New houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your utility bills low, it’s not so good for bringing adequate fresh air inside.
Recently built houses are firmly sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older residences can. Consequently, your residence might begin to smell musty, feel too humid or experience troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they might complain of growing problems.
Thankfully, it’s not complicated to enhance the ventilation in your residence in South Beloit and Belvidere. Many of the answers that we’ll discuss in a minute are uncomplicated and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the fastest method to get fresh air into your house during mild weather. But it’s crucial to note this usually isn’t a year-round option and can create problems if someone in your home has seasonal allergies. If so, 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 weather, because the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Run Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans eliminates stale air, excess moisture, odors and other indoor contaminants. They’re also reasonable to operate. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year 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 recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that offers nearly silent, constant operation. These fans typically include a sensor that will turn them on automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s important to be aware that an exhaust fan can adversely impact your residence’s temperature, since it’s removing air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Home’s Humidity in Check
The right humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right percentage of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can improve your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your home pleasant at a more energy-efficient temp.
If the humidity is too low, you might have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your home, causing them to split. On the flip side, humidity that’s too great can make air appear stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and worsen allergies or asthma.
The best way to keep humidity in check is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your furnace and air conditioning system. There’s no need to transport an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you go.
It’s also critical to be aware the right humidity amount can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temp, helping you pay less on utility costs.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the wisest approaches to bring in more fresh air into your house year-round. 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 cool climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it emits. ERV is fantastic for humid locations, as it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some climates can benefit from both systems, so talk with our Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc ventilation pros about what’s best for your South Beloit and Belvidere house.
If musty or ongoing odors are a problem in your house, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an additional level of filtration, which can also assist with decreasing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you select the right product for your house. Contact us at 877-389-2465 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your current equipment and listen to your needs prior to offering our recommendations on the best options to enhance ventilation in your house.