Today’s residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your energy expenses small, it’s bad for getting adequate fresh air inside.
Recently constructed residences are tightly sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older homes can. Because of this, your residence might begin to smell musty, feel too humid or have issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they may experience growing symptoms.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to enhance the ventilation in your house in Rockford. Most of the solutions that we’ll review soon are easy and reasonably priced.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest approach to get fresh air into your home during mild weather. But it’s important to be aware this typically isn’t a year-round possibility and can create problems if you have a family member with seasonal allergies. If this is the case, you shouldn’t open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the greatest, according to Mayo Clinic. You also don’t want to open them during dry, windy weather, because the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans draws out stale air, excess moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also economical to run. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year in electricity if you were to operate 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 delivers nearly noiseless, uninterrupted operation. These fans usually are equipped with a sensor that will switch them on automatically when humidity is too elevated, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s important to note that an exhaust fan can negatively impact your home’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your House’s Humidity Balanced
The right humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right percentage of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can improve your house’s indoor air quality and keep your home comfortable at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you could suffer from dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your home, causing them to fracture. On the flip side, humidity that’s too great can make 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 in check is with a whole-home solution. We offer humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your heating and cooling system. There’s no need to lug an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you go.
It’s also important to realize the right humidity concentration can also make air more comfy at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you spend less on heating and cooling bills.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the wisest ways to bring in more fresh air into your residence all year. There are two different types—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems constantly remove musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is great for chilly climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is fantastic for humid locations, because it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both systems, so check with our Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, Inc ventilation experts about what’s a good fit for your Rockford home.
If musty or persistent odors are trouble in your house, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems offer an added level of filtration, which can also assist with decreasing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation professionals are here to help you find the best option for your residence. Contact us at (815)914-6197 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll view your present equipment and find out about your needs in advance of delivering our suggestions on the right possibilities to boost ventilation in your residence.