The weather in the Greater Milwaukee area has cooled off ever so slightly, complemented by bursts of rain and (for me at least) cold and flu season is already here. There’s nothing better than a stuffy nose, irritated throat, and a head that feels like it is switching between wanting to implode and explode. Yes, that was sarcasm.
So we all know that having a cold isn’t exactly a dream come true, but finding ways to get rid of them just might be. Here’s a few ways to help kick the cold bugs out of your body and your home.
1. Vitamins and Minerals. Most notably Vitamin C and Zinc help to build your immune system and fight off colds. In my personal experience taking a Zinc tablet daily in addition to a regular multivitamin has helped to keep colds away, and lessen the time and effects of colds when I do get them. I’ve heard a few other people attest to this as well. But don’t just take my word for it, doctors also claim Zinc helps increase your T-cells which fight infection. Good old vitamin C has also been known to improve your immune system along with a slew of other benefits, so be sure you’re getting sufficient amounts of “The C”.
2. Indoor Air Filtration. Your nose is already stuffy - do you think breathing in dusty, dirty air is really going to help? If your ducts are dusty and caked with disgusting buildup you’re blowing all that unclean air through your vents. Get a duct cleaning done will improve your indoor air quality immensely. Also, make sure you have a good filtration system running in your furnace to keep all of those nasty little particles out of the air that can make your symptoms even worse. Even a step better, having a MicroPower Guard and HEPA home filtration system installed can reduce the amount of germs and viruses floating around in your house. Imagine actually being able to catch germs right out of the air in your filter. That's how powerful a Micropower Guard filter with HEPA filtration system is.
3. Ventilation. Think about this. You’ve got a cold, and the weather is chilly or rainy. What happens? Everyone is inside and the cold spreads through the building. You can help reduce this issue by ventilating the home. Keeping your home more ventilated can actually make it more difficult for germs to spread. You can accomplish this just by cracking a few windows open. Another option is having a whole house air to air exchanger. This will actually keep fresh outdoor air flowing through your entire home without cooling it down like cracking a window open will.
4. Exercise. Getting a good sweat going can actually decrease your chances of catching a cold. Exercise can build the body’s immune system so you can handle any virus or germ that comes your way. Just don’t overdo it or it could have a reverse effect on your immune system.
5. Indoor Air Humidification. There is actually evidence that viruses spread less easily in more air with the right humidity level, not to mention dry air isn’t exactly soothing for a sore throat. You can actually have a humidification system installed into your furnace system to ensure your entire home is free of dry, stuffy air.
6. Hygiene. This one should be a no-brainer, but it is often neglected in the rush of our daily activities. If you’re using anti-bacterial soap and washing your hands frequently you can kill off a lot of the germs your constantly in contact with. Make a point of cleaning up throughout the day to ward off sickness.
7. Body Temperature Regulation. The old wives tale goes that you’ll catch a cold if you go outside without a coat in winter. While the temperature alone can’t give you a cold, wild changes in the weather can give you symptoms of illness and actually weaken your immune system, making you susceptible to sickness. You can regulate this by dressing appropriately when going outdoors and by making sure your furnace is working efficiently.
While Holland Home Services One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning can’t help you with vitamins and hygiene, we can definitely help make sure your indoor air is as comfortable and healthy as possible. We offer indoor air humidification systems, air filtration systems, and air to air exchangers to make sure your air is properly humidified, clean, and fresh. We also offer a 77 step precision tune up on furnaces which includes a camera and safety inspection to ensure your indoor climate is consistent and cozy. Right now, we also have a “Buy One, Get One Half Off” sale, in which you can buy a furnace tune up and get an air conditioner tune up at half price! On top of that if you use our web coupon (CLICK HERE), you can get an additional $25 off.
Whether you’re looking to get a furnace tuned up, repaired, replaced, or installed we have a solution for you. We service the Greater Milwaukee Area - including Washington, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Fond du Lac Counties. Call 414-847-1555 or go to hollandhomeservices.com to request an appointment time and see how we can improve your indoor air quality today.
The information contained in this article have been written for the HVAC industry public or private and are not to copied, reproduced or plagiarized without the written consent of the author. News publications and trade organizations interested in using content contained in this blog/article can contact Steve Holland at Holland Home Services at the Contact Us section of this site.
