New homes are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your utility costs down, it’s not so good for getting enough fresh air inside.
Newer homes are tightly sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older homes do. Subsequently, your home can start to smell musty, feel too humid or have troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they may experience worsening symptoms.
Thankfully, it’s not complicated to increase the ventilation in your house in Muldrow. Most of the solutions that we’ll discuss shortly are uncomplicated and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest way to get fresh air into your residence during mild weather. But it’s essential to be aware this usually isn’t a year-round option and can lead to problems if someone in your home has seasonal allergies. If this is the case, you don’t want to open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the worst, according to Mayo Clinic. You’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy weather, as the weather can irritate allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans eliminates stale air, extra moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also reasonable to operate. 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 suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides quiet, uninterrupted operation. These fans often come with a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when there’s too much humidity, so you won’t have to think about turning it on or off.
However, it’s important to note that an exhaust fan can undesirably affect your residence’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity in Check
The ideal humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal concentration of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can improve your house’s indoor air quality and keep your residence comfy at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you might suffer from dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your home, causing them to crack. On the flip side, humidity that’s too elevated can make air appear stale or stuffy. It can also contribute to mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The wisest method to keep humidity in check is with a whole-home solution. We have humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your heating and cooling system. There’s no need to carry an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you move.
It’s also important to know the correct humidity level can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient temp, helping you save more on utility costs.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the smartest approaches to introduce added fresh air into your house all year. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously get rid of musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is great for cold climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it emits. ERV is excellent for warm locations, as it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both systems, so check with our Air Service Co. ventilation experts about what’s ideal for your Muldrow home.
If stuffy or lingering odors are trouble in your home, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an extra level of filtration, which can also assist with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you select the best solution for your home. Contact us at 918-212-8943 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your present equipment and find out about your needs in advance of delivering our recommendations on the best options to increase ventilation in your house.