As we all know, the winter usually brings around many illnesses. Before bacteria and viruses were discovered, many people may have attributed this simply to the cold weather. Even though we’ve known about why people get sick for years, we still somehow associate the cold weather with unpleasant sickness.

One of the main reasons that we tend to get sick more often during the winter is the fact that we’re spending much more time indoors with our windows and doors shut and heat turned on. While at first blush this might seem like the perfect environment to not get sick, it actually creates the ideal circumstances for bacteria and viruses to spread.

The Home Indoor Air Quality Problem During the Winter

During the colder months, you probably tend to hide indoors unless you’re off on a ski vacation. During warmer weather, you may have cracked a window at home, but doing the same thing in the winter isn’t really a great idea.

When your windows are constantly closed and your heating unit is constantly turned up, any bacteria or viruses in the air stay in the air and circulate through your home, lingering and posing a threat to occupants. This, unfortunately, provides the perfect circumstances for illnesses to spread.

Winter Weather & Humidity Issues

Your home’s heating system ensures you stay warm, but during the winter when the humidity is already low, heating can further dry out the air. While this can lead to uncomfortable issues like dry, cracked hands and lips, it actually can also make it easier for you to get sick.

When your nose and throat dry out, there is less mucus to filter out and prevent germs from making you sick. Since your nose needs moisture to trap viruses and bacteria, dry sinuses can make you much more vulnerable to the flu, colds and sinus infections. In addition, the dry air can irritate some people’s respiratory problems, causing asthma attacks or persistent, dry coughs.

How a Humidifier Can Help You Stay Healthy & Comfortable

Avoid putting yourself, your family and any guests that may be visiting over the holidays in an uncomfortable position by having them deal with poor indoor air quality and a higher risk of getting sick. By using a humidifier appropriately, you can alleviate some problems caused by the reduced indoor air quality of your home during the winter.

If you decide to use a portable humidifier, be sure to use only fresh, distilled water and place it towards the center of a room, away from any walls, furniture or other materials. Keep a gauge on the indoor humidity – ideally it should be between 35-40% — don’t let it go above 50%! But remember, portable humidifiers only impact a small percentage of the air in your home.

Another more permanent and advisable option to improving your home’s indoor air quality is to have a whole home humidifier from Sobieski integrated into your home’s heating system. This will provide you with a more reliable solution to troublesome dry winter air. Not only will this help you stay healthier, it can also actually increase your comfort, allowing you to use your heating unit more sparingly by reducing the thermostat a few degrees.

When temperatures start dropping in the Delaware Valley region, as a homeowner you need to prepare your home for the even colder weather ahead. Something that is typically overlooked when trying to get your home ready for winter is having an efficient storage tank water heater. Especially for when guests come over during the holidays or you and the kids have time off from work and school, having hot water and keeping your water heating bills low throughout the winter is essential. Fortunately, the team at Sobieski is here to help you keep those showers hot all winter long for you, your family and your guests with a variety of water heating services.

The Benefits of Water Heater Maintenance

Have you noticed any recent increases in your water heating bill with no change in the amount of hot water you and your family use? If so, it’s time to have one of our water heating professionals come take a look at your system. Having regular maintenance on your water heater can help you:

• Prevent unwanted breakdowns by detecting issues early so you won’t experience any surprises
• Improve the actual flow and supply of hot water when the laundry is running, someone is showering and the dishwasher is on, even all at the same time
• Lower your water heating bills* and save for gifts or next year’s vacation

* To help save a little extra, you can also turn down the temperature of your water heater.

• Extend the lifespan of your water heater so you won’t have to pay for a replacement earlier than necessary
• Reduce the amount of energy needed, thereby minimizing your home’s carbon footprint and helping you reduce your negative impact on the environment
• Fix any leaks before they become serious issues or safety hazards
• Clear the unit of any sediment build up that is negatively affecting performance

Our Water Heater Services

The team at Sobieski offers a range of maintenance services to keep your water heating running smoothly, including:

• Operation check of all water heater components
• Sediment flushing
• Pilot light repair
• Electrical connection repair
• Pipe & tank insulation
• Temperature control
• Leak detection

Cleaning of all water heater components Always Have Hot Water with Help from Sobieski

Our specialists are happy to come take a look at your system and diagnose any issues. We work diligently to get your water heater running at optimal performance all winter long so you can have peace of mind and always have enough hot water, especially over the holidays when more people may be fighting to get that hot shower. From Maryland, across Delaware into Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Sobieski can help your family and guests feel well taken care of with a steady, reliable source of hot water this winter.