How Does Your HVAC Affect Cold and Flu Season?

We in steamy Corpus Christi always look forward to the cooler weather of fall and winter, but unfortunately, just as in more northerly climes, we also face the advent of cold and flu season. The good news is there are several ways to help avoid colds and flu, including using the HVAC system just right. Read on to learn how.

How Your HVAC Can Boost Your Health in Cold/Flu Season

Your home’s indoor air quality is often compromised by an abundance of air pollutants. While the most common pollutants — pet dander, pollen, dust mites, dust, volatile organic compounds and mold — may not give you a cold or the flu, they can irritate and aggravate allergies and worsen asthmatic symptoms. Along with the cracked mucous membranes that come with the colder, dryer air of winter, these pollutants may irritate your nose, throat and eyes so your immunity is lower and viruses have a better opportunity of making you sick. Improve your air quality by frequent vacuuming with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and using a good quality, pleated air filter to capture irritants before they are recirculated in the home’s airs.

Add Moisture

Dry, cool conditions in your home can actually promote the transmittal of cold and flu viruses. When someone sneezes or coughs, the viruses are more likely to land on moisture droplets and sink to the floor than when the air is dry. Although lower relative humidity in homes is rare here, if yours falls below 35 percent (use a hygrometer to check it), consult your HVAC consultant on ways to raise humidity.

Add Ventilation

A ventilation system that removes stale air and pollutants and adds fresh air can boost your health.

Air Cleaners

The best air cleaner for removing flu or cold viruses is the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) model. This technology usually consists of two powerful bulbs inside the HVAC system that treat the intake air, disrupting the DNA of viruses so that they cannot reproduce.

For more on technology that can keep you healthier during cold and flu season, contact CCAC of Corpus Christi.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about your HVAC system, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.  

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