Hi all, long time lurker on the forums, which have helped me make a lot of decisions in the past about my HVAC needs. I moved into a new house and jumped (maybe too quickly) at a great deal on a new 2-stage furnace and 2-stage AC (Ecobee premium thermostat + mult-room-sensors). I am happy with the furnace performance and "OK" with the AC - filtration is 20x20x4 and I will probably use MERV11 I think here, pleated. The furnace intake is a small 90 degree fitting at the furnace, they did NOT run it outside. The furnace exhaust runs outside. I have not replaced the existing 2015 gas water heater in which the exhaust goes up a duct, I believe up to a roof vent. The building is a basement (1 wall is walk-out-level) and a 1st floor, overall almost 3800 sq ft, located in southern Ohio built in 1969. There is a fireplace on the first floor and basement, it's in working condition but we haven't used it yet. I also replaced all windows with high quality vinyl replacement windows and am in the middle of a renovation for my kitchen which will include a magic lung 36" 2-blower "total 600CFM" (they claim 900CFM eq performance) hood over my new range (and right now my contractor suggested I do not need make up air because of the house age). I have 3 bathrooms with exhaust fans which vent to the roof, and 1 dryer w/ 4" duct headed outside. Lastly, the house has a whole-house-fan that goes into the attic space, I have not used this yet - the motor is seized so it needs some love - but I plan to!
The basement has no return vents, and is regularly 5-10F different temperature compared to upstairs (always cooler!). I have rooms at the far end of the house which seem to get far less airflow from the HVAC system and those are regularly 5-7F different than the other side of the house. I can live with this and know that in-line boosters may help if I want to correct it (other tips are welcome!). But most importantly, I'm crazy about fresh air. I have small air quality monitors in most rooms in the house, and can see that when my windows are closed and I'm using HVAC AC, VOCs and CO2 are climbing up to uncomfortable levels throughout the house. Additionally, in my opinion the house stinks too =). I know SOME of this can be attributed to the construction taking place (we have some returns taped shut to prevent dust from entering the HVAC too), but to be honest it felt a bit like this over the winter too when we moved in (after HVAC replacement). Humidity levels in southern ohio are pretty bad spring-summer. Although the humidity doesn't bother me, I know it makes things worse in our wood-heavy house and for allergies etc - so I do like to keep HVAC running unless it's a low dewpoint and low AQI day outside, and then I'll open windows up (windows are my strong preference for air quality + fresh air + outdoor sounds + no energy use). I also have Coway air purifiers running low/medium in most rooms in the house stuffed in the corner.
Ok, long intro but... I really hate nasty air quality! Should I be doing something else to prevent VOC + CO2 build-up and maintain fresh air in our home more often when windows aren't open? Or is cracking a window the best thing to do in rooms we're hanging out in, or in one strategic room in the home? Because humidity is high most of the summer, even a cracked window contributes to 60%+ humidity pretty quickly in the room its cracked in, too.
I'm considering HRV or ERV (not sure what is ideal or what the best installation method is), but not sure if there is something else to consider! Also not sure if anyone here thinks I should be supplying make-up air in my new kitchen, or if I can go with "running the fan past low? crack the window" type model.
THANK YOU for your opinions! Although I'm frugal, I'm willing to spend money here for the next 30 years to be care free.
The basement has no return vents, and is regularly 5-10F different temperature compared to upstairs (always cooler!). I have rooms at the far end of the house which seem to get far less airflow from the HVAC system and those are regularly 5-7F different than the other side of the house. I can live with this and know that in-line boosters may help if I want to correct it (other tips are welcome!). But most importantly, I'm crazy about fresh air. I have small air quality monitors in most rooms in the house, and can see that when my windows are closed and I'm using HVAC AC, VOCs and CO2 are climbing up to uncomfortable levels throughout the house. Additionally, in my opinion the house stinks too =). I know SOME of this can be attributed to the construction taking place (we have some returns taped shut to prevent dust from entering the HVAC too), but to be honest it felt a bit like this over the winter too when we moved in (after HVAC replacement). Humidity levels in southern ohio are pretty bad spring-summer. Although the humidity doesn't bother me, I know it makes things worse in our wood-heavy house and for allergies etc - so I do like to keep HVAC running unless it's a low dewpoint and low AQI day outside, and then I'll open windows up (windows are my strong preference for air quality + fresh air + outdoor sounds + no energy use). I also have Coway air purifiers running low/medium in most rooms in the house stuffed in the corner.
Ok, long intro but... I really hate nasty air quality! Should I be doing something else to prevent VOC + CO2 build-up and maintain fresh air in our home more often when windows aren't open? Or is cracking a window the best thing to do in rooms we're hanging out in, or in one strategic room in the home? Because humidity is high most of the summer, even a cracked window contributes to 60%+ humidity pretty quickly in the room its cracked in, too.
I'm considering HRV or ERV (not sure what is ideal or what the best installation method is), but not sure if there is something else to consider! Also not sure if anyone here thinks I should be supplying make-up air in my new kitchen, or if I can go with "running the fan past low? crack the window" type model.
THANK YOU for your opinions! Although I'm frugal, I'm willing to spend money here for the next 30 years to be care free.
