In the past, there was no need to ventilate old homes because they weren’t made to be airtight. Outside air came into your home and inside air leaked out so there was basically a built-in ventilation system, even though these older homes required more energy to heat. These days, however, energy prices are much higher, and we have a much better understanding of how to conserve energy and stay comfortable.
The downside is, when you properly seal and insulate your home, you trap air inside. This means you should complement your improved airtightness with an equally effective ventilation system.
Three ways to ventilate:
- Natural ventilation – When the weather is nice outside, ventilate your home by opening the windows and doors or using an attic fan, if you have one. This method is good for the fall and spring but is not really an option during a chilly Minnesota winter or when the weather gets hot and muggy in the summer.
- Local ventilation – Pollutants are going to infiltrate your home. You can’t do much about that but you can control whether or not they flourish once they’re inside. Make sure to install ventilation fans in your bathrooms and kitchen to help get rid of moist and dirty air in these locations.
- Whole-house ventilation – Our winters are so long that Minnesota homeowners have to do more to protect themselves from the bitter cold. Your humidifier adds moisture into the air, and your home is sealed up tight to avoid outrageous heating bills. It’s a perfect breeding ground for pollutants unless the air is routinely exchanged for fresh outside air. Whole-home systems use your ducts and vents to expel stale air and bring in fresh air as needed. There are a variety of systems, so have an HVAC expert take a look at your home and plan the right approach. If you already have whole-house ventilation, make sure the system is serviced annually at the same time that your HVAC equipment is serviced.
If you’d like a professional to help you ventilate your home properly, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been helping homeowners in the Twin Cities metro area keep their air healthy and fresh for more than 37 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ventilation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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