Because of the weather extremes in South Bend, IN, a tightly sealed property is a priority, and my friend and I switch between relying on the furnace and the cooling system just about all year round, then the outdoor temperature drops down into the disadvantage readings during the winter season and soars in the mid to high eighties during the summer… When the boiler is running, my pal and I have concerns with inadequate humidity and stale, stuffy air! During the cooling season, excess humidity is a complication and the air can feel clammy and smell musty.
The cost of heating and cooling adds up to around fifty percent of the property 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 spend my savings for from leaking out. I try everything I can guess of to prevent outdoor air from coming in. While this helps to minimize energy bills, it creates concerns with indoor air quality, and ventilation is vital to a healthy living environment… Otherwise, all sorts of contaminants become trapped inside. There is a constant production of current pollutants in the home. The pet, cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene products, pesticides, pressboard furniture, moisture and all sorts of processes create current 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 update it with fresh, clean air without sacrificing efficiency. In the winter, it really 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 cooling system. The HRV has lowered my heating and cooling bills, significantly elevated comfort and provides a more enjoyable, hygienic home.