Because of the weather extremes in South Bend, Indiana, a tightly sealed home is a priority. We switch between relying on the furnace and the air conditioner just about all year round. The outdoor temperature drops down into the negative readings during the winter and soars in the mid to high eighties during the summer. When the heating system is running, we have concerns with insufficient humidity and stale, stuffy air. During the cooling season, excess humidity is a problem and the air can feel clammy and smell musty. The cost of heating and cooling adds up to around fifty percent of the household energy expenses. Preventing energy waste helps to trim the budget. I’ve caulked, weatherstripped, insulated and improved insulation. I’ve taken every precaution to stop the heated and cooled air I pay for from leaking out. I try everything I can think of to prevent outdoor air from coming in. While this helps to minimize utility bills, it creates concerns with indoor air quality. Ventilation is vital to a healthy living environment. Otherwise, all sorts of contaminants become trapped inside. There is a constant production of new pollutants in the home. The dog, cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene products, pesticides, pressboard furniture, moisture and all sorts of processes create new concerns. Dust mites, dander, pollen, bacteria, viruses, VOCs and mold spores are just some of the pollutants getting endlessly circulated by the heating and cooling system. To clean up indoor air quality and create a healthier living space, I invested into a heat recovery ventilator. This amazing air quality add-on works to pull stale air out of the house and replace it with fresh, clean air without sacrificing efficiency. In the winter, it actually uses the stale outgoing air to preheat the incoming air and reduces demands on the furnace. In the summer, it helps to get rid of excess humidity, lessening the workload of the air conditioner. The HRV has lowered my heating and cooling bills, significantly elevated comfort and provides a more enjoyable, hygienic home.