New residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your energy costs small, it’s not so great for getting adequate fresh air inside.
Newer residences are securely sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older residences can. Consequently, your home could appear to smell stuffy, feel too humid or have troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home, they may experience growing symptoms.
Luckily, it’s not complicated to enhance the ventilation in your residence in Zelienople. Many of the options that we’ll talk about soon are simple and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest method to get fresh air into your residence during moderate temps. But it’s crucial to know this frequently isn’t a year-round possibility and can cause problems if someone in your household has seasonal allergies. If this applies to you, you’ll want to avoid opening windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the worst, according to Mayo Clinic. You also don’t want to open them during dry, windy weather, since the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Run Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans gets rid of stale air, extra 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 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 recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers nearly noiseless, continuous operation. These fans typically include a sensor that will switch them on automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s essential to note that an exhaust fan can negatively influence your home’s temperature, since it’s removing air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Even
The best humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal concentration of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can improve your house’s indoor air quality and keep your family comfortable at a more energy-efficient setting.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you might experience dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to splinter. In contrast, humidity that’s too great can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and worsen allergies or asthma.
The wisest approach to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. You don’t need to transport an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you go.
It’s also critical to know the correct humidity amount can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you spend less on energy expenses.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the top methods to get additional fresh air into your home year-round. There are two different types—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually get rid of musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is good for chilly climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is excellent for hot climates, as it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both units, so talk with our Knoechel Heating Company ventilation pros about what’s best for your Zelienople house.
If stuffy or persistent odors are a problem in your home, you can also buy a whole-house air purification system. These systems offer an extra level of filtration, which can also assist with reducing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your house.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you find the ideal solution for your residence. Contact us at 724-425-5852 right away for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll view your existing equipment and find out about your needs before giving our suggestions on the ideal solutions to boost ventilation in your home.