The weather in South Bend, Indiana, provides every type of extreme, then the summers bring temperatures in the mid to high eighties with plenty of humidity.
The Springtime & fall seasons tend to be wet, cold & windy.
The winters last the longest, & the conditions are cold cold & snowy. The temperature correctly drops into the teens or even the downside digits & the snow piles up in numerous feet. There is rarely a time when we’re not running either the air conditioner or the boiler. The cost of heating & cooling is considerable, making up approximately half of the energy costs. I’ve done my best to tighten up the home & eliminate energy waste. New windows & doors, caulking, weatherstripping & insulation help to seal up leaks & prevent heated & cooled air from escaping, however, these preventive measures also stop outdoor air from coming inside, while this is beneficial for energy efficiency, it’s awful for indoor air quality, however since my pal and I can rarely open a window in South Bend, pollutants get trapped inside! Dust, dander, pollen, mold spores, VOCs & all sorts of contaminants get endlessly circulated throughout the home & can lead to health concerns. I wasn’t quite sure what to do to improve indoor air quality. I asked the Heating & Air Conditioning supplier who handles the repair of the boiler & air conditioner. He suggested a heat reclaimy ventilator or HRV that works to bring fresh air into the household separate from energy losses. Once the HRV was installed, I immediately noticed the improvement. The home stays cleander, feels more comfortable, & the air stinks fresher! Because the ventilator uses the outgoing stale air to pre-heat the incoming air, it also helps to reduce the workload of the boiler & reduce energy bills.