6 Steps to a Healthier Home
The start of a new year can be a special time to recharge, reset, and reevaluate. If you have health and wellness goals for 2022, your home should be a part of your plan. Read on to learn six steps you can take at home for a healthier and more comfortable environment:
Upgrade Your Tap Water
Resolving to hydrate more in 2022? If you currently depend on bottled water, consider adding a reverse osmosis or under-sink water filter to improve the taste of your tap water (and reduce your plastic waste!).
If your water at home is especially hard (meaning it has a high concentration of minerals such as calcium and magnesium), it can also be taking a toll on your skin, your hair, and your appliances and fixtures. A water softener can help you feel better and extend the life of your plumbing, saving money in the long run.
Audit Your Air Quality
During the winter heating months, maintaining good Indoor Air Quality can be especially challenging. Cold weather encourages more time indoors with less fresh air, which in turn can lead to the spread of viruses and influenza as well as plain discomfort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside our homes can have three to five times more pollutants than the outdoors. Adding accessories to your HVAC system such as an Air Purifier that eliminates 99.9% of contaminants and viruses (including the SARS-COV-2 virus) or a Whole Home Humidifier can significantly improve the air you breathe at home, increase comfort, and support your family’s wellness with very little to no additional maintenance needed.
Plan Regular Filter Changes
This is one of our go-to tips, but it bears repeating. Regular filter changes not only keep your unit working in top condition, but directly impact the air you and your family breathe at home. Do your lungs (and your HVAC system) a solid and change your filter based on your unit manufacturer’s recommendations. If you have pets, burn a lot of candles, or have other “dust” factors (like DIY projects or construction going on), that can shorten the lifespan of your filter and may mean it needs to be changed more often.
Not sure how to change your filter, or how often it should be changed? Talk to your JK service technician at your next Precision Tune-Up and they will be happy to show you the ropes. Then add a reminder to your phone or on the family calendar to help you remember.
Go Green
Have a green thumb? Your favorite houseplants don’t just look good—they can improve the air quality in your home by filtering contaminants and producing clean air. According to NASA’s Interior Air Pollution Study, plants such as the Peace Lily and Boston Fern can remove toxins and add oxygen to your living space. Have a black thumb? Try extra-hearty plants such as the Snake Plant or Porthos Ivy.
Plus, studies show that having indoor plants can be beneficial for your mental health as well, decreasing stress levels and boosting productivity and well-being.
Try Touchless
Frequent, thorough handwashing is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to keep you and the people around you healthy throughout the year. For messy or high-traffic areas like your kitchen sink, consider upgrading your faucet to a touchless option such as the Moen Wave in order to minimize surface contact and decrease time spent disinfecting.
Set Yourself Up for (Sleep) Success
According to experts at the National Institute for Health, sleep is a crucial part of your overall wellbeing and plays a role in reducing blood pressure, improving heart and kidney function, maintaining mental health, and more. If you’re not getting a quality night’s sleep, consider changes you may be able to make to improve your shuteye such as darkening the room, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, adding a hot bath or shower to your nighttime routine, setting your programmable thermostat to lower the temperature at bedtime, and more.
