Energy Recovery Ventilator Your Solution To Humidity Control

Excess indoor moisture is not a huge problem for most Olympia residents. While we are certainly in a rainy state, humidity levels generally stay under 50%, which is the maximum humidity level for comfort. However, this time of year we do certainly experience our share of high humidity. Those days make your home feel uncomfortable, and can also make your air conditioner work harder to cool down your home, meaning that it’s not working as efficiently as it should.

In addition to lost efficiency, you are losing money as well, paying air conditioning use that you might not even need to. Increased levels of humidity during the summer can force your traditional AC system to run longer than normal. If you have a swamp cooler, also known as an evaporative cooler, it can become completely ineffective. So what’s the solution?

Energy Recovery Ventilator

An energy recovery ventilator, also called an ERV, is a system that allows homeowners to exchange air within their home with outdoor air, while minimizing energy loss in the process. As summer approaches, an ERV will allow incoming warm air to pass by your conditioned air to cool it down. This way, you’ll get fresh air in your home without risking too much humidity exposure, avoiding discomfort and keeping your family healthy.

In addition to investing in an ERV, be sure to utilize the vents and exhaust fans in your home. Common areas where these are found include your kitchen, and your bathroom. In these areas, moisture builds up from cooking—or showering. In addition, washing machines and dryers can affect the amount of moisture found in your indoor air.

Nobody wants to open their windows or doors to let fresh air in while running their air conditioner. This is inefficient and will never allow for consistent indoor air comfort. Plus, if you leave your windows open while it’s raining, the humidity can actually worsen.