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HVAC & Water Systems: Safeguarding Family Health

HVAC & Water Systems: Safeguarding Family Health

You want to keep your family safe. You installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, made your cabinets child-safe, put covers over unused outlets, installed baby gates when they were younger, and so on.

Did you know you can use your HVAC and water systems to help keep them safe as well? That’s right! You can tackle this in several ways. Read on to examine some of them or reach out to our West Milford plumbing & HVAC experts at Mark Lindsay and Son Plumbing & Heating to learn more!

Air Quality

You’ve heard all the talk about outdoor air pollution. It’s a problem that needs to be addressed. What you may have not heard as much about is indoor air pollution. Keeping your indoor air clean is as, or even more important, than clean outdoor air.

Indoor air pollution can cause allergic reactions, cause respiratory issues, make keeping your house clean more difficult, possibly cause serious diseases, and so on. Young children and older people can be especially vulnerable to indoor air pollutants.

Reduce Indoor Pollutants to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean

Making your home environment safer and healthier starts with the simple yet powerful step of improving your indoor air quality by reducing indoor pollutants. These pollutants are like unwanted guests that can sneak into your space and cause all sorts of health troubles.

Think about everyday things like cleaning products, secondhand smoke, pet fur, those tiny dust mites, and even invisible compounds emitted by certain materials in your home. These sneaky troublemakers can come from both inside and outside your home, hitching a ride on your shoes or wafting in through windows.

These pollutants can lead to a whole range of health issues. Imagine the usual suspects like sniffles and sneezes, and then think about more serious concerns like aggravated allergies, annoying asthma attacks, and other respiratory problems.

Especially if you have little ones or older family members around, you’ll want to keep these pollutants in check. By doing so, you’re not just avoiding immediate discomfort – you’re laying the groundwork for better long-term health. Cleaner indoor air means easier breathing, greater comfort, and a lower risk of chronic health woes. You’ll be giving your family the gift of a safer, healthier place to call home.

Water Quality

As parents, keeping our children safe is our top priority. This includes making sure the water we give them is clean and healthy. Unfortunately, sometimes the water in our homes doesn’t meet the safety standards we expect.

You might have heard about a substance called PFOA – it’s part of a group of chemicals that were once used in things like non-stick pans, stain-resistant coatings, and firefighting foam. Even though its use has gone down, PFOA can stick around in the environment and get into our water.

So, what happens if we’re exposed to too much PFOA in our drinking water? The experts at the New Jersey Department of Health say that it could cause some concerning health problems for us and our little ones.

It might mess with our cholesterol and even affect our liver and kidneys. Our immune system might not work as well. There could be issues with the male reproductive system. The chances of getting certain cancers might go up. And if you’re expecting or have a little baby, their development could be affected too. But don’t worry, there are things we can do to protect our families:

  • Talk to Your Doctor: If you’re worried, it’s a good idea to chat with your doctor. They can give you personalized advice.
  • Choose Bottled Water: If you have a baby at home, it’s safer to use bottled water for their formula and drinks. And if you’re pregnant, nursing, or planning to be, you might want to do the same for yourself.
  • Look into Water Treatment Options: At Mark Lindsay and Son, we offer a variety of water conditioning services that can improve the quality of your water. Our water treatment options include water softeners, acid neutralizers, iron and carbon filtration systems and reverse osmosis.

Caring for Your Little Ones: Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

Humidifiers: Adding Comfort to Your Home

Humidifiers are like a friendly helper that brings just the right amount of moisture to the air in your house. Why does this matter, especially when you have small children? Well, the right humidity can keep your family cozy and free from some pesky problems. Without enough moisture, you might notice dry throats, itchy eyes, and chapped lips – not fun at all. Even tiny noses and sensitive skin can feel uncomfortable.

But don’t worry, by giving your home a little humidity boost, you can make these issues a thing of the past. Plus, if anyone in your family has asthma, allergies, or respiratory infections, the right humidity can be like a superhero sidekick, helping them breathe better and feel better.

Dehumidifiers: Finding the Right Balance

Now, let’s talk about the other side of the humidity story. If your home feels too humid, especially in damp places, it’s time to bring in the dehumidifier. This magical machine does exactly what it sounds like – it takes away the extra moisture from the air.

Why does this matter for your family, especially the little ones?

Well, too much humidity can make your home feel sticky and some areas, like the basement, can start to feel musty. And let’s not forget about the sneaky problems that too much moisture can bring – like mold growth and damage to your home’s structure. It can even attract unwelcome guests like bugs. By using a dehumidifier, you can make sure your home is cozy, healthy, and protected from too much moisture.

Whether it’s adding moisture with a humidifier or finding the right balance with a dehumidifier, taking care of your home’s humidity can mean a happier, healthier space for your family, especially your little ones who deserve the best.

Shielding Your Loved Ones: Safe Water Temperatures

When it comes to your family’s safety, every little detail matters. This includes something as seemingly simple as the water temperature in your home. Believe it or not, scalds – those painful burns caused by hot water – are a major concern, especially for our most vulnerable family members: infants and the elderly. Their delicate skin is more sensitive to heat than ours, making them particularly susceptible to scalding injuries.

Now, you might be wondering, “What’s the right temperature to set my water heater?” In the past, the standard was around 140º Fahrenheit. But times are changing, and experts now recommend a safer maximum temperature of 120º Fahrenheit. Many modern water heater manuals advocate for this setting. And the reason isn’t just about saving money – it’s about safeguarding your family from scalding incidents.

By adjusting your water heater to this lower temperature, you’re taking a proactive step to prevent burns, especially for those who are most at risk. It’s a small change that can have a big impact on keeping your family safe, comfortable, and free from unnecessary accidents.

Help From Your Local Home Service Experts!

For help with maintaining your HVAC system and indoor air quality, help setting your water heater, and information on whether you need a humidifier, dehumidifier, or both, depending on your situation, call us at Mark Lindsay and Son and we’ll be there to help you make the right choices for your home and family.

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