Choosing the Right Home Ventilation System

It is very important to ensure that the air you are breathing is healthy and safe. There are numerous elements including, gases and vapor that play a part in contaminating the air, making it very unhealthy to breathe.

Therefore, make sure you have a proper system for home ventilation that brings fresh air inside and expels air which is polluted. If the house has insulation, proper ventilation will guarantee that the air pollutants harmful for your health and the ones that damage your house do not remain trapped within.

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Why is it important to ventilate?

When there is warm air in the house and when it touches the cold surface, the air compresses into liquid. Further, the condensation happens over the walls and ceilings, which leads to the development of mold. There is also a chance of the house getting damaged because of spoilt insulation and wood rot.

During hot, humid weather, the AC inside the house has to work harder, which in turn increases the energy bills. Moreover, the combinations of gases coming from stoves, fireplaces, and cleaning agents are also very harmful to the resident’s health.

Home ventilation: the many types:

Experts use a variety of methods for ventilation. One of the best ways of keeping the house aired is by using natural ventilation. This means there should be free air movement within the house from windows, doors, and cracks. Apart from this, there is also ventilation through vents and fans for bringing in fresh air and getting rid of bad air.

Mechanical ventilation is of two types - whole house and spot ventilation.

1. Spot Ventilation:

Spot ventilation helps in controlling the air flow by using exhaust fans placed in certain areas within the home. The fans are used for getting rid of contaminants and moisture from the nearby areas. These exhaust fans can be found in kitchens and bathrooms. For houses that make use of natural ventilation should also use spot ventilation to increase the efficiency of air movement within the space.

2. Whole House Ventilation

This form of ventilation offers freshness to the entire house. There are various kinds of ventilations that cater to the entire house.

Exhaust ventilation is the system that decreases air pressure by getting the stale air out. Fresh and clean air then gets inside the house through vents and cracks. There is a single fan within the system which is connected with ducts from various rooms and this helps in getting rid of all the stagnant air from an exhaust.

Supply ventilation system utilizes a fan which creates pressure in the house. This makes the air outside to get inside the building from holes and vents.

Ventilation of any kind is important for houses to keep the air quality healthy and to get rid of unwanted smells. However, make sure the system you choose is according to the structure and size of the house. You must consult with an HVAC expert before making a decision.

Ventilation Strategies for the Whole House

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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1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.