Modern residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your energy expenses low, it’s not so good for bringing enough fresh air inside.
Recently constructed residences are securely sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older residences can. Consequently, your home can appear to smell musty, feel too humid or run into issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they might complain of growing problems.
Thankfully, it’s not hard to enhance the ventilation in your residence in Tuscaloosa. Most of the options that we’ll go over shortly are easy and reasonably priced.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest method to get fresh air into your residence during pleasant weather. But it’s crucial to be aware this frequently isn’t a year-round option and can cause problems if someone in your household has seasonal allergies. If this is the case, you shouldn’t open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the worst, 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
Operating these fans eliminates stale air, extra 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 run 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 provides nearly noiseless, constant operation. These fans frequently come with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to think about turning it on or off.
However, it’s essential to note that an exhaust fan can undesirably affect your home’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Even
The right humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal amount of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can boost your home’s indoor air quality and keep your residence pleasant 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 influence wood flooring and furnishings in your home, causing them to split. On the other hand, humidity that’s too great can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also result in mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The smartest approach to keep humidity under control is with a whole-home solution. We offer humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. You don’t need to lug an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you move.
It’s also crucial to note an accurate humidity concentration can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temp, helping you pay less on utility bills.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Adding a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best methods to introduce more fresh air into your house year-round. There are two different kinds—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously remove musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is great for cold climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it lets out. ERV is fantastic for hot climates, because it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both systems, so ask our KDM Service Corporation ventilation pros about what’s best for your Tuscaloosa home.
If stale or ongoing odors are a problem in your home, you can also purchase 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 home.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you find the right product for your house. Contact us at 205-208-8090 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your current equipment and learn about your needs prior to providing our suggestions on the right possibilities to boost ventilation in your house.