Modern residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your utility costs small, it’s not so good for getting enough fresh air inside.
Newer houses are tightly sealed, which shows they don’t “breathe” like older houses can. Consequently, your residence can begin to smell stale, feel too humid or have troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they could experience increasing symptoms.
Fortunately, it’s not complicated to enhance the ventilation in your home in Cambridge. Most of the options that we’ll talk about soon are uncomplicated and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the fastest way to get fresh air into your home during moderate temperatures. But it’s important to be aware this usually isn’t a year-round possibility and can cause problems if someone in your home has seasonal allergies. If so, you shouldn’t open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the worst, according to Mayo Clinic. You also shouldn’t open them during dry, windy weather, because the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans draws out stale air, excess moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also reasonable 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’re interested in doing this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers quiet, constant operation. These fans usually are equipped with a sensor that will turn them on automatically when humidity is too elevated, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s crucial to note that an exhaust fan can negatively impact your residence’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Home’s Humidity Regulated
The best humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct concentration of humidity won’t increase ventilation, it can enhance your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your home comfy at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If the humidity is too low, you may suffer from dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your home, causing them to split. In contrast, 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 smartest way to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your heating and cooling system. You don’t need to lug an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you go.
It’s also crucial to know an accurate humidity concentration can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient setting, helping you pay less on utility bills.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the top ways to introduce more fresh air into your house throughout the year. There are two different kinds—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously eliminate stuffy 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 lets out. ERV is great for warm areas, because it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both systems, so check with our Pliescott HVAC Services LLC ventilation pros about what’s ideal for your Cambridge residence.
If musty or lingering odors are trouble in your residence, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems offer an extra level of filtration, which can also help with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your house.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you select the ideal solution for your residence. Contact us at 410-228-4822 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your present equipment and learn about your needs before offering our recommendations on the right options to increase ventilation in your home.