New homes are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your energy expenses down, it’s not so good for bringing ample fresh air inside.
Newer residences are securely sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older houses are able to. Subsequently, your home might appear to smell musty, feel too humid or experience troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they may report worsening issues.
Thankfully, it’s not difficult to increase the ventilation in your residence in the Rio Grande Valley. Many of the solutions that we’ll go over soon are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest method to get fresh air into your home during moderate weather. But it’s crucial to know this frequently isn’t a year-round solution and can create problems if you have a family member with seasonal allergies. If this is the case, you’ll want to avoid opening 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 conditions, because the weather can irritate allergies.
2. Run Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Using these fans draws out stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other indoor contaminants. They’re also economical to use. 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 advises looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that offers nearly noiseless, continuous operation. These fans usually are equipped with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when there’s too much humidity, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s important to be aware that an exhaust fan can adversely affect your home’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Home’s Humidity Balanced
The right humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right concentration of humidity won’t increase ventilation, it can enhance your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your home pleasant at a more energy-efficient temp.
If the humidity is too low, you could experience dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to split. In contrast, humidity that’s too great can make air appear stale or stuffy. It can also contribute to mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The smartest approach to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We have humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. You won’t have to carry an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you go.
It’s also crucial to be aware an accurate humidity level can also make air more comfy at an energy-efficient setting, helping you save more on utility costs.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Adding a mechanical ventilation system is one of the smartest approaches to get more fresh air into your house all year. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems constantly remove stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for chilly climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it lets out. ERV is excellent for hot areas, since it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so ask our Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. ventilation pros about what’s a good fit for your the Rio Grande Valley home.
If musty or lingering odors are trouble in your house, you can also buy a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an extra level of filtration, which can also assist with reducing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you select the right solution for your residence. Contact us at 956-630-3522 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your present equipment and listen to your needs prior to delivering our advice on the ideal possibilities to increase ventilation in your house.