Homeowners across Annapolis, Easton, and the surrounding areas of Maryland and Delaware often find themselves dealing with frustrating moisture and humidity issues. These problems can cause significant damage to home structures if left unaddressed, not to mention the growth of dangerous mold.
Additionally, indoor air quality is compromised by various pollutants such as pet dander and off-gassing VOCs from household products. It's important to take action to protect your home and ensure a safe and healthy living environment for you and your loved ones.
Fortunately, whole home mechanical ventilation solutions like ERVs (Energy Recovery Ventilators) are a powerful tool to combat unhealthy air and indoor moisture issues.
How ERV Ventilation Systems Work
The principle behind residential ERVs is simple: they are home air exchange systems that swap stale and polluted indoor air with fresh, filtered outdoor air. But that's not all. These systems also:
- Replace indoor air with outdoor air while minimizing additional energy use. This means you avoid having to pay to heat or cool all of the new air being introduced to your home.
- ERVs also have an added feature of transferring moisture. This means that during the winter, ERVs help retain your (wanted) indoor humidity to prevent drying out your home—and its occupants. Then, in the summer, ERVs reduce the amount of (unwanted) external humidity entering the home to help prevent indoor moisture and humidity issues and that sticky humid summer air feeling.
The Benefits of Installing an ERV
Considering an ERV for your home? Here’s what you stand to gain:
- Better Indoor Air Quality: With the exchange of stale air, air pollutants are removed from your home, and fresh air keeps your living space safer and healthier for your family.
- Energy Efficiency: Compared to other home ventilation systems, ERVs come with a lower energy penalty. This means you get fresh air without the hefty added energy costs.
- Moisture Management with ERVs: If controlling indoor humidity is a challenge, ERVs are up for the task. They help control humidity levels, regardless of the season.
- “Build It Tight, But Ventilate Right!”: A tight building envelope is energy-efficient but can trap pollutants inside your home. ERVs help avoid this pitfall by ensuring a constant flow of fresh air.
Contact Total Home Performance for a Healthier Home
At Total Home Performance, we prioritize the health and safety of your living space. Our services include:
- Healthy home assessments to pinpoint areas of concern
- Crawl space evaluations and services
- Whole home dehumidifiers for particularly tricky indoor humidity and moisture issues
- Comprehensive mold remediation
- Insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing for improved air quality and energy savings
- And more tailored home upgrades
Additionally, we’re not only a trusted local company but a nationally credentialed one, too. As certified healthy home specialists and home performance experts, we proudly hold certifications with the National Environmental Health Association and the Building Performance Institute, among others. We’re not only familiar with the unique health issues that homes in our service area face; we also stay current with the latest in healthy home science and technology to better serve Maryland and Delaware homeowners.
Enhance your indoor air quality while minimizing heating costs. Call (410) 822-1390 or contact Total Home Performance online to learn more about whole home ventilation, ERVs, and much more.