get tested for COVID-19. Getting tested is a way to take control of your health, and to prevent spreading the illness to your loved ones and those around you.

Are allergy sufferers at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or suffering from more severe symptoms if they do contract it?

People with certain medical conditions are considered high risk for experiencing the worst of COVID-19. However, there isn’t enough evidence at this time to know whether allergy sufferers fall into the high-risk category.

Dr. Juanita Mora is a spokesperson for the American Lung Association and an allergist/immunologist at the Chicago Allergy Center. She assures patients that allergy medications themselves in no way suppress your immune system or put you at a greater risk of complications. So if you have fall allergies, keep using your medications and nasal sprays as prescribed.

Masks and Allergy Sufferers

The CDC recommends everyone over the age of two, including allergy sufferers, wear a mask to slow the spread of COVID-19. The only exceptions are for individuals with breathing problems, or those who are unconscious or incapacitated and would need assistance removing a mask.

Masks can also offer mild protection against seasonal fall allergies by keeping larger particles from being inhaled. Wear a mask when you’re outdoors if you’re engaging in an activity that stirs up pollen such as raking or mowing the lawn.

Cloth masks should be washed after each use, especially when worn outside on a day with high pollen or mold count.

Strategies For Managing Fall Allergies 

  • Limit your time outside when the pollen count is high, typically late morning or midday.
  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed in an environment with clean air.
  • Clean your heating vents and change the filters before turning on your heat for the first time. This will get rid of any mold or allergens that may have gotten trapped inside over the summer.
  • To remove pollen, mold, and other particles from the air, install a HEPA filter in your heating system.
  • Keep your indoor air humidity as close to 50% as possible with a humidity control system.