Today’s houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your utility costs down, it’s not so good for bringing ample fresh air inside.
Recently built houses are securely sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older residences do. As a result, your residence might begin to smell stale, feel too humid or have issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home, they could experience increasing problems.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to enhance the ventilation in your residence in Pflugerville. Many of the options that we’ll talk about soon are easy and economical.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the fastest method to get fresh air into your residence during mild weather. But it’s important to know this typically isn’t a year-round possibility 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’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy conditions, because the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Turn on Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans eliminates stale air, excess moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also economical to run. 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 provides quiet, uninterrupted operation. These fans often are equipped with a sensor that will switch them on automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to make a note to turn it on or off.
However, it’s essential to note that an exhaust fan can undesirably influence your home’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Balanced
The ideal humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal percentage of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can improve your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your household comfortable at a more energy-efficient temp.
If there isn’t enough humidity, you may experience dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to crack. In contrast, humidity that’s too high can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The smartest way to keep humidity in check is with a whole-home solution. We have humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. There’s no need to transport an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you move.
It’s also essential to be aware an accurate humidity amount can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temp, helping you pay less on utility expenses.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best methods to bring in more fresh air into your residence year-round. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously remove stuffy 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 good for warm locations, since it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some climates can benefit from both systems, so ask our Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning ventilation professionals about what’s ideal for your Pflugerville home.
If musty or persistent odors are a problem in your house, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an added level of filtration, which can also provide support with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you find the right option for your home. Contact us at 512-355-1482 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your current equipment and learn about your needs prior to delivering our recommendations on the best options to increase ventilation in your home.