New houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your energy costs low, it’s bad for bringing adequate fresh air inside.
Newer houses are firmly sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older houses are able to. Subsequently, your home can begin to smell musty, feel too humid or experience problems with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they might report increasing symptoms.
Fortunately, it’s not complicated to increase the ventilation in your house in Greensburg. Many of the options that we’ll go over shortly are simple and reasonably priced.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the fastest way to get fresh air into your residence during moderate weather. But it’s important to know this typically isn’t a year-round option and can create problems if someone in your home 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 don’t want to open them during dry, windy conditions, as the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Operate Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans gets rid of stale air, excess moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also inexpensive to operate. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 annually in electricity if you were to keep it on 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you want to do this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides nearly noiseless, constant operation. These fans usually 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 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 Residence’s Humidity Balanced
The best humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct amount of humidity won’t increase ventilation, it can improve your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your residence comfy at a more energy-efficient temp.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you might have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to split. In contrast, humidity that’s too elevated can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also result in mold and mildew growth and worsen allergies or asthma.
The wisest approach to keep humidity under control is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. You won’t have to lug an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you walk.
It’s also crucial to know an accurate humidity amount can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you spend less on energy bills.
4. Install a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the smartest approaches to bring in added fresh air into your residence all year. There are two different types—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually get rid of stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for chilly climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it lets out. ERV is good for humid climates, as it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both systems, so check with our Wallpe Heating & Cooling ventilation pros about what’s best for your Greensburg residence.
If stuffy or persistent odors are a problem in your residence, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an extra level of filtration, which can also provide support with reducing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your house.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you select the right product for your home. Contact us at 812-663-7252 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your current equipment and listen to your needs in advance of offering our recommendations on the best possibilities to improve ventilation in your residence.