Modern homes are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your energy expenses down, it’s bad for bringing enough fresh air inside.
Newer houses are tightly sealed, which shows they don’t “breathe” like older houses are able to. Consequently, your residence could begin to smell stale, feel too humid or experience problems with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home, they might experience growing issues.
Fortunately, it’s not complicated to improve the ventilation in your home in Libertyville. Most of the answers that we’ll go over soon are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the fastest approach to get fresh air into your home during moderate weather. But it’s essential to be aware this frequently isn’t a year-round possibility and can lead to 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 greatest, according to Mayo Clinic. You’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy weather, as the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans gets rid of stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also inexpensive to use. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year in electricity if you were to operate it 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re looking into this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that offers nearly silent, continuous operation. These fans frequently include a sensor that will turn them on automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to think about turning it on or off.
However, it’s essential to be aware that an exhaust fan can undesirably affect your home’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Even
The best humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct amount of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can enhance your home’s indoor air quality and keep your residence comfy at a more energy-efficient temp.
If there isn’t enough humidity, you can have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also affect wood flooring and furnishings in your home, causing them to split. In contrast, humidity that’s too elevated can make air appear stale or stuffy. It can also contribute to mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The wisest way to keep humidity in check is with a whole-home solution. We offer humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your furnace and air conditioning system. You won’t have to carry an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you walk.
It’s also important to be aware an accurate humidity concentration can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient temp, helping you save more on utility expenses.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the top approaches to introduce additional fresh air into your home throughout the 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 great for cool climates, since it holds on to the heat from the indoor air it emits. ERV is good for warm climates, since it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so check with our TopTec Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical ventilation experts about what’s ideal for your Libertyville house.
If stale or ongoing odors are trouble in your home, you can also purchase a whole-house air purification system. These systems give an extra level of filtration, which can also provide support with decreasing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you choose the ideal product for your house. Contact us at 847-362-0262 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your present equipment and listen to your needs prior to offering our suggestions on the best solutions to enhance ventilation in your house.