New residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your heating and cooling bills down, it’s not so good for bringing ample fresh air inside.
Recently constructed homes are securely sealed, which shows they don’t “breathe” like older houses are able to. As a result, your house may begin to smell musty, feel too humid or experience troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they might complain of growing symptoms.
Fortunately, it’s not complicated to improve the ventilation in your home in Pacheco. Most of the solutions that we’ll discuss soon are simple and economical.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest approach to get fresh air into your house during pleasant temps. But it’s crucial to be aware this usually isn’t a year-round possibility and can cause problems if you have a family member with seasonal allergies. If this applies to you, you’ll want to avoid opening windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the worst, according to Mayo Clinic. You also shouldn’t open them during dry, windy days, because the weather can irritate allergies.
2. Run Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans eliminates stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also inexpensive 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 advises looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that offers quiet, uninterrupted operation. These fans usually include a sensor that will turn them on automatically when humidity is too elevated, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s crucial to be aware that an exhaust fan can adversely affect your residence’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your House’s Humidity Even
The ideal humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal amount of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can boost your home’s indoor air quality and keep your household comfortable at a more energy-efficient temp.
If the humidity is too low, you can suffer from dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to splinter. On the flip side, 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 method to keep humidity under control 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 lug an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you move.
It’s also important to note the right humidity level can also make air more comfy at an energy-efficient setting, helping you spend less on heating and cooling bills.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the wisest ways to introduce added fresh air into your home all year. There are two different kinds—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems constantly remove musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for cold climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is great for hot climates, since it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both systems, so check with our Clean Air HVAC ventilation professionals about what’s best for your Pacheco home.
If stuffy or persistent odors are an issue in your home, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems offer an extra level of filtration, which can also assist with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you choose the right product for your residence. Contact us at 925-233-6238 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your existing equipment and listen to your needs before offering our suggestions on the best options to improve ventilation in your residence.