As wonderful as the holiday season is, it can also be a very hectic time. Cleaning, decorating, keeping the little ones occupied, and working are enough to stress anyone out even at such a joyous time of year. Your friends at Xenia Heating and Air have some helpful tips to make your holiday season a success and allow you to enjoy yourself:
Christmas Tree 101
More and more people are putting up their Christmas trees as early as October and leaving them up until mid-January or later. These trees are the artificial kind, of course, as a live tree wouldn’t fare very well indoors for that length of time. Many people, however, enjoy the authenticity of a real Christmas tree. If you are planning to have a live Christmas tree in your home, there are some things that can affect your home, family, and visitors that you should be aware of.
Having a live Christmas tree in your house can increase the number of mold spores in your house exponentially. Whereas the average home normally has about 500 to 700 mold spores per cubic meter, a live Christmas tree can easily elevate this number by ten times or more, increasing the number of mold spores in your home to over 5,000 mold spores per cubic meter. The is bad news for anyone in your home who suffers from asthma, allergies, or other types of respiratory conditions. Mold spores trigger these conditions as well as another allergy known as Christmas Tree Syndrome. Many people don’t realize they have it or even know that such a condition exists. They usually blame their symptoms on other issues, often related to weather. The most common symptoms of Christmas Tree Syndrome include:
- Coughing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Hives/rash
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Itchy, runny nose
- Lethargy
- Headache
- Insomnia
It is caused by an adverse reaction to the significant increase in mold spores and residual pollen that have hitched a ride into your home on the live tree. Using a humidifier is a good way to reduce the mold spore content and keep the air inside your home clean and healthy for everyone to breathe.
If you will be keeping your Christmas tree up for more than a week, you should give serious consideration to purchasing an artificial tree.
If you choose to display an artificial tree in your home, it must be stored away correctly after the holidays to help prevent any allergy-related issues when it is set up next Christmas. Artificial trees collect dust, debris, mold spores, and other pollutants while they are on display, so your tree will need to be cleaned thoroughly prior to being stored away. Wipe down the artificial tree and any other decorations that will be stored away with a clean, damp cloth. Do the same to your Christmas decorations so that everything will be clean and ready to decorate your home again next Christmas.
Store your tree properly in an airtight plastic bin or with plastic bags tied or taped securely all around the tree. Never place it back in the cardboard box it came in. Cardboard attracts and retains moisture. This promotes the growth of mold and other irritants and allergens. When your tree is correctly stored in a bin or secured with plastic bags, place it in a humidity-controlled area of your home, such as in an attic or basement with a dehumidifier, to protect it further from pollutants.
Set Up Holiday Projects for the Kids
Get the kids excited about the holidays by involving them in the decorating process. Plan out a different craft project they can do each day. Search YouTube for some videos filled with age-appropriate projects for everyone. Choose a room or a specific area of the house and convert it into their own personal holiday workshop. Place a tote with all of the crafting supplies they will need in this area. Cover a table with an inexpensive, disposable holiday-themed table cover or tape cute wrapping paper on top of it. The kids will be occupied for hours and they will have fun being creative. You will have some great holiday keepsakes from their projects as well.
Keep Your Home Warm and Welcoming
If you’ve put it off until now, don’t wait another minute to call Xenia Heating and Air to schedule your yearly HVAC professional inspection and cleaning. Knowing that your heating system is in top form and that the air it is blowing into your home is clean and healthy, allergen-free and mold-free.
Let Your Furnace Have a Little Break
Give your furnace some time off for Christmas. A bright, crackling fire in your fireplace sets the holiday mood like nothing else. No fireplace? Buy one of the lovely electric heaters that are designed to look like a real, working fireplace. Either option will give your home a warming holiday glow and it will allow you to turn your thermostat down for a bit, giving your hard-working furnace the break it deserves.
From everyone at Xenia Heating and Air to each of our esteemed customers, happy holidays to you and your loved ones. If you need an HVAC inspection and cleaning or for any other HVAC needs, call us at 937-708-8451 or visit us online at https://www.xeniaheatingandair.com/schedule-now/. We are here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
