Modern houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your energy expenses low, it’s bad for bringing ample fresh air inside.
Recently constructed residences are firmly sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older houses can. Because of this, your house could start to smell stuffy, feel too humid or run into troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they might complain of increasing problems.
Thankfully, it’s not difficult to enhance the ventilation in your house in Houston. The majority of of the options that we’ll go over soon are easy and economical.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest method to get fresh air into your home during pleasant temperatures. But it’s crucial to know this typically isn’t a year-round possibility and can lead to problems if someone in your household has seasonal allergies. If so, you’ll want to avoid opening windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the highest, according to Mayo Clinic. You also don’t want to open them during dry, windy weather, as the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Operate Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans gets rid of stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also reasonable to run. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year in electricity if you were to operate 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 often come with a sensor that will turn them on automatically when there’s too much humidity, so you won’t have to make a note to turn it on or off.
However, it’s crucial to know that an exhaust fan can undesirably influence your house’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Home’s Humidity Even
The best humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct percentage of humidity won’t enhance ventilation, it can enhance your home’s indoor air quality and keep your residence comfortable at a more energy-efficient temp.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you may suffer from dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your home, causing them to crack. On the flip side, humidity that’s too elevated can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The smartest method to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We offer 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 critical to realize an accurate humidity concentration can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient setting, helping you save more on utility costs.
4. Install a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the top approaches to get additional fresh air into your house year-round. There are two different types—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously eliminate stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is great for chilly climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it emits. ERV is good for humid climates, because it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so talk with our Marcos AC & Heating ventilation experts about what’s a good fit for your Houston residence.
If stuffy or ongoing odors are a problem in your home, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems give an additional level of filtration, which can also provide support with reducing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you find the ideal option for your house. Contact us at 713-469-3357 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your current equipment and find out about your needs before giving our suggestions on the right solutions to enhance ventilation in your house.