Here are some helpful suggestions for maintaining your Blythwood Enerquality Home:
Control Humidity
For the first year in your new home you might not need to turn your humidifier on at all. This is because new homes have up to 2000 gallons of water in the foundation that needs to be removed from the home. In extremely cold weather it is best to lower the humidity settings to avoid condensation on the interior of windows.
Keep an eye on your humidistat and control humidity according to weather conditions. Usually between 25% on cold days and up to 45% on warmer days.
As the seasons change and a warm spring and summer approach, it is important to control the humidity that often accompanies warm weather. A too-humid home can result in mold, particularly in basements. Humidity is also tough on hardwood and laminates, due to expansion.
Ensure that your Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) is on continuously to keep the air in your home fresh and healthy, without affecting the thermostat settings of your home.
Also, keeping your air conditioning running continuously throughout the summer will ensure that moisture is evacuated without sacrificing comfort.
Clean Filters
The ERV in your home is a vital component of your overall home comfort. Therefore, it is crucial that the filter and the core be kept clean and free of particulates that tend to build up through the season. The core should be cleaned at least once a year, while the filter should be changed at least twice a year and for some lifestyles, such as smoking, more.
Keep the Fan on
Ventilation is key to comfort and control of moisture. That’s why it makes sense to keep the furnace fan running at all times. And while this may seem counterintuitive in our energy conscious times, the cost of doing so is less than 10 cents a day.
At Blythwood we want to make sure your beautiful home stays that way.