Humidifiers Can Slow the Spread of COVID-19 & Other Airborne Viruses
As we enter into heating season, one thing remains clear, COVID is not going away. In fact, it is spreading at alarming rates throughout the country. With this new wave of infections, lock-downs, and quarantines, stopping the spread is increasingly important. Fortunately, there are a few options available to home and business owners looking to treat indoor air. One affordable option is installing humidifiers.
How do Humidifiers Help?
Viruses, such as Covid-19 move easily through dry air. While summer months are more humid, the winter brings dry and cold air. On top of this, homes and businesses with forced air heating systems make the problem worse. Traditional HVAC systems remove even more moisture from the air by heating already dry air. Not only does this make it easier for the virus to spread, but it also weakens the body’s natural defenses. Luckily, a simple solution can help. Installing a whole home humidifier keeps the air in homes and businesses at the optimum level of moisture.
Why does dry indoor air help transmit viruses? Studies show that as water is removed from the air, the water particles around a virus evaporate. This allows the particles to become smaller and to stay in the air longer. Additionally, dry indoor air makes people more susceptible to respiratory illness. This is because the mucus membranes dry out. allowing viruses to be inhaled more easily, while making it more difficult to expel through coughing. Humidifiers are essential to staying healthy during the cold and dry winter months.
Next Steps
Installing a whole house humidifier is an important step to creating a healthy indoor environment. Achieving the highest level of indoor air quality is possible when you combine the right technologies. A humidifier, combined with whole home Merv 16 air filters and air purifiers, can virtually eliminate viruses from indoor air. Keeping the air in homes and businesses clean is just another precaution that we can take to keep Covid-19 from spreading. However, it is not a silver bullet. Maintaining social distance, wearing masks, washing hands, and limiting non-family members in the home are still essential.
The indoor air quality experts at Polar have solutions for any size space and budget. Contact us today for free estimate.
