Today’s houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your heating and cooling expenses low, it’s not so great for bringing ample fresh air inside.
Recently constructed houses are firmly sealed, which shows they don’t “breathe” like older houses do. Consequently, your residence could begin to smell stuffy, feel too humid or run into issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they could complain of growing symptoms.
Fortunately, it’s not complicated to increase the ventilation in your house in Chadron. Many of the solutions that we’ll discuss shortly are easy and reasonably priced.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest approach to get fresh air into your residence during moderate temps. But it’s essential to know this usually isn’t a year-round option 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 greatest, according to Mayo Clinic. You also don’t want to open them during dry, windy weather, as the weather can irritate allergies.
2. Run Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans gets rid of stale air, excess moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also economical to use. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year in electricity if you were to run it 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re interested in doing this, the CEE recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that offers quiet, uninterrupted operation. These fans frequently come with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when there’s too much humidity, so you won’t have to think about turning it on or off.
However, it’s essential to note that an exhaust fan can undesirably influence your house’s temperature, since it’s removing air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Home’s Humidity Balanced
The right humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct concentration of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can boost your home’s indoor air quality and keep your home comfortable at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you may suffer from dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also affect wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to split. On the flip side, humidity that’s too elevated can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The best method to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your heating and cooling system. There’s no need to lug an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you walk.
It’s also critical to realize the correct humidity amount can also make air more comfy at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you pay less on utility bills.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best approaches to bring in more fresh air into your house all year. There are two different kinds—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually remove stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for cool climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is excellent for hot climates, because it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some climates can benefit from both systems, so check with our MPC Heating & Cooling ventilation pros about what’s a good match for your Chadron home.
If stale or lingering odors are trouble in your home, you can also buy a whole-house air purification system. These systems provide an extra level of filtration, which can also provide support with decreasing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your house.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you find the ideal product for your residence. Contact us at 308-832-4321 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your current equipment and learn about your needs prior to delivering our suggestions on the best options to improve ventilation in your home.