Keeping Your Home’s Air Fresher and Healthier with Fan Ventilation

As the warm season approaches, we can use all the help we can get to stay cool, keep the energy costs under control, and create a pollutant-free home environment. A fan can help keep your home environment fresher, healthier, and more comfortable in as little as 3 minutes.

Hotter Than Average

Hotter than average temperatures are expected across most of the contiguous United States according to the latest forecasts. Central Texas, the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast, and mid-Atlantic states can expect above-average temperatures, while much higher than average temperatures are expected in eastern Washington and eastern Oregon into Idaho, western Montana, western Wyoming, northern Utah, and northeastern Nevada this summer. Areas with historically hot temperatures, such as the Gulf Coast to the Midwest and upper Mississippi Valley, Southern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Arizona, are forecasted to have temperatures near average or slightly warmer during the summer months.

Above-average temperatures, dry weather, and reduced precipitation can mean unique challenges in your home caused by poor ventilation. Proper ventilation can keep the air fresh and the home environment healthier. Without it, high levels of mold, bacteria, pollen, pet dander, odors, gases, smoke, and air pollutants can build up indoors. Carbon monoxide, radon, and other harmful substances can accumulate in homes with low levels of ventilation. High humidity from outdoors can also be a risk in homes without indoor ventilation, as moisture damage and mold can build up quickly. For people who have active indoor lifestyles and choose to exercise indoors during the warmer months, busy children, or heavy daily chores, air ventilation, and circulation can also be a necessity. For the elderly, children, or people with respiratory problems, as well as individuals suffering from allergies, proper air ventilation can be a lifesaver.

How to Ventilate Your Home

To help keep your home environment ventilated and reduce pollutants, stale indoor should be continuously circulated and diluted with fresh air from the outdoors (if the outdoor air is of good quality). For most homes, keeping the windows and doors open when possible is an easy way to start the ventilation process. But on its own, keeping all doors and windows open may not be sufficient or possible, especially if you live in an area that does not get enough natural wind. Using a portable fan is an effective and cost-effective way to supplement open windows and doors in the home. When placed properly, a basic home floor, box, or pedestal fan can go a long way in not only bringing the outside air indoors but also keeping the indoor air circulated. The fan can be placed strategically in front of an open window or door to bring the outdoor air in and push the indoor air out or place the fan anywhere in your home to circulate the air and generate a pleasant breeze. Weather-resistant box and window fans can be placed directly in an open window to quickly intake or exhaust air from a room. In fact, a box fan in an open window of an average-sized bedroom with an additional open window can completely exchange and refresh the air in less than 3 minutes!

Ventilate Your Home During the Summer

When the weather is too hot and humid for open windows, circulating the air in your home with a fan has the added benefit of lowering the use of air conditioners during the most overloaded times of the day. Traditional air conditioning units are effective in keeping the home environment cool but are not as good at ventilating rooms and moving air. They are also not very energy efficient or cost-effective. Floor and pedestal fans can work in tandem with home air conditioning units by more powerfully circulating the air. This makes rooms feel cooler and allows homeowners to keep thermostat levels higher, which saves money on electricity bills.

The right floor or pedestal fan can be a great asset in helping to keep your home environment healthier and reduce pollutants through improved ventilation and circulation. When choosing a fan, it is best to pay special attention to safety certification. An ETL certification is a standard of the industry. A fan that generates low levels of noise, features different speeds and utilizes oscillation or adjustable positioning can be ideal for the home environment. Look for a fan with an easy carrying handle, rugged construction, and low amperage draw for energy efficiency. Lastly, a solid warranty with a reliable manufacturer is important in choosing the best fan for your home.