Today’s residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your energy costs small, it’s not so good for getting enough fresh air inside.
Newer residences are securely sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older homes can. As a result, your home might begin to smell stuffy, feel too humid or experience problems with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home, they could report increasing symptoms.
Thankfully, it’s not complicated to enhance the ventilation in your house in Bishop. Most of the options that we’ll talk about shortly are uncomplicated and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest method to get fresh air into your house during pleasant temperatures. But it’s crucial to be aware this usually isn’t a year-round possibility and can create 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 also don’t want to open them during dry, windy days, since the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Operate Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans eliminates stale air, excess moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also reasonable to run. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year in electricity if you were to run it 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re interested in doing this, the CEE advises looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers quiet, continuous operation. These fans frequently are equipped 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 important to know that an exhaust fan can negatively affect your home’s temperature, since it’s exhausting 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 correct amount of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can improve your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your residence pleasant at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If the humidity is too low, you might have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to split. On the flip side, humidity that’s too great can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The wisest approach to keep humidity regulated 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 crucial to be aware the right humidity concentration can also make air more comfy at an energy-efficient setting, helping you pay less on heating and cooling costs.
4. Install a Ventilation System
Adding a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best approaches to get added fresh air into your residence year-round. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously eliminate musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is good for chilly climates, since it holds on to the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is fantastic for warm locations, as it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so talk with our Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning ventilation experts about what’s best for your Bishop house.
If musty or ongoing odors are trouble in your home, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems offer an extra level of filtration, which can also assist with decreasing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your house.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you select the best option for your home. Contact us at 760-784-9034 right away for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your present equipment and listen to your needs before delivering our suggestions on the ideal options to improve ventilation in your house.