Staying healthy is a constant battle for some. With each season comes a new host of threats, and those threats vary depending on where you live. You may have expertly endured the winter and spring health threats of Dover, Delaware, and the Mid-Atlantic region, but are you ready for the threats that rise during the heat of summer? Identify the summer health threats facing you and your family, and you’ll be able to help fend them off using your HVAC system.
Dehydration and Heatstroke
You like to stay active in the summer, and you try to get your kids to play outside rather than spend all day watching TV. But one day, during your late morning run, you suddenly start to feel dizzy and light-headed, and your mouth starts tasting funny. You’re dehydrated, which means that as you sweat, your body is losing more water than it’s taking in. Without quick care, dehydration can escalate into heatstroke, a dangerous health condition that could cause you to pass out or have seizures.
The easiest way to fend off dehydration is to drink plenty of water and to spend time in the shade during long bouts of outdoor activity. When you start experiencing heatstroke, however, you need to get to a cool place and put ice on your hot skin. As long as your AC is running as it should, your home will always be a cool sanctuary. You can also experience symptoms of dehydration indoors, so make sure to set your thermostat to the right temperature. It is also important to stay hydrated indoors. Take the necessary precautions to ensure your AC is always running efficiently, and you won’t have to worry about this summer health threat in your home.
Mold and Mildew
During the winter, you probably had to adjust to the lower humidity levels in your home, and deal with how that dry air exacerbated the spread of viruses and other health issues. In the summer, as you know all too well, humidity levels rise, both inside and outside your home. Not only does humid air make it more difficult for your AC to cool your home, but it also causes mold and mildew growth.
You can’t completely get rid of the moisture in your home, nor do you want to, but you can regulate it. One way to balance humidity levels is to ventilate your home. However, since it’s too hot to open windows and doors, consider installing a whole-home ventilator, which will get rid of stale air and circulate fresh, clean air. You can also connect a whole-home dehumidifier to your HVAC system. This dehumidifier will work with your AC to remove excess moisture from the airflow.
Allergies
That’s right, as much as we’d like them to be, allergies aren’t restricted to spring. In fact, if more people are going in and out of your home during the summer, it’s possible that more pollen and allergens will enter your living space than in the spring. Those particles can lead to something as minor as irritation to something as severe as violent asthmatic reactions.
The easiest way to reduce allergens is to keep them out. Keep doors and windows closed, and remember that shoes can track contaminants into your home. Change your air filter every month. A clean filter will effectively catch some of those pesky particles. If the standard type doesn’t seem to be doing the job, consider installing a whole-home air purifier, which will remove more contaminants and neutralize them, so they won’t bother you or your family much, it at all.
You deserve to enjoy the summer, not spend it suffering from summer health threats. A little awareness and guided use of your HVAC system will ensure that you get the most out of your summer. For professional assistance with improving your indoor air quality, call Griffith Energy Services today at 888-474-3391.
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