The weather in Albuquerque is difficult.
The winters bring nighttime temperatures in the low twenties and daytime highs only up to the mid forties.
We continually get dustings of snow and occasional storms can drop a foot on us overnight. It’s not unusual to require the furnace for over six months. Our summers are extremely hot,with temperature climbing regularly into the mid nineties. One of the most frustrating parts of the conditions in Albuquerque is there are frequent days when the nighttime temperatures are chilly enough to need heating and the daytime heat requires cooling. We might run the air conditioner and the furnace during the same 24-hour span. There is very seldom an opportunity to go without either heating or cooling. I am always delighted when I can open the windows and welcome in fresh air. Because of the high cost of temperature control, it’s necessary to maintain a tightly sealed thermal envelope. I’ve caulked, weatherstripped and insulated to prevent energy waste. While my efforts have helped to reduce expenses, I’ve also eliminated natural ventilation. The living space can quickly become stale and stuffy. Contaminants such as dust, dander, mold spores, VOCs and unpleasant smells get trapped inside and distributed by the heating and cooling system. Our indoor air quality becomes cause for concern. I have solved this problem by investing into a ventilation system. The add-on accessory works to introduce a constant supply of fresh air into the home without energy waste. I chose a heat recovery ventilator that uses the outgoing air to preheat the incoming air and reduce the workload of the furnace.