Modern houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your heating and cooling expenses down, it’s not so great for getting enough fresh air inside.
Newer houses are securely sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older houses can. Consequently, your house can appear to smell stale, feel too humid or run into troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your household, they might report growing problems.
Luckily, it’s not difficult to enhance the ventilation in your house in Lafayette. The majority of of the options that we’ll review shortly are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest approach to get fresh air into your residence during pleasant temperatures. But it’s important to note this usually isn’t a year-round possibility and can cause problems if you have a family member with seasonal allergies. If this is the case, you shouldn’t open 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 weather, as the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Operate Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans draws out stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other indoor contaminants. They’re also inexpensive to operate. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year 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 advises looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides quiet, constant operation. These fans usually are equipped 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 important to be aware that an exhaust fan can undesirably affect your home’s temperature, since it’s removing air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Regulated
The ideal humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right amount of humidity won’t increase ventilation, it can improve your house’s indoor air quality and keep your loved ones comfy at a more energy-efficient setting.
If the humidity is too low, you might have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to fracture. On the flip side, humidity that’s too great can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and aggravate allergies or asthma.
The best way to keep humidity regulated 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 around your home, spilling water as you move.
It’s also important to be aware the correct humidity concentration can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you spend less on heating and cooling expenses.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the smartest methods to get added fresh air into your residence year-round. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems constantly eliminate musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is good for chilly climates, since it holds on to the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is great for hot areas, because it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both units, so ask our AC Sales ventilation pros about what’s a good fit for your Lafayette home.
If musty or lingering odors are a problem in your residence, you can also purchase a whole-house air purification system. These systems deliver an extra level of filtration, which can also help with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you choose the right product for your house. Contact us at (337) 234-2345 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your current equipment and find out about your needs in advance of delivering our recommendations on the right possibilities to boost ventilation in your house.
