Most good builders follow a simple but
effective construction strategy. They construct homes that are extremely tight,
with a well-designed ventilation system. The truth is, you can save more
cooling and heating energy by living in a tight house than with a ventilated
one. There are three ways of achieving mechanical ventilation: exhaust-only supply-only,
and balanced.
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- Exhaust-Only
Exhaust
fans (bathroom, whole-house fans or kitchen fans) “depressurize” the area, leading
to infiltration from the air outside through different openings and cracks. Places
where winters are intense, exhaust-only ventilation is enough as they do not
cause damage that may happen because of moisture. As summers are shorter and relatively
moderate in places with cold climates, the building is very unlikely to get marred
by drawing hot and humid air. On the contrary, exhaust-only strategies are not
the best option for places with hot weather conditions.
- Supply-Only
Supply-only
systems pull clean outer air inside the interior space, normally from a supply
vent. Benefits of supply-only system include the option of controlling the incoming
air, treating the incoming air, and reducing humid air pulled within the living
area. Controlled supply can also reduce the possibility of back drafting of
combustion appliance, a risky uncontrolled infiltration which is common in
poorly vented basements.
- Balanced
In a
balanced ventilation exhaust, the interior space pressure remains relatively persistent.
Basically, balanced ventilation is a combination of the supply and exhaust strategies.
Normally, a balanced system comes with a powered energy recovery or heat
recovery ventilator that enhances pressure and efficiency balance by exchanging
energy between the incoming and outgoing airstreams. Heat recovery ventilators
only transfer sensible heat while energy recovery ventilators also transfer
moisture. The comparatively large electric power use of HRVs and ERVs normally
make them an expensive option.
OTHER FORMS OF VENTILATION:
Local
Exhaust
In
case you reside in a climate that is hot and humid, ventilation which is
exhaust-only can end up depressurizing the area. This may pull in outdoor,
humid air within the cavities of the wall, condensing and creating several
issues. It is best to deliberately introduce the outer air within the building
than having it penetrate through the walls. You are less likely to face trouble
by making use of exhaust fans, or by keeping the windows open occasionally when
you feel a little stuffy or in case the exhaust fans have stayed on for too
long.
Natural Ventilation
This
is normally employed as one of the strategies of cooling, but principally, the design
is of replacing stuffy inside air with cool air from the outside. For natural
ventilation to be effective, incoming air has to be dryer and cooler from the air
inside. Therefore, this strategy works best in places with milder climates, or
on drier, cooler days. Make sure the house remains closed when the days are hot
and try to reduce unwanted gains in the heat and then try to ventilate the space
during nights. In locations that are breezy, natural ventilation is offered by simply
opening up windows.
With these strategies, any house can stay
ventilated with healthy air to breathe for all family members. It is best to
call HVAC experts to know the
right system for your house.
