Today’s residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is excellent for keeping your energy expenses low, it’s bad for introducing enough fresh air inside.
Recently constructed residences are firmly sealed, which indicates they don’t “breathe” like older residences can. Because of this, your residence can start to smell stuffy, feel too humid or have troubles with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they could report worsening issues.
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to enhance the ventilation in your residence in Oxford. Most of the options that we’ll talk about soon are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest approach to get fresh air into your home during pleasant temperatures. But it’s essential to know this typically isn’t a year-round solution and can cause problems if someone in your home has 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 days, because the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Turn on Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Using these fans eliminates stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also inexpensive to operate. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 yearly in electricity if you were to operate it 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re looking into this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers nearly silent, constant operation. These fans frequently come with a sensor that will turn them on automatically when humidity is too elevated, so you won’t have to make a note to turn it on or off.
However, it’s essential to know that an exhaust fan can negatively affect your house’s temperature, since it’s exhausting air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your House’s Humidity Balanced
The best humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal concentration of humidity won’t improve ventilation, it can enhance your home’s indoor air quality and keep your residence pleasant at a more energy-efficient temp.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you might have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also influence wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to splinter. On the other hand, humidity that’s too elevated can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also contribute to mold and mildew growth and worsen 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 heating and cooling system. You won’t have to transport an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you move.
It’s also critical to realize an accurate humidity level can also make air more comfy at an energy-efficient temp, helping you save more on energy expenses.
4. Purchase a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the top approaches to get additional fresh air into your home throughout the year. There are two different types—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems continually eliminate stuffy indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is good for cold climates, since it holds on to the heat from the indoor air it lets out. ERV is good for humid areas, since it removes warmth and moisture from your air. Some climates can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so ask our Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc ventilation pros about what’s a good fit for your Oxford home.
If stuffy or ongoing odors are an issue in your home, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems give an added level of filtration, which can also provide support with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you choose the right option for your residence. Contact us at 662-281-1231 right away for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll view your current equipment and find out about your needs before providing our recommendations on the ideal solutions to increase ventilation in your residence.