Will a Live Christmas Tree Impact Your Air Quality?
Putting up a Christmas tree and decorating it with the whole family is an annual tradition for many. Some households put up their tree as early as the weekend after Thanksgiving to maximize holiday cheer. Unfortunately, if you have watery eyes while looking at your Christmas tree, there’s a good chance that may be because of allergens. Live Christmas trees put you and your family in direct contact with pollen, mold spores, and even insects. Here’s everything you need to know about Christmas tree syndrome and how you can combat it.
Dangers of Christmas Trees
A key part of celebrating Christmas is putting up a beautiful tree in the living room. While some families choose hassle-free artificial trees, many opt for live ones because of their charming scent and natural beauty. Christmas tree shopping often begins to ramp up right after Thanksgiving.
Christmas trees are cut down weeks in advance of being sold, often around the beginning of November. They’re usually grown with a variety of growth enhancers and pesticides to make them as attractive as possible. Depending on the tree farm, they may be sprayed with terpenes to enhance that woody pine scent.
Coniferous trees in particular are known for their high moisture contents, making it easy for mold to grow and spread. These trees can carry dozens of different mold species, as well as burrowing insects and even small rodents. When you bring a live Christmas tree into your home, you’re introducing a wide range of allergens and contaminants that will directly impact your quality of life.
Family members with asthma may experience more frequent attacks. They’ll struggle to breathe or feel comfortable in the home. Common allergy symptoms include headaches, sinus congestion, fatigue, and even rashes or skin irritation. The longer a live tree is in your home, the worse your indoor air quality will become.
Protecting Your Indoor Air Quality
Both live and artificial Christmas trees come with risks. Fortunately, there are several ways you can protect your family while still honoring your important holiday traditions. Here are a few easy tips you can start implementing to boost your indoor air quality this Christmas season.
Research Tree Farms
It’s best to find a tree farm that doesn’t use any additional chemicals or scent enhancers. Christmas trees are already full of so many allergens. Harmful additives could worsen your family’s allergies and cause damage to your HVAC system. You should also look for farms that shake off the tree before sending it home with you. Rest assured, this process doesn’t damage the tree’s branches or change how it looks.
Thoroughly Wash the Tree
While it may be tempting to drive home and immediately bring your tree inside, it’s best to wash it out first. Grab a hose and spray the whole tree down. This will help to remove any extra pollen, insects, and loose needles that would otherwise fall off in your home. You can then leave the tree in your warm garage for a few days to dry before bringing it in to decorate.
Cover Yourself When Decorating
Avoid letting your skin touch the tree as you decorate it. Cover your hands and arms with gloves and long sleeves. Some people have allergies to the tree’s sap, which is often what causes red, itchy bumps. You can even put a mask on to avoid breathing in any remaining pollen or spores. Be sure to regularly vacuum up any loose needles or debris. Containing the tree to one corner of your living room will help minimize the spread of contaminants.
Avoid Frequent Touching
Strive to keep young family members and pets away from the tree. Try adding a decorative fence or train set. Smaller trees can be elevated so they’re out of reach. The more the tree is touched and moved, the more debris falls into the home. Pets are likely to knock the tree down or carry contaminants in their fur. Keeping family members away can also protect your ornaments and Christmas gifts.
Utilize Air Purifiers
Keeping your live tree hydrated is a key part of keeping it beautiful and lively. Unfortunately, this also impacts your home’s regular humidity level and air quality. Set up air purifiers throughout your living space to stop the spread of contaminants. A whole-home purifying system is the best way to protect the entire home. However, portable dehumidifiers and air purifiers can prove just as effective in smaller areas.
Invest in Quality Ornaments
Some soft fabrics and materials are more susceptible to moisture and mold than others. Collect ornaments made of hard metal, plastic, or glass. These materials can be wiped off and safely stored every season. Decorations made from fabric, cotton, wool, twine, or silk are more likely to become damaged due to mold. Never keep ornaments made out of food like popcorn strings or candy cane decorations for more than one season.
Improve Storage Options
An artificial Christmas tree can wreak just as much havoc in the home as a live one if improperly stored. Don’t leave your tree in a cardboard box in a humid area of your basement. It’s best to store your decorations in a dry, temperature-controlled area. Utilize sturdy plastic cases that can be securely shut. This will protect both your artificial tree and your soft ornaments from moisture and mold damage.
Remove Your Tree Sooner
While you may want to keep your Christmas tree in your home for weeks, it’s not ideal for your family’s safety. These trees immediately begin distributing allergens and contaminants into your breathing air. Within just a few days, you could notice a difference in your home’s cleanliness and safety. You should only keep a live tree inside for about four to seven days. Consider buying one toward the middle of the month or utilizing an artificial tree until the actual holiday.
Schedule HVAC Service
After Christmas has passed, schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment. Mold spores could have easily spread from the tree to your HVAC system, ductwork, or belongings. Scheduling professional service will ensure that your heating and cooling system is efficient and protected. An expert technician will also be able to test and improve your home’s indoor air quality and bring any significant concerns to your attention.
Top Heating and Cooling Care
Polar Air & Heating, Inc. is a trusted heating and cooling company in Las Vegas, NV. We’ve been loyally serving local families and businesses since 1998. You can always count on our BBB-accredited business to go the extra mile to meet your unique comfort needs. Our highly experienced technicians are always prepared and continue to receive vital training.
Let our skilled experts maintain, repair, or replace your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump. We can also check your indoor air quality and offer quality air filtration services. Rely on us to install germicidal UV lights or help you with new construction projects. We even provide 24/7 emergency repair service, so you always have access to high-quality care. Call Polar Air & Heating, Inc. today to schedule your next HVAC appointment in Las Vegas.
