When winter comes to Minnesota and Wisconsin, our homes close up tight. Air exchange between the indoors and out slows to a minimum because we want to keep our precious heat inside. This creates some potential challenges that homeowners and renters alike should be aware of.
Controlling moisture and airflow while homes are sealed up for the winter is important for avoiding many issues that arise when indoor air is poorly balanced. This article will show you the most important things to know and steps to take so that you can remain comfortable and healthy all winter long.
Moisture Control Tips
Excess moisture in the air will find a surface to condense on which can become breeding ground for mold, damage indoor surfaces, and make the air uncomfortable. Excessively dry air can also be uncomfortable, irritate the respiratory system, cause dry skin, and static charge in the home.
Ideal humidity levels are between 35-55% relative humidity.
Tip 1: Monitor your air
Knowledge is power and knowing if you’re facing humidity imbalance or airflow challenges is the first step to addressing them. There are many kinds of humidity and temperature sensors that you can easily install throughout your home to get a clear information about your indoor environment.
Aquarius also offers a $49 indoor air quality check that puts our professional quality monitoring equipment in your home and gives you the chance to consult with an HVAC pro about optimizing your indoor air.
Tip 2: Use Ventilation Fans
Most people use their bath and kitchen fans religiously, but many people do not. This paragraph is for those who do not. Your ventilation fans are instrumental in removing moist air from inside the air envelope. When you take a shower, boil water, wash dishes, or use the oven during winter, make sure that the moisture created does not stay inside and find a surface to condense on.
Tip 3: Wipe down showers and tubs after use
This is a lesser known tip. Using a squeegee or towel to wipe water from the walls of your shower or tub down toward the basin will ensure that the clinging water doesn’t evaporate into the air and continues down the drain where it belongs. Many people already do this to reduce hard water spots, but it is wise for any homeowner and only takes a minute!
Tip 4: Seek out wet spots
In the winter months in the north, cold spots on surfaces will develop that you may never even notice. Those cold spots will become the perfect place for moisture to condense and for mold to grow. It could be a spot in the ceiling where the insulation is thin or behind a dresser against an outer wall. Remember: surfaces that are on the outside of your home’s air envelope will be colder because they are the barrier between the indoors and the cold air outside. Check outer walls, the parts of your floor that connect to outer walls, and the ceiling, especially around recessed lights or other fixtures.
Tip 5: Employ a humidifier or dehumidifier
If you’re consistently facing moisture challenges that everyday, small acts can’t tackle, it’s time to turn to technology. Humidity control units can be standalone units that treat a single room or zone of the house, or you can employ a whole home indoor air quality system to treat your entire home’s air.
If you’re not sure if you need a whole home system or not, call Aquarius for a $49 indoor air quality check to measure your conditions and consult with a pro!
Airflow Control Tips
Tip 1: Keep vents open and clear
Cutting off airflow through vents and return ducts can have significant implications to the overall air circulation through your home. Your central HVAC system is designed to have all vents and returns open at all times. Closing vents/ returns or putting objects too close to them can cause loss in air pressure or over pressure, depending on the blockage.
Avoid placing furniture in front or on top of vents. If you have no other option, make sure you give at least six inches of space between the vent and the surface of your furniture.
Tip 2: Understand the implications of closing doors
Making the choice to close doors to create different air flow zones in your home isn’t inherently right or wrong. You just need to know what you’re doing.
You have probably noticed that closing off a room or upper level can create big temperature gaps in the segregated areas. For example, some homeowners will close off a sparsely used upper level in winter because they find that the warm air from the main level is continually drifting upwards, making the heating system work harder to keep the main floor warm. Closing the door to the stairs makes the main level (where the thermostat is) not lose heat so quickly. The thermostat senses that the home is warm enough, and the heating system does not work harder to warm areas of the home that are not in use.
If you want to create segregated heating & cooling zones in your home, be sure to do so under the guidance of an HVAC professional. Aquarius offers a $49 Indoor Air Quality Check that will test your air and give you the opportunity to discuss how to optimize your indoor environment.
Tip 3: Filter Maintenance
This is an easy thing to forget but, believe it or not, it can make a big difference in your system’s performance. Not only should homeowners ensure that they always have a clean filter in their HVAC system, they should also make sure they are choosing the right kind of filter for their unique conditions. Choosing the right thickness, MERV rating, and media can be the difference between air that moves well and a system that struggles to “breathe” properly.
Don’t Guess! Talk with the Pros!
Aquarius HVAC pros are available to consult with you about any indoor air challenges you are facing. We will run a full indoor air diagnostic to identify any issues that need to be addressed and have a full range of solutions that will keep you cozy and comfortable all winter long.
Contact us online or give us a call!
