Today’s residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your heating and cooling expenses small, it’s not so good for introducing enough fresh air inside.
Recently built homes are tightly sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older residences are able to. Consequently, your home might start to smell stuffy, feel too humid or experience troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they could complain of increasing issues.
Luckily, it’s not hard to increase the ventilation in your residence in Lake Worth. Most of the options that we’ll go over in a minute are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest method to get fresh air into your home during moderate temperatures. But it’s essential to note this usually isn’t a year-round possibility and can cause problems if you have a family member with seasonal allergies. If this is the case, you shouldn’t open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the highest, according to Mayo Clinic. You’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy conditions, because the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Operate Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans draws out stale air, extra moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also inexpensive to use. 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’re looking into this, the CEE recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that offers nearly silent, continuous operation. These fans frequently are equipped with a sensor that will switch them on automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s essential to know that an exhaust fan can undesirably impact your home’s temperature, since it’s removing air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your House’s Humidity Even
The best humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal percentage of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can improve your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your residence comfy at a more energy-efficient temp.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you can 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. On the other hand, humidity that’s too high can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also result in mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The smartest approach to keep humidity in check is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. There’s no need to transport an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you go.
It’s also critical to realize an accurate humidity amount can also make air more comfy at an energy-efficient setting, helping you save more on heating and cooling expenses.
4. Install a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the wisest methods to introduce additional fresh air into your house throughout the year. There are two different kinds—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually get rid of musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for chilly climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it lets out. ERV is fantastic for hot climates, as it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both systems, so check with our Smyth Air Conditioning Inc ventilation pros about what’s a good fit for your Lake Worth home.
If stuffy or ongoing odors are an issue in your house, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems provide an added level of filtration, which can also provide support with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your house.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you find the best option for your house. Contact us at 561-533-6066 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your current equipment and learn about your needs in advance of offering our advice on the best options to improve ventilation in your house.