The holiday season can be a hectic time. Juggling work, home, and family can get really stressful, really fast. Here at Centerville Heating & Cooling, we have some helpful tips to help you make it through the holidays stress-free and ready to enjoy the festivities:
Tips for Choosing the Right Kind of Tree.
In some households, the Christmas tree goes up before Thanksgiving Day and stays up well into the New Year. These are usually artificial trees, since a live tree wouldn’t stay fresh and attractive for so long, but many people enjoy having a real Christmas tree. If you decide on a live tree for your home, you need to be aware of the impact it could have on your home and family, as well as any holiday guests.
Studies have indicated that a live tree can significantly increase the amount of mold in your home by ten times or more. The average home has approximately 500 to 700 mold spores per cubic meter. Having a live tree can increase this figure to more than 5,000 mold spores per cubic meter. Such a significant increase in mold spores is likely to irritate asthma in those who suffer from it and cause other respiratory problems, including a condition known as Christmas Tree Syndrome, a type of allergy that most people don’t even realize they have. They generally chalk it up to seasonal colds or “bugs” that are going around. The most common symptoms of Christmas Tree Syndrome are:
- Coughing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Hives/rash
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Itchy, runny nose
- Lethargy
- Headache
- Insomnia
It is essentially a reaction to the significant increase in mold spores and residual pollen (attached to the live tree) in the air due to the presence of the live tree. If you choose a live Christmas tree for your home, use a humidifier to help keep the air as clean and free of mold and pollen as possible.
If you choose an artificial tree, it is important that you store it away correctly after Christmas to avoid allergy and respiratory-related problems next year. Artificial trees collect dust, mold spores, and other airborne irritants while they are beautifying your home, so your tree will need to be cleaned before being stored away. Wipe it down using a clean, damp cloth, along with any other decorations that are also being stored for next year. You can be sure that everything is clean and allergen-free when it is time to decorate your home for next Christmas.
Store your artificial tree in an airtight, clean plastic bin or plastic bags tied securely around the length of the tree. Do not return it to the cardboard box in which it was purchased. Cardboard retains moisture, which promotes the growth of mold and other allergens. When your tree is properly secured for storage, put it in a humidity-controlled area of your home, such as an attic or basement with a dehumidifier. (https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/christmas-tree-allergy)
Keep the Kids Busy with Holiday Crafts
Chase away your kids’ boredom during Christmas vacation by planning fun holiday craft projects for them every day. Pre-plan a holiday-themed project daily leading up to Christmas Eve. Get some help from YouTube videos for age-appropriate ideas. Choose a room or an uncluttered area and designate it their holiday workshop. Store all the craft supplies nearby in a handy, organized tote. Cover a tabletop with a disposable holiday table cover or cover the top with festive wrapping paper. The kids will be occupied with fun activities, and you will have some awesome holiday keepsakes.
Ensure That Your Home Will be Comfy and Warm
If you haven’t already done so this season, call Centerville Heating and Cooling to make an appointment for your yearly HVAC inspection and cleaning. You will have the peace of mind of knowing that your furnace is in top form and that the air in your home is clean and pollutant-free.
Give Your Furnace the Gift of a Break
Give your furnace some time off over the holidays. There’s nothing more welcoming and festive than a dancing fire in your fireplace. If you don’t have a fireplace, improvise! Ask Santa for one of the realistic-looking electric heaters for your home. You will enjoy the traditional holiday atmosphere while keeping your home toasty warm, which will allow you to turn your thermostat back a few degrees or even to shut it off for a while.
From everyone here at Centerville Heating & Cooling to all of you, our valued customers and friends, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season. If you are in need of an HVAC inspection and cleaning to make sure your home is ready for the holidays, or for any other HVAC needs, give us a call at 937-959-1169 or visit us online at www.centervilleheatandcooling.com/appointments/. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
