When your home includes young children, winter comfort is about so much more than simply staying warm—because it’s also about health, safety and peace of mind.
Toddlers and babies will always spend more time indoors during the winter than older kids, they breathe much faster than adults, and they’re far more sensitive to indoor air quality (IAQ) and temperature changes. This subsequently makes furnace maintenance an essential aspect of family care during the coldest months of the year.
We recently got in touch with the furnace maintenance experts in Centennial Colorado at Apex Clean Air to better understand what parents should keep in mind this time of year, so check out the below sections to learn more about how furnace upkeep is a lot more important than most parents realize!
Young Children Are Particularly Sensitive To Indoor Household Conditions
As a young child’s body is still in the early stages of development, they’re far more vulnerable to airborne irritants and indoor temperature fluctuations.
This means that when a home’s furnace system isn’t maintained correctly, it can lead to allergens, dust and dry air circulating throughout the property—and subsequently creating congestion, respiratory discomfort and sleep issues.
Routine furnace maintenance goes a long way to ensure that your home receives consistent heating and clean airflow. You’ll also experience reduced cold spots due to even warm air distribution, which is especially crucial for play rooms and nurseries where children spend a lot of their time.
Indoor Air Quality Is More Important Than Ever
It’s normal for families to keep their windows closed for prolonged periods during the winter season.
What a lot of parents don’t realize is that this will lead to their heating systems circulating the same air over and over again on a daily basis. If your system has blocked vents, dirty filters or neglected components, you’ll likely experience a diminished indoor air quality—and not necessarily any obvious red flag warning signs.
Regular furnace maintenance each year includes filter replacements and checkups, ductwork inspections, and various other tasks to guarantee that a property’s airflow is clean.
Even these simple upkeep steps will drastically reduce allergen and dust buildup, which leads to a healthier environment for your child’s young lungs!
Every Parent’s Top Priority Should Be Safety
It’s also important for parents to understand that improperly maintained furnaces pose significant safety risks, including potential carbon monoxide leaks.
Although these types of leaks are rare, the situations remain serious in that homes with young children can undergo long periods of time without clearly showing any symptoms.
Professional furnace inspections and maintenance appointments each fall will support a household’s needs toward identifying potential issues like faulty components or heat exchanger cracks long before they pose any dangerous threats. And when furnace maintenance is paired with functional carbon monoxide detectors, parents receive an added layer of protection and peace of mind.
Reliable Indoor Heating Supports Sleep Quality
Every parent with a young child understands all too well just how important sleep quality is, and this pertains to both kids and parents alike.
Inconsistent indoor heating often leads to discomfort, nighttime wakeups, and a whole bunch of frustration for the whole family.
On the other hand, a well-maintained furnace gives family homes a reliable, steady source of warmth that makes it much easier for kids to sleep comfortably and deeply. Consistent indoor temperatures are particularly essential for infants, who just so happen to be much less able to regulate their own body temperatures.
Preventing Wintertime Furnace Repair Emergencies
There are few things that are more stressful for parents during a serious cold snap than a furnace breakdown.
Emergency furnace repair appointments will undoubtedly force your family into seeking temporary heating solutions until the work is done, and it’ll likely disrupt your routine and add all sorts of unnecessary stress on your plate.
Regular furnace maintenance helps ensure that your risks of unexpected breakdowns are significantly reduced by catching lingering issues early on. And for parents, this type of proactive approach is important due to it helping you avoid situations that could compromise safety or comfort during the most extreme days of winter.
Stress Reduction & Long-Term Cost
Keeping your furnace properly maintained isn’t just about this winter, because it’s also about your system’s long-term reliability.
Furnaces that are taken care of correctly always operate more efficiently and last much longer, which will ultimately help your household save a lot on HVAC expenses over the long haul.
And for families with young children, fewer repairs and emergencies leads to one less source of stress during an already busy time of year!
Caring For Your Home’s Furnace Is Caring For Your Entire Family
Parents caring for young children have all sorts of routine tasks that they need to manage on a daily basis, and furnace maintenance just so happens to be the type of home improvement chore that directly supports your entire family’s health, comfort and safety.
By keeping your property’s heating system in good working order this winter, you’ll be able to develop a dependable, warm environment that’s easy for your children to play, rest and grow in!
Bob Duncan is the lead writer and partner on ConversationsWithBianca.com. A passionate parent, he’s always excited to dive into the conversation about anything from parenting, food & drink, travel, to gifts & more!