Ventilation Evaluation
Fresh Air is Essential
While older homes often relied on natural ventilation through small cracks and gaps, modern homes are typically sealed tightly due to the use of central heating and cooling systems year-round. This reduces natural airflow, which can lead to poor indoor air quality. That’s why proper ventilation will help you maintain a healthy, comfortable indoor environment.
Fresh air is essential for both the health of your home and its occupants. A well-designed ventilation system helps control moisture levels, prevents unwanted odors, and reduces indoor pollutants. There are three main types of ventilation systems that improve air quality:
- Spot Ventilation: Installing fans in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and kitchens helps remove pollutants at the source.
- Whole-Home Ventilation: This system can use bathroom fans or fresh-air intakes on your furnace, often combined with a fresh air controller to maintain consistent air quality throughout the home.
- Heat Recovery or Energy Recovery Ventilation: These systems integrate with your heating system to provide whole-house ventilation while conserving energy.
If ventilation issues aren’t properly addressed, your home may experience:
- Backdrafting from combustion appliances
- Overventilation, wasting energy
- The entry of dangerous pollutants, especially if air sealing between the home and an attached garage is incomplete
Given the complexity of ventilation, it’s best to leave this to the professionals. A Home Energy Audit can assess your air quality and identify any ventilation concerns.
Virus and Disease Concerns
Proper ventilation with outdoor air is a vital strategy for reducing airborne contaminants, including viruses. The CDC advises that increased ventilation is especially important in crowded indoor spaces, helping lower the risk of airborne virus transmission. Proper ventilation also minimizes exposure to cleaning products used on potentially contaminated surfaces. (EPA: Ventilation and Covid-19).
Check out our Education Center and FAQs to learn more.
TIP: Signs of ventilation issues include lingering odors or musty smells, stale or stuffy air, condensation inside or outside of windows, excessive humidity, and mold or mildew.
