New homes are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your utility bills small, it’s bad for bringing enough fresh air inside.
Newer residences are securely sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older residences do. Because of this, your residence may appear to smell stale, feel too humid or run into troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they could complain of growing problems.
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to improve the ventilation in your home in Beckley and Mount Hope. The majority of of the options that we’ll discuss shortly are uncomplicated and reasonably priced.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest method to get fresh air into your house during moderate weather. But it’s important to note this usually isn’t a year-round option and can cause problems if someone in your home has seasonal allergies. If so, you’ll want to avoid opening 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, since the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Operate Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans draws out stale air, excess moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also economical to operate. 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 want to do this, the CEE advises looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers nearly silent, uninterrupted operation. These fans typically are equipped with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to think about turning it on or off.
However, it’s essential to note that an exhaust fan can negatively influence your home’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Home’s Humidity in Check
The right humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right concentration of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can boost your home’s indoor air quality and keep your household 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 impact wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to split. In contrast, humidity that’s too high can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also contribute to mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The best way to keep humidity under control is with a whole-home solution. We have humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your furnace and air conditioning system. There’s no need to transport an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you walk.
It’s also critical to know an accurate humidity concentration can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you save more on energy expenses.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Adding a mechanical ventilation system is one of the wisest methods to bring in added 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 musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is great for chilly climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it lets out. ERV is great for warm climates, as it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both units, so check with our Appalachian Heating ventilation pros about what’s a good fit for your Beckley and Mount Hope home.
If stuffy or lingering odors are an issue in your home, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems offer an additional level of filtration, which can also help with reducing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation professionals are here to help you choose the right product for your house. Contact us at 304-707-0600 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your current equipment and find out about your needs in advance of delivering our recommendations on the right solutions to improve ventilation in your residence.