New residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your utility costs down, it’s not so good for bringing ample fresh air inside.
Recently built houses are securely sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older houses are able to. As a result, your residence may begin to smell stale, feel too humid or run into troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they might report worsening symptoms.
Luckily, it’s not complicated to improve the ventilation in your house in West Jefferson. Most of the options that we’ll discuss shortly are easy and reasonably priced.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest way to get fresh air into your residence during mild weather. But it’s essential to know this typically isn’t a year-round possibility and can create 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’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy conditions, because the weather can irritate allergies.
2. Turn on Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans draws out stale air, extra moisture, odors and other indoor contaminants. They’re also economical to operate. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 yearly in electricity if you were to keep it on 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re looking into this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides nearly silent, constant operation. These fans often are equipped with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to make a note to turn it on or off.
However, it’s essential to note that an exhaust fan can undesirably affect your home’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Even
The right humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct percentage of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can enhance your house’s indoor air quality and keep your family comfortable at a more energy-efficient temp.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you can have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to splinter. On the other hand, humidity that’s too high can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The best way to keep humidity under control is with a whole-home solution. We offer humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your furnace and air conditioning system. There’s no need to lug an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you go.
It’s also essential to realize an accurate humidity concentration can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient temp, helping you spend less on energy bills.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the smartest approaches to get added fresh air into your home year-round. There are two different kinds—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously get rid of stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for cold climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it emits. ERV is great for warm climates, because it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so ask our West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. ventilation professionals about what’s best for your West Jefferson house.
If stuffy or persistent odors are a problem in your home, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems give an additional level of filtration, which can also help with reducing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you find the best product for your residence. Contact us at 614-879-9091 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll view your existing equipment and listen to your needs prior to providing our advice on the right possibilities to boost ventilation in your house.