4 Ways to Improve Home Ventilation

Want to make your Monroe home a better place to breathe? Start by improving home ventilation! Ventilation is how conditioned air is circulated and evenly distributed throughout your home. Your HVAC system relies on ventilation to maintain proper IAQ (indoor air quality), and with a few ventilation improvements you can help freshen circulated air as well as strengthen its distribution.

Iceberg Heating & Cooling recommends that every Michigan homeowner focuses on improving their home ventilation. Follow these tips below to help boost your HVAC system.

1. Change Filters Regularly

Filters bridge the gap between your HVAC system and ventilation. They collect dust and other contaminants, helping to provide adequate airflow and good IAQ. As a filter catches dust and debris, it continually builds-up, eventually requiring a replacement. Clogged filters obstruct airflow and the caught dust and debris can compromise conditioned air, leading to a poor IAQ.

Home ventilation can be improved by changing your filters regularly. Generally, filters should be changed every 2-3 months. However, this can change depending on several factors. Pets, large families, and more frequent HVAC usage can all lead to a filter replacement coming sooner. Therefore, it’s best to check your filter once a month for any noticeable clogs or build-up.

2. Clean Your Supply and Return Vents

As their names suggest, supply and return vents work in unison to both distribute newly conditioned air and remove stale air from your home. They are vital to your home ventilation, as they help perform a bulk of the work. To help improve home ventilation, you’ll want to make sure they are properly cleaned, as this helps to ensure airflow is not obstructed or polluted.

Be sure you remove supply and return vents using a screwdriver before cleaning. Don’t lose the screws either! These vents must be washed gently, as some have fragile paint coatings. Give them a wash using dish soap and a cloth, and rinse thoroughly with water. Wait until they are completely dry before reattaching them.

3. Open Doors and Windows Occasionally

Every now and then, your home ventilation needs a breather. That’s why occasionally opening your windows and doors is important. This allows air to be recycled and invites fresh air to circulate throughout your home. This is especially beneficial when cooking or bathing, as smoke and steam can pollute your home ventilation. Anytime you notice your home’s air becoming cloudy or smelly, crack open a door or window for a bit!

However, be careful not to overdo it. Opening doors and windows too much can cause conditioned air to frequently escape, driving up energy usage. Additionally, don’t perform this if the outside air has too much pollen or bugs around.

4. Utilize a Ceiling Fan

A ceiling fan is a versatile tool, especially when it comes to improving home ventilation. Ceiling fans work by drawing in cold air from a room and pushing it downward, cooling a room more efficiently. This improves home ventilation by helping to distribute air from the AC better, making cooling more prominent.

Not only will a ceiling fan help improve home ventilation, but it can also help cut down on energy usage! Turn down your AC a few degrees and run your ceiling fan to keep the cooling without solely relying on your HVAC system.

For more tips on utilizing ceiling fans, click here.

Give your home a breath of fresh air by helping to improve home ventilation! And if you would like to further assess your ventilation and IAQ from Monroe’s leading experts, contact Iceberg Heating & Cooling today! Call us at 734-342-3420 for affordable and quality IAQ and ventilation services.