Modern residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your utility costs small, it’s not so great for bringing adequate fresh air inside.
Recently constructed residences are tightly sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older houses are able to. Consequently, your residence can begin to smell stuffy, feel too humid or have issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they could complain of increasing problems.
Thankfully, it’s not difficult to enhance the ventilation in your home in Bloomfield. The majority of of the answers that we’ll review shortly are easy and reasonably priced.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest method to get fresh air into your residence during pleasant weather. But it’s essential to note this usually isn’t a year-round option 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 highest, according to Mayo Clinic. You also don’t want to open them during dry, windy days, because the weather can irritate allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans gets rid of stale air, excess moisture, odors and other indoor contaminants. They’re also economical to run. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 annually 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 recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides nearly silent, uninterrupted operation. These fans frequently come with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when there’s too much humidity, so you won’t have to think about turning it on or off.
However, it’s crucial to note that an exhaust fan can adversely affect your home’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Regulated
The right humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct percentage of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can improve your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your residence comfortable at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If the humidity is too low, you can have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also affect wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to split. In contrast, humidity that’s too high can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also result in mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The best approach to keep humidity under control is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your heating and cooling system. You won’t have to lug an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you walk.
It’s also critical to note an accurate humidity concentration can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temp, helping you save more on heating and cooling costs.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Adding a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best methods to get more fresh air into your residence throughout the year. There are two different types—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually remove musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for chilly climates, since it holds on to the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is excellent for humid locations, since it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some climates can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so check with our Stanford Heating & Cooling ventilation professionals about what’s a good fit for your Bloomfield home.
If musty or ongoing odors are an issue in your house, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an added level of filtration, which can also provide support with reducing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you find the right solution for your home. Contact us at 812-825-8695 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your existing equipment and learn about your needs prior to giving our advice on the ideal options to increase ventilation in your residence.