4 Methods to Boost Ventilation in Your Residence

Today’s residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your utility costs low, it’s not so great for getting ample fresh air inside.

Recently built houses are tightly sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older homes can. Consequently, your home may begin to smell stale, feel too humid or have problems with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they could report growing issues.

Fortunately, it’s not complicated to improve the ventilation in your house in Abilene. Most of the solutions that we’ll talk about in a minute are easy and inexpensive.

1. Open Windows and Screened Doors

This is the fastest way to get fresh air into your residence during pleasant weather. But it’s essential to know this typically isn’t a year-round possibility and can lead to problems if someone in your household has seasonal allergies. If this applies to you, 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 conditions, since the weather can aggravate allergies.

2. Run Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms

Using these fans eliminates stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also inexpensive to use. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 yearly in electricity if you were to keep it on 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).

If you’re interested in doing this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers nearly noiseless, continuous operation. These fans typically come with a sensor that will turn them on automatically when there’s too much humidity, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.

However, it’s crucial to note that an exhaust fan can undesirably influence your home’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.

3. Keep Your House’s Humidity Regulated

The best humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct amount of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can improve your house’s indoor air quality and keep your family comfy at a more energy-efficient temp.

If the humidity is too low, you might experience dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to crack. On the other hand, humidity that’s too high can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.

The wisest way 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 carry an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you walk.

It’s also important to realize an accurate humidity level can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you spend less on energy costs.

4. Purchase a Ventilation System

Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the wisest ways to bring in more fresh air into your home throughout the year. There are two different kinds—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously remove stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.

HRV is great for chilly climates, since it holds on to the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is good for humid climates, since it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both systems, so talk with our Abilene Air-Tech Inc ventilation pros about what’s ideal for your Abilene house.

If stale or ongoing odors are an issue in your home, you can also purchase a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an added 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 select the right product for your house. Contact us at (325) 692-5850 right away for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your current equipment and listen to your needs before providing our recommendations on the best solutions to enhance ventilation in your home.