Poor air quality kills more people than car wrecks. In winter, cars idle more, their exhaust filtration systems are less effective, and they have high emissions when they start. The increased vehicular emissions coupled with the dry and cold air will lead to low air quality indoors and outdoors. Deterioration of air quality is always a threat to your health. Poor air quality during the cold months increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Institutions, such as the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, have shown the effects of poor air quality on health and mortality, especially in the colder months.
Below are reasons why you experience poor air quality in winter.
Winter Temperature Inversion
During the summer months, air near the ground is warmer. In winter, the warm air traps cold air near the ground. Surface inversion occurs when the air near the ground cools faster as the earth’s surface cools faster due to the cold weather. Again, because there is no wind, the cold air nearest the ground does not move. Some areas might experience subsidence inversion where a layer of air moves down toward the earth’s surface. This phenomenon is common in high-pressure areas.
In other areas, frontal inversion is common where cold air and warm air meet, and the warm air rises, leaving cold air near the ground. Due to temperature inversion, cold air, which is dense, remains on the surface. The air, being dense, moves slower and absorbs less energy. The layer of cold acts as a blanket that traps pollutants, so they cannot disperse as they would during warm weather. Pollutants have no way to escape, and this makes the air more toxic.
Increased Energy Use in Winter
The demand for heat is high during cold weather. More people leave their cars idling to warm up. You will also leave your home heater running for longer. Cars and most homes use fossil fuels for energy and this leads to the release of harmful pollutants. If you use wood-burning stoves to warm your home, you will have more pollutants. Burning wood increases carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter indoors and outdoors. Due to temperature inversion, the pollutants released due to increased energy consumption have no way to escape, leading to poor air quality.
Spending More Time Indoors
You will likely sleep longer and spend more time indoors during winter. The air indoors is of poorer quality than the air outdoors, thanks to lower circulation. When you spend more time indoors, you will use more energy to warm the home, and you will also be more prone to the effects of poor indoor air quality.
The layers of insulation and the seals on your openings can block out fresh air from outside the home and keep in the stale air and humid breath. If you spend more time indoors in winter, ensure the home has sufficient ventilation and a way to purify the air. Talk to an indoor air quality expert to help you keep the air fresh and healthy for all family members.
Cold and Dry Air Holds More Pollutants
The temperature in the surroundings determines the movement of air. Cold air moves less because its molecules are closer together and denser. Cold air holds less water thereby reducing the chances of rainfall. Rainfall can wash away pollutants to keep the air cleaner. Rainfall can also stop temperature inversion, causing warm air to rise.
Although most areas experience dry winters, some areas might experience a big storm. In areas that experience a rainy season, the rainwater clears the air, leaving it fresh. Climate change has also affected the weather conditions in winter. In some areas, winters are wetter than they were some years back. Talk to your indoor air quality expert to help you determine the level of pollutants in your home and how to get rid of them.
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in the Winter Months
Dust mites, mold spores, bacteria and viruses, particulate matter, and CO can accumulate in your home during the winter months. These pollutants are not able to escape from the home, and this increases the risk of diseases, such as respiratory disease. To keep the family safe, a homeowner needs to balance between ventilation and insulation. To do that, you need the help of an indoor air quality expert.
Here are simple ways to be safe in the winter from polluted air:
Schedule an Indoor Air Filtration System Inspection
Our technicians at Mackey Services can change the air filters and inspect the whole air filtration system. During the inspection, they will either clean or replace the air filter and inspect the system for moisture-related concerns. They will also fix any issues that may be present to ensure the system runs smoothly.
Use Air Purifiers
If you do not have an air purification system, you can use standalone air purifiers. These purifiers will remove pollutants in a room whenever you are home. Air purifiers are available in different sizes, and you can pick the right one based on the size of your house. Consider the kind of pollutants that an air purifier traps. Some purifiers will trap particulate matter but fail to trap CO and chemicals. To be safe, buy an air purifier that uses activated carbon filters. You can also install air quality sensors in rooms that are more likely to produce more contaminants. For instance, you can install a CO detector in the kitchen to determine when the levels of CO are high.
Increase Ventilation
The air outdoors is fresh as there is more circulation. In the winter months, you need to bring in fresh air from outdoors by occasionally opening doors and windows. The heating systems do not bring in fresh air. As such, whenever the weather allows, open the windows and doors for a few minutes. You also need to ensure the furnace and heating systems operate optimally to minimize the production of pollutants. Schedule a routine maintenance session with our heating experts. They can check the system for faults and make repairs as necessary.
Understand the Source of Pollutants
The first step in reducing the amount of pollutants in a home during winter is to understand their sources. At home, combustion sources — kerosene, gas, oil, wood, and coal — account for a large percentage of the air pollutants produced. Appliances, such as wood-burning stoves, hot water heaters, dryers, and fireplaces, are used more during the cold months. To reduce emissions, keep the appliances well-maintained and switch them off when not in use.
Other pollutants include building materials and furnishings, household cleansers, beauty products, and home improvement products, such as paint, pets, and pollen from outdoor sources. In your home, you will most likely come across pollutants, such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, formaldehyde, mold and mildew, volatile organic compounds, asbestos, CO, and nitrogen dioxide. Understanding the sources of these pollutants can help you reduce their presence in the air.
Talk to the Experts at Mackey Services
Mackey Services is a leading heating and air conditioning company in Dickinson, Texas. We have skilled and experienced technicians and the necessary tools to help you stay comfortable and safe in the winter months. We offer heating, cooling, electrical, indoor quality, and even landscaping services.
Contact our team at Mackey Services today, and keep your family safe from pollutants in winter.
