Let’s talk about how dry the air is during winter, especially in Colorado Springs, as well as the dust and pet dander
that doesn’t seem to go away. So, instead of asking, “What’s going on with my winter indoor air quality in Colorado Springs home,
and what can I do about it?”, it’s a better idea to focus on upgrading your indoor air quality.
Don’t worry, as we’ll explain simple ways that you can upgrade your home’s indoor air quality throughout winter.
This would help you in creating a more comfortable and healthier space for your entire family and pets.
Why Winter Wreaks Havoc on Your Indoor Air
During winter, you tend to close your windows to keep out the cold. Also, your furnace is most likely always on.
Of course, this keeps you warm, but it leads to poor indoor air quality. Let’s discuss why it’s like this:
The Dry Air
In a high-desert climate, the outdoor humidity is usually low. Heating that air makes it even drier.
Therefore, this causes a very low relative humidity of 10–20% inside your house. This can be really uncomfortable.
It’s when you notice you have dry skin and throat, and your wood floors and furniture start to crack all around.
The Dust & Dander
People mainly wonder, “Why is my house so dusty in the winter in Colorado?” The thing is, when your windows are closed,
there’s usually no fresh air to help you remove pollutants. So, every cycle of your furnace system is like a giant fan that
circulates allergens throughout your home.
Red Flag Warning Days
During a Red Flag Warning, there are strong winds and low humidity. These are the factors that contribute to fire danger and
also draw moisture from your home. Those winds cause those cold feelings you experience. They also force dust particulates through
every crack in your home.
Essential Winter Indoor Air Quality Upgrades
Let’s explain the two major upgrades that provide dry winter air solutions for your home:
Using Whole Home Humidity Control
You need to add moisture to your home with a humidifier. You need to consider this, especially if you have cracked lips,
a dry nose, sinuses, headaches, and a dry cough during winter. Usually, a whole house humidifier is your option rather than
using the portable ones. They are installed directly into your HVAC system. They add balanced moisture to the air, and it’s warm
and distributed throughout every room in your house.
Here are some other whole home humidifier benefits:
- Removes static shocks: With the correct humidity levels, you can remove the static shocks you get completely.
- Skin & sinus comfort: You’ll notice you don’t have chapped lips or nosebleeds anymore. The humidity gives healthier mucous membranes.
- Protects your home: Your wood floors, interior trim, and instruments are preserved, and this prevents cracks.
- Can help with cold spots: Do humidifiers help with cold spots in the house? In essence, humidified air affects the body’s
thermostat as warmer air. You’ll notice that the cooled air is warmer. Actually, the humidified air feels warmer because of the lowered thermostat settings.
You should note that we have the best humidifier for Colorado winter dry skin and better moisture.
Purify the Air Your HVAC System Circulates
With a humidifier, that’s only solving half of the problem. The other half has to do with you purifying the air.
Your forced-air furnace is the circulatory system of your home. The filter that traps large particles to protect your furnace helps;
however, it does little for pet dander removal and also removes small dust.
You need a filter that has a high-MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) that collects many airborne particles.
This one helps by removing pet allergens from the heating system.
This is why you need HVAC-integrated air purification. When it comes to achieving the best possible HVAC air purification winter performance,
one should consider using a dedicated in-duct air purifier. In this regard, you can consider using a mini- or multi-split ductless HVAC system
and a Carrier air purifier for your comfort.
How Humidification & Purification Work Together
These two work together, which is why you need to consider these two systems in your home. They would definitely help you achieve better indoor air quality.
- The purifier cleans the air of pet dander, dust, and other pollutants.
- The humidifier brings moisture into this newly purified air.
What You Can Do Daily for Cleaner Air in Your Home
While whole-home systems do most of the work, your daily habits can also help in having a great indoor quality. Here are some things you can do:
- Regular grooming: You need to brush and bathe your pets regularly. This is one of the best methods for getting rid of pet dander.
- Smart vacuuming: Use a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter that seals. This is so they don’t blow dust particles back into the atmosphere.
- Change furnace filters regularly: Even with a purifier, you should change your main filter 1–3 months after the beginning of the heating season.
- Ventilate your home: When it is a little warmer outside, open windows opposite each other for 5–10 minutes to create a crosswind.
Conclusion
We consider that you use a whole home humidifier and ductless HVAC solutions to make for better winter indoor air.
They’re perfect dry winter air solutions to reduce having dry skin, static shocks, allergies, and that perpetually dusty feeling.
It’s worth every penny you spend.
At High Altitude Heating & Air, we offer humidifiers and HVAC solutions to make your home much more comfortable for you this winter.
High Altitude Heating & Air provides a full range of expert ductless services, including repair/maintenance of all makes and models and
24/7 emergency response throughout Colorado Springs, Briargate, Falcon, Black Forest, Manitou Springs & Monument, CO.
Contact us at 719-427-4854 now.
People Also Ask
Why is my house so dusty in the winter in Colorado?
Since your home is closed up tightly, your heating system, which circulates the same air again and again, stirs up the settled dust and dander.
If your home has low humidity, it also keeps the dust particulates in the air longer.
How to reduce static electricity in the house during winter?
Static electricity works best in a dry environment. A way you can reduce this is to keep your home’s indoor humidity level between 30–50%.
You can use a whole-house humidifier to help you put needed moisture back into the air. This reduces those electrical charges, which are responsible
for static shock.
How does winter weather affect indoor air quality?
During winter, the natural flow of air is reduced, and this leads to low humidity. This increases pollutants inside the house.
What is the best humidity level for a house in winter?
The optimal range is between 30% and 50%. This humidity level makes your house comfortable, protects your home, and is low enough not to allow mold to grow.
It also leads to a static electricity reduction in your house.
