Today’s houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your energy costs down, it’s bad for getting adequate fresh air inside.
Recently built houses are firmly sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older residences are able to. As a result, your house might appear to smell stuffy, feel too humid or experience issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they may complain of worsening problems.
Luckily, it’s not hard to increase the ventilation in your home in Manassas. Most of the answers that we’ll talk about in a minute are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the fastest approach to get fresh air into your house during mild temps. But it’s crucial to know this typically isn’t a year-round possibility and can lead to problems if you have a family member with 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’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy days, because the weather can irritate allergies.
2. Turn on Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans draws out stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also economical to run. 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 interested in doing this, the CEE recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides quiet, constant operation. These fans usually are equipped 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 know that an exhaust fan can undesirably influence your residence’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Balanced
The ideal humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right concentration of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can boost your house’s indoor air quality and keep your home comfy at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you may suffer from dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also affect wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to fracture. In contrast, 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 best approach to keep humidity under control is with a whole-home solution. We have humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. There’s no need to lug an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you go.
It’s also important to be aware the correct humidity level can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you pay less on utility costs.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the smartest methods to get additional fresh air into your home year-round. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually remove musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for cool climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is excellent for warm climates, since it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so ask our Woody's Sudden Service Inc ventilation experts about what’s ideal for your Manassas residence.
If musty or persistent odors are a problem in your house, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an added level of filtration, which can also assist with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your house.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you find the right option for your residence. Contact us at 703-278-2036 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your current equipment and learn about your needs prior to providing our recommendations on the best possibilities to increase ventilation in your home.