New homes are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your heating and cooling expenses down, it’s not so great for getting enough fresh air inside.
Newer houses are securely sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older residences do. Because of this, your house can appear to smell stale, feel too humid or have problems with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they might report growing issues.
Luckily, it’s not hard to enhance the ventilation in your house in Hodgenville. The majority of of the solutions that we’ll go over in a minute are simple and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest method to get fresh air into your home during pleasant temps. But it’s crucial to be aware this frequently isn’t a year-round solution and can lead to problems if someone in your home 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 highest, according to Mayo Clinic. You also shouldn’t open them during dry, windy days, because the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Using these fans draws out stale air, excess moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also inexpensive to operate. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 yearly in electricity if you were to run it 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 offers nearly silent, uninterrupted operation. These fans often come with a sensor that will turn them on automatically when there’s too much humidity, 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 impact your house’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your House’s Humidity Regulated
The ideal humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right amount of humidity won’t increase ventilation, it can boost your home’s indoor air quality and keep your residence pleasant at a more energy-efficient setting.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you could experience dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your home, causing them to split. In contrast, humidity that’s too high can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The best method to keep humidity under control is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. There’s no need to lug an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you go.
It’s also important to realize the right humidity amount can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient setting, helping you pay less on utility bills.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the top methods to introduce more fresh air into your home year-round. There are two different types—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 chilly climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it emits. ERV is great for humid areas, since it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some climates can benefit from both systems, so ask our Phelps Heating & Cooling ventilation experts about what’s best for your Hodgenville residence.
If musty 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 lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you choose the ideal option for your house. Contact us at 270-358-3167 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your present equipment and listen to your needs prior to providing our recommendations on the best possibilities to increase ventilation in your residence.