New houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your utility expenses low, it’s bad for getting ample fresh air inside.
Newer residences are firmly sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older houses are able to. Because of this, your residence might appear to smell stuffy, feel too humid or experience issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they may experience growing issues.
Luckily, it’s not difficult to increase the ventilation in your home in Naples. Many of the options that we’ll review shortly are simple and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest method to get fresh air into your house during pleasant temps. But it’s essential to be aware this typically isn’t a year-round solution and can create 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 don’t want to open them during dry, windy conditions, because the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Turn on Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans eliminates 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 advises looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that provides nearly silent, uninterrupted operation. These fans often include a sensor that will trigger then to run 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 note that an exhaust fan can undesirably affect your home’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Balanced
The right humidity level for your residence is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the right percentage of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can improve your residence’s indoor air quality and keep your household comfy at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If the humidity is too low, you might have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to fracture. On the other hand, humidity that’s too elevated can make air seem stale or stuffy. It can also contribute to mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The best approach to keep humidity under control is with a whole-home solution. We sell humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. There’s no need to transport an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you move.
It’s also critical to be aware an accurate humidity level can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient setting, helping you save more on energy expenses.
4. Get 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 styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continuously eliminate musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for chilly climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is great for humid climates, since it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both units, so talk with our CNR Air Conditioning Inc ventilation experts about what’s a good match for your Naples home.
If stale or lingering odors are an issue in your house, you can also get a whole-house air purification system. These systems give an additional 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 find the ideal option for your residence. Contact us at 239-241-5318 right away for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll visually inspect your present equipment and find out about your needs in advance of offering our advice on the right possibilities to enhance ventilation in your residence.