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Ventilation is critical to home comfort, especially during the blistering heat. According to T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating in New York, “Proper ventilation prevents air pollutants from affecting the health of...your family. Having airflow in your home [gets] rid of...unwanted smells...from cooking or pets. 


It’s also good to have [uninterrupted] airflow. Anything blocking the airflow in your home can cause damage to...your home and your health.”

Improper ventilation can make you sick.

  • Itchy, watery eyes are often due to allergies. This is especially common with the change in seasons. However, the HVAC in your home could also play a big role in triggering this symptom. If there are holes in the ductwork, it can suck unfiltered air and redistribute it throughout your home.

    The HVAC solution is to improve indoor air quality. Call an HVAC maintenance expert to check for leaks and gaps in the ductwork annually.

  • Another common symptom of poor home ventilation is a runny nose. Because many HVAC units don’t come with a humidifying function, it causes the air to be cold, dry, and uncirculated. This often leads to the body’s natural response to unnatural coldness: Basic flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose.

    One HVAC solution is to purchase a humidifier to moisten and circulate stale air. Shift the humidifier to between 35 and 55 percent. This leads to fewer runny noses and watery eyes.

  • The last symptom is skin irritation. The more time spent in an air-conditioned environment, like your home in the summer, the drier and itchier skin becomes. This is due to lack of ventilation, such as openable windows, and poor thermal control.

    Skin irritation and cracks due to close proximity to the HVAC worsens symptoms for those with rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis.

    Drink at least 8 cups of water per day, and moisturize your skin while in a cool environment. A humidifier will also help alleviate this symptom.

Improper ventilation can cost you a lot of money on the monthly energy bill.

  • If your home has faulty ductwork, it can cost you. Based on Ductwork Design 101, the air ducts should be sealed and well-designed at installation. However, if they’re not, it could increase the utility bill.

    Seal your home’s ducts to improve energy efficiency, protect indoor air quality, solve uneven cooling, prevent “backdrafting”, and more.

  • Another culprit of a high energy bill is overuse of air conditioning during the summer. If your home relies on air conditioners to keep things cool, expect an increase in the utility bill. Supplemental fans help ventilate the room and circulate cool air, using less energy than a unit.

  • The most unsuspecting culprit of high energy bills during the summer is open doors. It’s typically for natural ventilation, but it’s important to understand that heat rises. If you have a first-floor A/C unit, shut the second-floor doors and windows, so the air conditioner has less space to cool.

Improper ventilation can destroy your home from the inside out.

  • According to O’Brien Cooling & Heating, “Ventilation is...important...because it controls how much moisture is lingering in your home.

    If you have adequate airflow throughout your home, your walls, floors, and all the wood in your home will stay dry and not collect moisture. Wood can rot when exposed to moisture, as can drywall.

    If you let moisture build up in these areas of your home, they will...destroy the structural integrity [and] also cause mold to build up.”

Home ventilation is critical if you want to keep your family healthy, energy bill low, and home intact. For more information from Warner Service in Frederick, Maryland, download our Guide To Home Ventilation. Click on the button below to get started:

Download Our Guide To Home Ventilation