Today’s houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your heating and cooling bills low, it’s not so good for getting adequate fresh air inside.
Newer homes are securely sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older homes are able to. As a result, your residence could appear to smell musty, feel too humid or experience problems with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they could experience growing issues.
Luckily, it’s not hard to increase the ventilation in your house in Wausau. Most of the answers that we’ll review in a minute are uncomplicated and economical.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest way to get fresh air into your home during moderate temperatures. But it’s crucial to be aware this frequently isn’t a year-round possibility and can create problems if someone in your household has seasonal allergies. If so, you don’t want to open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the worst, according to Mayo Clinic. You also don’t want to open them during dry, windy days, as the weather can irritate allergies.
2. Operate Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Using these fans eliminates stale air, extra moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also inexpensive 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 want to do this, the CEE recommends looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides nearly noiseless, continuous operation. These fans usually include a sensor that will turn them on automatically when humidity is too high, 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 negatively impact your house’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Home’s Humidity Balanced
The best humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct percentage of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can enhance your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your residence pleasant at a more energy-efficient temp.
If the humidity is too low, you may have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also affect wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to splinter. On the other hand, 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 under control is with a whole-home solution. We offer humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your heating and cooling system. You won’t have to transport 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 comfortable at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you spend less on heating and cooling expenses.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Adding a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best methods to introduce 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 ideal for cool climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is excellent for humid areas, as it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some locations can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so ask our Gilray Heating and Cooling ventilation professionals about what’s a good fit for your Wausau home.
If musty or lingering odors are an issue in your house, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems provide an extra level of filtration, which can also assist with decreasing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your residence.
Our ventilation experts are here to help you select the right solution for your home. Contact us at 715-301-0727 right away for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll view your existing equipment and learn about your needs before offering our advice on the ideal solutions to improve ventilation in your residence.