Imagine a hot summer day— the sun is shining, making your surroundings dry. You just want to stay indoors, right? However, what happens when your house itself is also hot? As you turn on the fan or the AC, you’re welcomed by non-refreshing air that’s hot and heavy to the feeling.
Have you ever wondered how our ancestors kept their homes cool during summer days and warm during winter days without appliances? They’ve done so by having a well-thought natural ventilation system that keeps the air flowing around the home. It’s simple and effective, and the best part is, you can also give it a go at home!
Why is ventilation important?
The quality of the air you breathe is important wherever you are. Poor air quality at home may result in certain issues such as the following.
- Mold growth
- Condensation and moisture buildup in walls, windows, and surfaces
- Damaged walls
- Lingering odors around the home
- Low oxygen levels
Also, houses built nowadays have different materials compared to before. Most houses nowadays are made of building materials which significantly sets off gasses of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), flame retardants, formaldehyde, asbestos, and carbon dioxide— chemicals that can have negative impacts to your health.
When your home is properly ventilated, you can get rid of these indoor air pollutants, ensuring a safe home for you and your family. Plus, a trusty ventilation system at home can help reduce your electricity bills!
Tips for a well-ventilated home
Now that you know why home ventilation is important, you’re about to look for ways to improve your home’s ventilation, right?
Here are some tips to consider to create a well-ventilated home to improve indoor air quality.
Use your air conditioning unit
AC units aren’t only made for cooling down your home. These can also be used to circulate fresh air around your home and prevent viruses and bacteria from accumulating.
If you already have an AC unit, consider doing the following.
- Set your AC unit’s fan setting from “auto” to “on”. Doing so will make your unit’s fan run continuously even if the heating or cooling function isn’t on.
- Consider pleated filters instead of regular AC filters. Pleated filters are more effective at air filtration.
- Change filters every three months or according to what your AC unit’s manufacturer instructed.
- Have your AC unit inspected by a licensed professional at least once a year to ensure its operating properly and efficiently.
Open your windows and doors
What’s more of an easy and free way to circulate air around your home than opening your doors and windows? This invites fresh air from the outside to your home and removes the stake air from indoors.
However, you shouldn’t do this all the time, especially if it’s unsafe for you. If opening windows and doors may pose risks such as falling, triggering asthma symptoms, or outdoor pollution to come inside, then it’s best that you keep them shut and opt for safer methods.
Maximize your fans
If you want to improve air flow in your home without consuming too much electricity, you may want to use a fan instead.
Electric fans, particularly ceiling fans distribute air throughout your home and are considered to be a standard installation. These also keep the air cool, maintaining consistent temperatures in every season.
Here are some tips when you’re using ceiling fans for your home’s ventilation system.
- Set the blades to push air downward during the winter for consistent temperatures.
- Reverse the blades during the summer to draw air in from open windows for that cooling effect.
Consider using an air purifier
A great alternative to an HVAC system is an air purifier. These appliances can help your home dispense ventilation, improving indoor air quality.
To efficiently use an air purifier, it’s best to choose one that matches the size of the room.
Get indoor plants
What makes the air outdoors fresh are plants. Through photosynthesis, the carbon dioxide floating around gets exchanged with oxygen, which we breathe.
You can also have a well-ventilated home by having plants indoors. Indoor plants will produce oxygen in your home, and “breathes in” the carbon dioxide and other toxins present in the air throughout your home.
Not only that, some indoor plants can also help in keeping pests away, from mosquitoes to flies!
Switch exhaust fans on
Exhaust fans aren’t installed in your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry rooms for no reason at all. These have a purpose that’s well-connected to ventilating your home.
Exhaust fans purify the air and remove excess heat. When you turn the fan on, it pulls foul odor, virus particles, and other indoor air pollutants out of the room. It also draws in fresher and cooler air into your home, cooling you as well as the room down. This type of ventilation reduces air stagnation in your home, and works as a great alternative if opening your windows and doors is considered unsafe.
Clean your home
As random as this tip may be, cleaning your home is one of the simplest ways to improve air quality in your humble abode.
Furniture and carpets are havens for dirt and hair which can become breeding grounds for dust mites and fungus. These air pollutants can trigger breathing-related issues such as asthma, eczema, bronchial issues, and even hay fever.
If your home is clean, the hair and dust present in the air is removed. Thus, giving you fresher and cleaner air to breathe.
Ventilate your home for all seasons
Having a well-ventilated home doesn’t only keep indoor temperatures in check, but it can also improve the air quality inside your home. Having poor indoor air quality will affect your health, as it can trigger breathing-related issues such as asthma and bronchial issues. Poor air quality throughout your house can also damage your home as it can lead to conditions which promote the growth of mold and other structure-damaging organisms.
In short, a properly ventilated home, no matter the methods, will make the air in your home fresher and maintain your home’s temperature during all seasons.
