How Winter Affects Indoor Air Quality & What You Can Do About It

As snow flurries and colder weather arrive in Fort Collins, it’s time to make a steaming mug of cocoa and enjoy a little Dutch hygge in your day-to-day life. Before you get too cozied up, take a moment to check out your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. With so much time spent indoors with your loved ones, you need to be completely confident that your HVAC system is ready for winter.

When winter arrives, furnaces kick on, doors close, and humidity levels decline. Thanks to how airtight Colorado homes are, they can easily end up trapping pollutants inside. As winter progresses, your loved ones may develop dry throats, more frequent allergies, headaches, and more colds. 

Stale air can harm your family’s health and comfort. By turning to our Fort Collins indoor air quality experts, you can learn the best methods to improve indoor air quality in winter. For more information about indoor air quality services, reach out to Balance Point Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today.

Why Indoor Air Quality Gets Worse in Winter 

Wintertime is an exciting time in Fort Collins, with plenty of opportunities for pond hockey, skiing, snowshoeing, and enjoying the light, dry snow. However, the reality is that most of wintertime ends up getting spent indoors. Closed windows, non-stop heat, and dry air can all contribute to poor winter indoor air quality. By learning the most common IAQ issues, you can take the next step in finding the best HVAC air quality solutions for your home.

Homes & Reduced Ventilation

In a bedroom that lacks proper ventilation, the carbon dioxide (CO₂) level can increase to over 2,000 ppm. To put this in perspective, high CO₂ levels can start to have a noticeable impact on your decision-making skills and performance at a level as low as 1,000 ppm. At just 750 ppm CO₂, people begin to experience declining sleep quality during research studies. On the following day, these same research participants performed worse in cognitive tests. Headaches, dizziness, chest tightness, seizures, and confusion can also happen as CO₂ levels rise significantly. 

Unfortunately, wintertime conditions make rising CO₂ levels more likely. Because windows and doors are closed, fresh air can’t get inside, and your home’s airflow is hindered. This can cause pollutants to rise quickly, negatively impacting your winter indoor air quality.

Heating Systems Dry Out the Air

Besides dealing with closed doors and poor airflow, you also have to manage the impact of your heating system. While furnaces and heat pumps are great at keeping your home warm, these types of forced-air systems can quickly strip your home’s humidity levels. The dry air can impact your sinuses and cause dry skin. 

To ensure your family’s comfort, you may want to invest in a central humidifier or whole-home humidifier. Ideally, you need to have a relative humidity of 35% to 45%. Many Fort Collins homes drop to just 15% to 25% in the wintertime, making humidifiers especially important investments.

Combustion Byproducts

Around the world, indoor air quality is responsible for 3.2 million deaths per year. In general, the more combustion byproducts that are produced in your home, the worse your indoor air quality is. Gas furnaces, space heaters, and fireplaces can all leak carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and a range of particulates. Combustion byproducts from cooking can also harm your air quality. 

Poor maintenance makes these issues worse. When HVAC systems aren’t maintained properly, they are more likely to have dirty air filters, leaks, and similar problems that lead to poor winter indoor air quality. 

By staying on top of your furnace maintenance and getting your ducts cleaned, you can improve your IAQ. Additionally, you should always turn on your kitchen’s exhaust fan whenever you’re cooking. 

More Indoor Time = Higher Exposure

In the United States, the average person spends around 90% of their time indoors. The additional time spent indoors means that they are exposed to higher levels of indoor air pollutants. For example, you may be exposed to higher levels of pet dander and cleaning chemicals. 

Health Impacts of Poor Winter Air Quality 

Fort Collins indoor air quality issues can negatively impact your health in both the short run and the long run. In general, these issues are more intense for population groups that already have compromised immune systems or existing health problems. In particular, allergy and asthma sufferers may have more frequent attacks because of poor winter indoor air quality.

Respiratory Irritation & Asthma

Poor IAQ can trigger respiratory and asthma in a variety of different ways. Higher levels of indoor allergens can combine with the dry air to cause wheezing and coughing. Often, this can end up leading to asthma flare-ups.

On its own, dry air can irritate the mucous membranes in the respiratory tract. This, combined with other problems, creates a perfect storm of triggers for anyone who has respiratory issues.

Higher Risk of Illness

As Fort Collins’ indoor air quality declines in the winter, you and your family may experience more colds and flu symptoms. Viruses are able to survive longer in the dry air, and your dry, irritated sinuses are less able to filter out pathogens. 

In the summer, there is generally a higher humidity level. Because of this, sneeze droplets are larger and less likely to remain in the air. During the winter, the air becomes drier and droplets shrink. This allows them to stay airborne longer and infect more people.

Once the droplets manage to make it to your nose, your cilia struggle to keep them out. Normally, cilia move foreign objects out of your respiratory tract. Unfortunately, cilia don’t work as well in colder temperatures and lower humidity levels.

Headaches & Fatigue

During the cold months of winter, a few different factors can increase the likelihood of headaches and fatigue. Because you typically keep your doors and windows closed during the coldest months of the year, CO₂ and VOCs can start to build up. Over time, this can lead to an increase in headaches and fatigue.

Skin & Eye Irritation

When your Fort Collins indoor air quality declines in winter, it can directly impact your skin and eyes. Lower humidity levels dry out your skin and eyes. Because of drier air and a higher concentration of indoor pollutants, many people struggle more with allergies and eczema. 

Long-Term Risks

Unfortunately, poor winter indoor air quality can cause lasting effects on your body. Extended exposure to these contaminants has been linked to cardiovascular problems, such as strokes and heart attacks. In fact, almost a quarter of ischemic heart disease is linked to poor indoor and outdoor air quality. 

Indoor air quality issues are known sources of inflammation and oxidative stress in the respiratory system. Because of this, chronic exposure to poor IAQ can lead to chronic lung issues. 

Everyday Strategies To Improve Indoor Air Quality in Winter

If you are concerned about your IAQ, there are a few steps you can take to improve indoor air quality in winter. Many options, such as using your exhaust fans, changing the air filter, and opening your windows, don’t require any special skills or new installations. For more challenging tasks, such as installing a new air purifier or humidifier, you can reach out to the IAQ experts at Balance Point Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. 

Improve Ventilation Without Losing Heat

One of the first things you should do to boost your Fort Collins indoor air quality is to find ways to improve your ventilation. An easy option is to use the German practice of lüften, which involves opening the windows periodically to let in fresh air. This technique is considered so important in Germany that many landlords list it as a tenant requirement in their rental contracts. 

You can perform the lüften practice of shock ventilation, which involves opening all of the windows in your home for just three to five minutes. This length of time is long enough to replace stale air without losing a significant amount of heat.

Besides strategically opening your windows each day, you should also remember to use your kitchen and bath fans. These help to pull combustion byproducts and humidity out of the air, improving your overall IAQ.

Finally, energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) can be installed to pretreat fresh outdoor air during the winter. An ERV is able to heat and humidify the air as it comes in, so you can enjoy a warm, comfortable home.

Upgrade Your Filtration

One of the easiest HVAC air quality solutions is to simply replace your air filters on a consistent basis. When winter snow arrives, you’ll be using your furnace nonstop. Because of this, you’ll need to change your air filter at least once per month. For the best balance of efficiency and airflow, you may want to consider upgrading to MERV-rated filters. 

Other than your HVAC filters, you may also want to invest in HEPA air purifiers in your living room and bedrooms. These filters are exceptionally effective at improving your air quality. In order to receive the HEPA designation, the filter must remove a minimum of 99.97% of dust, bacteria, mold, pollen, and similar airborne particulates.

Manage Humidity

To improve indoor air quality in winter, you’ll also need to consider your current approach to humidity. When humidity levels decline, it can worsen air quality and trigger respiratory issues. However, excessive humidity can lead to mold growth. 

Because of this, you should use a whole-home humidifier or portable unit. A whole-home humidifier can be easily integrated into your furnace to provide a high level of comfort. Portable units are often more affordable, although they aren’t designed for a whole house and must be manually refilled with water.

To use your humidifier safely, you’ll need to first fill it using distilled water. You’ll need to set the humidistat to the appropriate humidity level and open the damper. Once the water shut-off valve is open and you’ve double-checked to see if the evaporator pad is properly installed, you can turn on your heating system. 

For best results, you should clean your humidifier each week. To do so, turn off your HVAC system and disconnect the water supply. Once you’ve removed the tank, you can clean it with a water and vinegar mixture. Replace the evaporator pad as needed.

Control Pollution Sources

Another one of the best HVAC air quality solutions is to control your indoor pollution sources as much as possible. This can be done through a few important steps.

• VOC Cleaners: VOC cleaners are a major source of indoor pollutants. Whenever possible, switch to using eco-friendly alternatives instead.
• Chemical Storage: You should never store paints and other chemicals within your living space.
• Gas Appliance Servicing: You should make sure your gas appliances are serviced on a frequent basis so that you don’t have to worry about CO₂ or gas leaks.
• Smoking and Burning: Ideally, you should avoid burning candles and incense inside your home. To improve indoor air quality in winter, you should also discourage your loved ones from smoking indoors.

Add Green Solutions

To boost your IAQ, consider getting indoor plants. While plants have a limited purification ability, they can still make a slight dent in your indoor air pollutants and humidity levels. Additionally, plants are a great way to beautify your home and support mental health. 

For the best results, you need to be careful about which plant you choose. Snake plants and spider plants are excellent selections for Colorado’s dry winters.

Monitor Your Air Quality

Indoor air quality can put your family’s comfort and safety at risk. To ensure your loved ones are protected, consider installing CO₂ sensors, humidity monitors, and carbon monoxide detectors. 

• CO₂ Sensors: A good reading on your CO₂ sensor will generally be below 800 to 1,000 ppm. Some studies have found cognitive effects as low as 750 ppm, so lower readings are better.
• Humidity Monitors: During the wintertime, you ideally want your home’s humidity to be around 35% to 45%. In the summer, this humidity level can be a little higher.
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors: For a carbon monoxide detector, you generally want the reading to be 0 ppm. As long as you and your loved ones don’t have any underlying conditions, readings under 10 ppm over an eight-hour period may be considered safe.

Professional HVAC & Air Quality Solutions 

If you’re struggling with indoor pollutants, the right HVAC air quality solutions can help. At Balance Point Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we provide a range of services that can help you and your loved ones stay safe and comfortable all winter long.

• Annual Furnace Tune-Ups: One of the most important things you can do to protect your family’s respiratory health is to schedule an annual furnace tune-up each fall. By getting your system inspected, cleaned, and lubricated, you can ensure cleaner combustion and safer air. 
• Humidifiers: To improve the humidity in your home’s air, you can invest in whole-home humidifiers or portable humidifiers. Portable humidifiers work better if you are on a budget and just want to humidify a single room. Meanwhile, whole-home humidifiers are connected to your HVAC system and can control the humidity level in your entire house.
• UV Lights: UV lights can be installed in your HVAC system to treat air before it enters your home. With a UV light, you can eliminate mold, mildew, bacteria, and odors.
• Duct Cleaning: Your ducts are responsible for transporting air into your home. If they are dusty, the dust will end up getting into your home. Duct leaks can worsen the amount of dust in your ductwork because the air pressure pulls in dust. Additionally, duct leaks lead to heat loss, which decreases your energy efficiency. By getting a professional duct cleaning from Balance Point, you can significantly boost your IAQ and prevent heat loss.
• Advanced Filters: Whether you want MERV-rated filters or HEPA filters, a filtration upgrade can help remove harmful contaminants from the air your loved ones breathe.
• Professional IAQ Assessments: If you are uncertain about the safety of your loved ones, Balance Point can help. Through a professional IAQ assessment, you can accurately measure the particulates, CO₂, and VOCs in the air you breathe. Then, we can recommend the best methods for purifying and filtering your home’s air supply.   

Whether you’re concerned about respiratory problems or struggling with dry skin, your home’s air supply can directly impact the health and safety of your loved ones. By reaching out to the dedicated professionals at Balance Point, you can get a professional IAQ assessment and decide on the best approach for your family.

Winter Indoor Air Quality Checklist 

Before winter is in full swing, there are a few things you can do to boost your air quality. 

FAQs About Improving Indoor Air Quality in Winter in Fort Collins, CO

Over the years, we’ve fielded a few common questions about how to improve indoor air quality in winter. The following are just some of the questions that we hear the most.

Why does my home feel stuffy in winter?

When wintertime arrives, most people in Fort Collins shut their doors and windows to keep the heat in. While this may improve your energy efficiency, it can worsen any existing problems your home has with ventilation. As winter progresses, pollutants can start to build up. 

Together, these factors can make your indoor air stuffy. Opening your windows, using fans, and running the exhaust fan can help you alleviate the stuffiness and improve your Fort Collins indoor air quality. 

Can humidity really affect health?

Absolutely. When the humidity level in your home drops, it can dry out your sinuses and skin. This increases the likelihood of contracting an illness or experiencing a nosebleed.

Besides harming your immediate comfort, high indoor humidity can negatively impact your home’s long-term air quality. When humidity levels go up, it encourages mold and mildew growth. Over time, this can lead to more issues for family members who suffer from allergies or asthma.

How often should I replace furnace filters in winter?

One of the easiest HVAC air quality solutions is to be proactive about your furnace maintenance. Dirty air filters can worsen your IAQ and cause problems for your furnace. While you should always change your filters every one to three months, this rate can go up in the winter. During periods of heavy use, the filter should be changed at least once per month. 

Are air purifiers effective in winter?

Yes, air purifiers are always an effective option for your home. By installing an air purifier, you can remove particulates, allergens, and odors from the air. 

Often, Fort Collins homeowners are unable to open their windows frequently during the coldest days of winter. This lack of ventilation can lead to stuffiness and poor IAQ. Air purifiers can alleviate ventilation issues by removing pollutants from the air. 

What’s the safest humidity level for winter?

To improve indoor air quality in winter, try to stick to a humidity level between 35% to 45%. While you should monitor your humidity levels all the time, you actually need a lower indoor humidity during the winter. While summertime humidity can go up to 60% before mold starts to grow, mold growth can begin at lower humidity levels in the winter. 

Although it is essential to avoid high humidity and mold, you also don’t want the humidity to drop too low. Low humidity can irritate your sinuses and dry out your skin, which is why 35% to 45% is the perfect balance for the wintertime.

Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up With Balance Point Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

Breathe easier this winter with Balance Point Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. Our Fort Collins team provides furnace tune-ups, indoor air quality assessments, and whole-home solutions like humidifiers and filtration upgrades in Fort Collins. You don’t have to risk your family’s comfort by having poor winter indoor air quality. Our team is available to provide top-notch HVAC air quality solutions.

Don’t let stale, dry air compromise your health and comfort. Schedule your winter IAQ service today and enjoy cleaner, safer air all season long.