When cooler winter weather settles in, it brings the start of cold and flu season. Since you have to run your HVAC system to keep your home comfortably warm over the winter, why not use it to create a healthier living environment and lower your risk of getting sick?

Here are some system upgrades that can help control the spread of germs that cause the flu, colds and other such illnesses:

Add an Air Purifier to Your HVAC System

Having an EPA-certified HVAC technician add an air purifier to your HVAC system can provide a cleaner, healthier air supply and lessen your family’s exposure to the bacteria and viruses that cause wintertime illnesses. A pro can install a system which employs a three-stage purification process to eradicate up to 90 percent of airborne germs as small as .01 microns in size.

Have an Ultraviolet Light Installed

Ultraviolet or UV lights are commonly used to sterilize the air supply in laboratory and hospital settings, and you can benefit from the same technology by having a UV light installed inside your HVAC system. Typically, a UV light is placed adjacent to the air handler to kill bacteria and viruses so they don’t get dispersed in the heated air that’s distributed by the blower fan.

Boost Your System’s Filtration Capabilities

If your heating system takes a basic furnace filter, it’s really only designed to capture larger airborne particles that can harm the system’s sensitive components. There are filters available with higher minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) ratings that can improve your home’s wintertime air quality by trapping viruses, bacteria and other contaminants. Simply putting in a filter with a higher MERV can cause damaging airflow restrictions though, so have a knowledgeable HVAC pro assess your system and advise you on your options to enhance filtration.

For personalized advice on how you can use the HVAC system in your eastern North Carolina home to help beat cold and flu season, contact us at Jackson & Sons Heating & Air Conditioning.

Jackson & Sons, Inc.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).