At Honest Air Conditioning in Mesa, Arizona, we believe an efficient air conditioner and furnace are critical for the health of your newborn. There is a myth that babies need the warm conditions received in the womb. The truth is that babies under 12 months old are at a higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if the nursery is too hot.
If your baby gets too hot, he or she is less likely to wake up and cry to let you know there is an issue. By the time you arrive, it may be too late to prevent harm to your baby. You can decrease the risk by keeping the temperature of your baby’s room between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. Due to the hot climates in Arizona, you can increase the temperature to a maximum of 75 degrees.
The only time you need to be concerned about SIDS is when your baby is sleeping. You can keep your son or daughter much safer by taking a few simple precautions to ensure good indoor air quality.
Monitoring Indoor Air Quality in Your Baby’s Room
You’ll find numerous tools on the market to monitor indoor air quality. These monitors have meters that will show you the air quality your baby is breathing. Once you have determined if there are any issues, you can take the steps necessary to clean the air.
The Importance of Ventilating Your Baby’s Room
Even if you have already purchased an air purifier for your infant’s room, you will need proper ventilation, too. Opening a window for approximately 10 minutes each day will allow fresh air into the space. If you have a ventilation system, it is very important to maintain and clean it regularly to eliminate the potential growth of bacteria and mold.
Cleaning Your Vents and Ducts
If your vents and ducts are not clean, there may be ventilation issues in your baby’s room. The pollutants circulating through the air could make your infant sick. We recommend preparing the room in advance. Make certain you clean all of the vents and ducts thoroughly or call a professional.
Manage Your Humidity Levels
It’s important to find a balanced level of humidity. If there is too much humidity, the air will be heavier and harder to breathe. High humidity can result in the accelerated growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungus, which are all harmful to a baby. You want the humidity level to be as close to 40% as possible. One of the least expensive ways to accomplish this is to use a dehumidifier. To ensure optimal results, you will need to clean it periodically.
Avoid Using Window Air Conditioners
Those who use window air conditioners should consider switching to a full HVAC system. If you are unable to afford an installation, changing the central air filter regularly is important. If your unit is more than three years old and has not had its filter replaced, look into the housing and vent with a flashlight. There is a fairly good chance you will see spots of mold.
Unfortunately, older window air conditioners are known for causing mold spores. Mold can easily contaminate the room and make your baby ill. We strongly recommend replacing the unit or doing a thorough cleaning. If your unit has been compromised, you can help to prevent illness with a more efficient and newer unit.
Keeping Your Baby Away From Direct Contact With Vents
Even if you have already made certain the vents are clean, your infant can still get sick if the crib is too close to the vents. You can prevent your baby from being too cold or hot simply by moving the crib. If you cannot move the crib, change the direction of the air blowing out the vents so that it is not blowing right on your son or daughter.
At Honest Air Conditioning, we have found that having a fully operational HVAC system with proper ventilation is extremely important for the health of your baby. We recommend scheduling maintenance for your HVAC on a set schedule. It is best to get a tune-up twice a year: once before winter and once before summer. We are always happy to offer you expert advice. When one of our technicians checks your unit, he or she will make certain everything is operating efficiently. Our technicians have been trained to spot any potential issues.
The Benefits of an Air Purifier
One of the best ways to ensure your baby is breathing high-quality air is to use a purification system. With modern advances, these systems can now effectively filter a minimum of 99.5% of all harmful particles. Certain types of particles can be easily inhaled by your infant. These particles then travel to the lungs and are absorbed into your baby’s bloodstream. At this point, the contaminated particles can reach your baby’s heart, brain, and liver.
Setting up an air purifier is one of the simplest ways to make certain your son or daughter is breathing in clean air. It is an efficient, proven, and safe technology. The unit will not produce anything potentially harmful such as chemicals, ions, or ozone.
Use a Vacuum With a HEPA Filter
Vacuuming often kicks up dust and harmful particles into the air. However, you can avoid air quality issues by using a vacuum with a HEPA filter when you clean the furniture and flooring in your baby’s room. A high-quality vacuum is capable of capturing and filtering 99.7% of all particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size. If you have carpeting, this step is even more important.
Decreasing Pet Dander
Your pets shed both dead hair and skin cells. This can hurt the sinuses and lungs of your baby. You can effectively decrease how much pet dander is in the air by grooming your pets on a regular basis. If possible, keep your pets out of your baby’s room. Washing your infant’s bedding regularly will prevent any pet dander from accumulating enough to make your baby sick.
The pervasive nature of pet dander means it will work its way into your son’s or daughter’s room no matter how careful you are. Following all of the steps above is the best possible way to decrease this risk as much as possible.
Installing a Smart Thermostat
The body temperature of your baby is extremely fragile. To help ensure your infant remains healthy, we recommend the installation of a smart thermostat. This will enable you to keep the temperature of the room within the recommended temperatures. A smart thermostat is better at turning an HVAC on and off and adjusting to other factors. The additional benefit is it will help to keep your energy bills down. Smart thermostats are great at preventing wasteful air conditioning.
Keeping Your Baby Safe
The team at Honest Air Conditioning in Mesa provides all of the services required to ensure the safety of your baby. This includes HVAC installation, maintenance, and repair. Give us a call today if you need help making sure your infant is breathing the best possible indoor air.