Because of the weather extremes in South Bend, Indiana, a tightly sealed household is a priority.
We switch between relying on the furnace and the air conditioner just about all year round, then the outdoor temperature drops down into the disadvantage learnings during the winter season and soars in the mid to high eighties during the summer.
When the heating system is running, my good friend and I have troubles with insufficient humidity and stale, stuffy air, during the cooling season, excess humidity is a concern and the air can feel clammy and smell musty. The cost of heating and cooling adds up to around fifty percent of the condo energy expenses… Preventing energy waste helps to trim the budget, but i’ve caulked, weatherstripped, insulated and improved insulation. I’ve taken every precaution to stop the heated and cooled air I spend money for from leaking out. I try everything I can know of to prevent outdoor air from coming in. While this helps to minimize energy bills, it creates troubles with indoor air quality; Ventilation is vital to a healthy residing environment, otherwise, all sorts of contaminants become trapped inside. There is a constant production of new pollutants in the home. The pet, cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene products, pesticides, pressboard furniture, moisture and all sorts of processes create new troubles. 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 wipe up indoor air quality and create a healthier residing space, I invested into a heat recovery ventilator. This amazing air quality add-on works to pull stale air out of the household and update it with fresh, wipe 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.