Modern residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your heating and cooling bills down, it’s not so great for getting adequate fresh air inside.
Recently built residences are tightly sealed, which shows they don’t “breathe” like older houses do. As a result, your home may begin to smell stuffy, feel too humid or have issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they might report growing problems.
Luckily, it’s not complicated to improve the ventilation in your residence in Naples. The majority of of the answers that we’ll go over soon are uncomplicated and economical.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest method to get fresh air into your residence during mild weather. But it’s important to be aware this frequently isn’t a year-round possibility and can create problems if you have a family member with seasonal allergies. If so, you’ll want to avoid opening 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, since the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Using these fans gets rid of stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other indoor pollutants. They’re also inexpensive to operate. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 yearly in electricity if you were to keep it on 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re interested in doing this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that offers quiet, continuous operation. These fans typically include a sensor that will turn them on automatically when there’s too much humidity, 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 house’s temperature, since it’s removing air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity in Check
The right 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 enhance your house’s indoor air quality and keep your family comfy at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you can have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to split. On the other hand, humidity that’s too elevated can make air appear stale or stuffy. It can also contribute to mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The smartest method 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 transport an inefficient portable system across your house, spilling water as you walk.
It’s also important to be aware the right humidity concentration can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient temperature, helping you spend less on heating and cooling costs.
4. Get a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the wisest approaches to bring in additional fresh air into your home throughout the year. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems constantly get rid of stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is great for cold climates, since it keeps the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is great for hot areas, because it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some climates can benefit from both units, so talk with our Speedy Air Conditioning ventilation pros about what’s best for your Naples home.
If musty or ongoing odors are an issue in your residence, you can also buy a whole-house air purification system. These systems provide an added 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 right product for your home. Contact us at 239-244-3439 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll view your current equipment and find out about your needs in advance of delivering our advice on the right options to improve ventilation in your residence.