Today’s homes are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your heating and cooling expenses down, it’s bad for introducing ample fresh air inside.
Recently constructed homes are firmly sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older homes do. Subsequently, your residence may start to smell musty, feel too humid or run into troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they may experience increasing symptoms.
Fortunately, it’s not complicated to increase the ventilation in your house in Bartlesville. Many of the solutions that we’ll go over shortly are easy and economical.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest approach to get fresh air into your home during pleasant weather. But it’s crucial to be aware this usually isn’t a year-round solution and can create problems if you have a family member with seasonal allergies. If so, you shouldn’t open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the highest, according to Mayo Clinic. You’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy conditions, because the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Turn on Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans gets rid of stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other indoor contaminants. They’re also economical to run. 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 delivers nearly noiseless, constant operation. These fans often are equipped with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when humidity is too elevated, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s important to note that an exhaust fan can undesirably impact your house’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Regulated
The right humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal percentage of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can boost your home’s indoor air quality and keep your family comfy at a more energy-efficient setting.
If there isn’t enough humidity, you could have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to splinter. In contrast, humidity that’s too elevated can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and worsen allergies or asthma.
The smartest approach to keep humidity in check is with a whole-home solution. We have humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your heating and cooling 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 level can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temp, helping you save more on energy costs.
4. Install a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best approaches to get additional fresh air into your house all year. There are two different types—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually remove musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for cool climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is excellent for warm climates, since it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so ask our Farris Heating & Air ventilation experts about what’s best for your Bartlesville residence.
If musty or lingering odors are an issue in your residence, you can also buy 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 experts are here to help you select the ideal solution for your home. Contact us at 918-333-0376 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your existing equipment and listen to your needs before offering our suggestions on the ideal possibilities to improve ventilation in your residence.