Taking care of a new baby in winter is stressful, especially since infants are more vulnerable to cold and illnesses than adults are. Make sure your child stays comfortable by checking on him or her every few hours even if you don’t hear crying, and keep fans and portable heating units away from the baby. You can also use your Savannah, GA HVAC system to manage comfort for your little one by adjusting your thermostat, adding an air cleaner, using a humidifier, and maintaining your HVAC system.
Adjusting Your Thermostat
Get ready by setting a higher temperature on your thermostat before you bring your new baby home. Keeping your child warm promotes healthy sleep patterns and helps you get essential rest. Since too many blankets can increase the risk of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a warmer home is safer for your newborn.
You should keep the nursery comfortable for a lightly clothed adult, but you can still turn down the heat to save energy when your baby is with grandparents or at your pediatrician’s office. If you have a programmable thermostat and your child has a regular routine, change your thermostat’s settings to match. In case of a sudden schedule change, you can adjust many programmable thermostats from your smartphone.
Adding an Air Cleaner
Being cold doesn’t actually cause colds or the flu, but spending lots of time indoors with other people spreads illnesses faster than in summer. Indoor air can also contain dust, dirt, mold, pollen, pet dander, and other pollutants. You can have a whole home air purification system installed in your ductwork by an HVAC professional or use a smaller portable model in just the nursery. Both types of air cleaners work by using an air filter to remove bacteria and other contaminants from your home. Some models also use an electrical charge to kill or inactivate viruses and bacteria.
For even better protection, have a UV lamp installed near your HVAC system’s indoor coil along with an air cleaner to kill more mold and bacteria. These devices use a type of ultraviolet light, called UVC light, that the Earth’s atmosphere normally filters out.
Using a Humidifier
Using your heating system reduces the humidity in your home, making your indoor air dry and uncomfortable. Dry air can cause dry, itchy skin and irritated eyes and sinuses for both newborns and adults. You can place a portable humidifier in your baby’s room, but a whole-home humidifier can make your entire family more comfortable. Whole-home humidifiers distribute moisture through your entire home, and they work seamlessly with your HVAC system and other components, like whole-home air cleaners.
Higher humidity also reduces static electricity, protects wood furniture and floors, and makes your air feel warmer. That way, your baby will stay comfortable even at a slightly lower temperature and you can save money and energy.
Maintaining Your HVAC System
You should have your HVAC system and your ductwork inspected by a professional twice per year to keep your indoor air quality high and prevent allergy and asthma symptoms. Regular maintenance also helps prevent breakdowns and finds problems before they get bigger and more expensive to fix. Losing your heat in winter could even put your baby in danger.
Have your ductwork cleaned and sealed before your baby comes home to head off mold, pests, and other pollutants and to save energy. Maintaining your ductwork keeps your HVAC system from spreading pollutants through your home and takes care of leaks that waste energy. Also, you should check the air filters for your HVAC system and your air cleaner once per month and change them when they get dirty. Remember that most air cleaners use a higher-quality air filter than heaters or air conditioners.
Byrd Heating and Air Conditioning has more than 25 years of HVAC experience, and we’re a Factory Authorized Carrier Dealer. We can help you keep your little one comfortable by installing, maintaining, and repairing your heating and air conditioning system and improving your indoor air quality. Call us anytime at 912-373-8447 for outstanding service from our experts.
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