Today’s houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your energy bills low, it’s not so great for getting ample fresh air inside.
Recently constructed residences are firmly sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older houses are able to. Subsequently, your home can appear to smell stuffy, feel too humid or experience troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home, they might experience growing symptoms.
Luckily, it’s not hard to improve the ventilation in your home in Macon. Most of the solutions that we’ll go over soon are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest approach to get fresh air into your residence during moderate weather. But it’s essential to know this frequently isn’t a year-round option and can create problems if you have a family member with 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 weather, since the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Operate Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans gets rid of stale air, excess moisture, odors and other indoor contaminants. They’re also economical 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 recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers nearly silent, constant operation. These fans often are equipped with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s crucial to know that an exhaust fan can undesirably impact your home’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Regulated
The best humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct percentage of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can improve your house’s indoor air quality and keep your residence comfortable at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If there isn’t enough humidity, you might experience 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 result in mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The wisest way to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We offer humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your furnace and air conditioning system. You won’t have to lug an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you go.
It’s also essential to know an accurate humidity concentration can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient setting, helping you pay less on heating and cooling expenses.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best approaches to get more fresh air into your home all year. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems constantly eliminate musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is great for cold climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is fantastic for warm climates, because it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both units, so ask our Air Temperature Control ventilation professionals about what’s a good fit for your Macon home.
If stuffy or ongoing odors are an issue in your residence, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems give an additional level of filtration, which can also assist with decreasing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation professionals are here to help you find the right product for your residence. Contact us at 478-202-3170 right away for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll view your present equipment and find out about your needs in advance of giving our recommendations on the best options to boost ventilation in your residence.