Today’s houses are more energy-efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your utility bills small, it’s not so great for getting adequate fresh air inside.
Recently built residences are firmly sealed, which shows they don’t “breathe” like older residences are able to. Consequently, your residence might appear to smell stale, feel too humid, or have troubles with condensation. If you have an allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they could report worsening symptoms.
Fortunately, it’s not complicated to increase the ventilation in your residence. Most of the options that we’ll go over shortly are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest approach to get fresh air into your house during pleasant temperatures. But it’s important to be aware this usually isn’t a year-round possibility and can lead to problems if you have a family member with seasonal allergies. If so, you shouldn’t open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the worst, according to Mayo Clinic. You also shouldn’t open them during dry, windy conditions, since the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Turn on Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Using these fans gets rid of stale air, excessive moisture, odors, and other indoor pollutants. They’re also reasonable to operate. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year in electricity if you were to run it 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re interested in doing this, the CEE advises looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides nearly silent, constant operation. These fans usually include a sensor that will switch them on automatically when there’s too much humidity, so you won’t have to make a note to turn it on or off.
However, it’s essential to be aware that an exhaust fan can negatively affect your home’s temperature since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your House’s Humidity in Check
The best humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal concentration of humidity won’t increase ventilation, it can enhance your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your residence pleasant at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If the humidity is too low, you might suffer from dry skin, a scratchy throat, or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to split. On the flip side, humidity that’s too great can make the air seem stale or stuffy. It can also result in mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The smartest way to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We offer humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your furnace and air conditioning system. You don’t need to transport an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you go.
It’s also essential to realize the correct humidity concentration can also make the air comfier at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you spend less on energy expenses.
4. Install a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the top methods to get added fresh air into your residence all year. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually get rid of musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is good for cold climates since it retains the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is excellent for warm climates, as it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both units, so check with our Kowalski Heating, Cooling & Plumbing ventilation pros about what’s a good match for your McMurray house.
If stale or ongoing odors are trouble in your home, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an additional level of filtration, which can also help with reducing pet dander, allergens, and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you select the ideal option for your home. Contact us right away for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your current equipment and find out about your needs in advance of providing our advice on the best options to enhance ventilation in your house.