5 expert ways to ventilate your home this winter without increasing your energy bills

As the weather cools and we turn the heating on, many of us begin struggling with air that, while warm, can feel stale and unhealthy. I, for one, always feel like opening the window after being in a room that feels stuffy for any length of time.

However, having the window open with the heating on will cost you, literally. Depending on how well-insulated your home is, you’ll start losing heat very quickly, especially in climates that have very cold winters. Yes, you’ll have fresher air, but it’ll also be cold, so you’re essentially wasting energy trying to heat your home back up after ventilating.

So, how do you improve ventilation in your home in winter without increasing your energy bills? We’ve asked HVAC experts for their top tips.

How to ventilate your home without increasing your energy bills

1. Don’t be afraid open windows for short periods

There’s good news for those of us who like the simplicity of opening the window. You can do this without racking up your energy bills, but you have to keep it brief. Lucy Arnold, Service and Maintenance Manager at PRA Air Conditioning, says, ‘It is a good idea to open your windows wide for about five minutes instead of leaving trickle vents open for extended periods.’

The reason that the short-burst ventilation technique works better is that ‘these short bursts of intense ventilation allow for rapid air exchange and refresh the air without allowing the walls and flooring to cool down too much.’

Any home feels colder when the floor or walls are cold, so avoid creating a prolonged draft that’ll cool down these surfaces excessively.

One of our writers tested four methods to stop condensation on her windows and opening them briefly and regularly was the clear winner.

Employing dehumidifying blocks also worked nicely in tandem.

2. Switch your bedroom ceiling fan to clockwise

Another dilemma people face in winter is sleeping in a bedroom that’s warm but stuffy versus leaving the fan on and feeling cold and uncomfortable. What a lot of people don’t know is that you can still ventilate your bedroom in winter using your ceiling fan. You just need to switch the direction of the blades to clockwise.

Setting your ceiling fan to clockwise pushes warmer air down into the room. So, you’re still getting good air circulation, but you shouldn’t feel too cold.

3. Have your existing HVAC system serviced

If the warm air that enters your indoor environment smells stale or dusty, or even worse, moldy, you need to have your whole system inspected by a professional. Brad Roberson, the president of Aire Serv and an expert HVAC technician with decades of experience, recommends having your HVAC system serviced ‘at least annually.’

Ductwork should be inspected ‘for signs of leaks or indications of mold’, and if the system contains air filters, these should be changed ‘every 30 to 90 days, depending on the needs of the homeowner.’ According the U.S. Department of Energy, simply ‘replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%.’

An HVAC system that is leaking or has accumulated too much dust and debris will not run at peak efficiency, which will raise your energy bills. Your home will also suffer from poor air quality which will cause you to open the window more often.

Learn more about spotting the signs of mold in your home early.

4. Install an heat recovery ventilator

If you’re ready for a more permanent solution to improving ventilation while cutting your energy bill, a heat recovery ventilator is your best bet. Allen Rathey, Director at Indoor Health Council, explains that heat recovery ventilators ‘utilize a heat exchanger which in winter allows the warmth from the stale outgoing indoor air to be transferred to the incoming cooler air.’

Like air conditioning units, HRVs work throughout the year; in the summer, they ‘transfer cooler outgoing air to incoming warmer outdoor air.’ Bear in mind that there is an initial cost with these units, of around $2,000 with installation. For long-term energy savings and improved air quality, however, they are well worth the investment.

You can also consider an ERV (energy recovery ventilator); it's very similar to a heat recovery ventilator, but it will transfer moisture as well as heat. This is great if you'd like to balance humidity levels as well as improve ventilation.

5. Be strategic about opening and closing doors

It’s not all about windows and vents, though. Whether you keep doors to individual rooms open or closed has a big effect on the quality of indoor air, especially when the heating is on. Have you ever noticed how stuffy the air gets in a bedroom with the door closed?

If you want to improve ventilation in your home without it costing you anything extra in heating, consider opening all the doors that connect all the spaces you are using at that particular time.

Max Veggeberg, the CEO and Founder of Tetra, recommends keeping ‘interior doors in frequently-occupied areas open to ensure maximum airflow throughout the home. On the other hand, if you have a certain room that will be unused in the winter, ‘keep that door closed to keep the warm air in the necessary rooms.’

FAQs

Do trickle vents increase energy bills?

You may have seen advice to install trickle vents on your windows to improve ventilation in winter. You may be wondering if they will increase your energy bill. The truth is that, yes, they will. Yours truly has lived in a house with trickle vents and they do make a house lose heat. You also won’t be able to control how much cold air gets in: if it’s windy, you will get more.

Trickle vents are worth it for people who really like their fresh air but don't like sleeping with the window open in winter. You can have one installed on your bedroom window if you don’t put the heating on at night and can keep the bedroom door closed throughout the day. Other than that, purely from the energy-saving perspective, they’re not the best idea.

The answer to whether it's possible to ventilate your home and not get higher utility bills, is a reassuring yes with these six tips. Depending on your budget and preference, you can either go for a heat recovery ventilator, or just be strategic with when and for how long your open your windows. And don't forget to keep your HVAC system in good repair as that will always save you on bills in the long run.