Today’s homes are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your utility expenses down, it’s bad for introducing ample fresh air inside.
Newer homes are tightly sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older homes can. Because of this, your home may begin to smell musty, feel too humid or experience problems with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home, they could experience growing symptoms.
Thankfully, it’s not hard to enhance the ventilation in your residence in Central Point. Most of the answers that we’ll talk about shortly are uncomplicated and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest way to get fresh air into your home during pleasant weather. But it’s essential to know this frequently isn’t a year-round solution and can cause problems if someone in your household has 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 shouldn’t open them during dry, windy days, since the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans eliminates stale air, extra moisture, odors and other indoor contaminants. They’re also economical to run. 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 looking into this, the CEE recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers nearly noiseless, constant operation. These fans frequently are equipped with a sensor that will switch them on automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to think about turning it on or off.
However, it’s crucial to note that an exhaust fan can undesirably affect your house’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your House’s Humidity Even
The right humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right concentration 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 there isn’t enough humidity, you might have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also affect wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to splinter. In contrast, humidity that’s too great can make air appear stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The best approach to keep humidity in check is with a whole-home solution. We have humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your furnace and air conditioning system. You won’t have to transport an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you move.
It’s also essential to be aware the right humidity amount can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temp, helping you pay less on energy costs.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the wisest methods to bring in more fresh air into your residence all year. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually eliminate stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is good for cool climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it emits. ERV is excellent for warm locations, since it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so talk with our Titan Heating & Air Conditioning ventilation experts about what’s best for your Central Point home.
If musty or persistent odors are an issue in your residence, you can also buy 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 home.
Our ventilation professionals are here to help you choose the best option for your home. Contact us at 541-286-6617 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your current equipment and find out about your needs prior to delivering our recommendations on the ideal options to boost ventilation in your home.