If you find that your home feels unevenly heated, smelly, stuffy or dry over winter, there is no need to despair. While staying toasty and warm is a winter top priority, these unpleasant effects can still be a real concern. No one wants to live in a sooty, smelly, dry or stuffy atmosphere, which are often a result of building design or less than perfect furnace operation. Fortunately, it is possible to improve your winter home comfort without breaking the bank with these four fantastic accessories.
Ventilator:
Most modern homes are designed to be a very tight building envelope. While this is fantastic for efficiency since it helps prevent heated air from escaping the home, it is not brilliant for indoor air quality. Without a good balance to exchange indoor and outdoor air, it is very easy for the atmosphere inside your home to become stuffy or in worst case scenarios smelly and stale. Fortunately, there is a possible solution to overcome this problem; installing a ventilator. A dedicated ventilator can provide fresh air into the home for superior indoor air quality.
Humidifier:
Dry air can cause a wide range of issues from dry skin and chapped lips to irritated nasal passages and sore throats. In severe cases, it can affect asthma suffers and cause other respiratory issues. You may even notice that there is an increasing problem with static electricity. Dry air can also make the room feel colder, which means that you may find yourself cranking up the thermostat just to feel comfortable. All of these issues can be corrected by installing a humidifier. Incorporating a humidifier into your HVAC system will prevent the air from drying out, so your can enjoy greater comfort.
Air Cleaner:
Another way to eliminate a smelly, stuffy and close environment inside your home is to install an air cleaner. Air cleaners can help to trap odors to create a fresher smelling atmosphere, but it can also trap dust and soot particles which can be moved from the ductwork or expelled from an older furnace. Air cleaners can vary from a basic air purifier to UV lamps which kill germs. A professional HVAC specialist will be able to advise you of which air cleaner option is best suited to your particular requirements.
Smart Thermostat:
Finally, one of the best ways to improve your winter home comfort is to install a smart thermostat. This type of device has seen massive developments in recent years, and you can now buy zoned and programmable thermostats which have a wide range of features. This means that you can set your thermostat to automatically adjust the temperatures according to your habits and routine. You can enjoy lower temperatures while you are sleeping, but have the temperature set higher early, so it is toasty warm when you wake up. Zoned thermostats also allow you to tailor the heating according to your room or zone requirements. You can keep your sleeping areas cooler and even set them according to the personal preferences of your family members. This will mean that you no longer need to listen to the complaints of that family member who always finds their bedroom too cold.