Proper Ventilation Has a Whole-House Effect

It’s not uncommon to say that you are headed outside for some fresh air. Did you know that with proper ventilation, you could actually enjoy fresh air indoors as well? In this post we will explore the importance of good home ventilation, and how it can be achieved.

The importance of home ventilation

Home ventilation describes either the natural or mechanical process of supplying a space with new air (either conditioned or unconditioned) and/or removing air from that same space. Good ventilation can improve your indoor air quality, reduce the symptoms of allergies and respiratory conditions in occupants of your home and otherwise help prevent illness. Ventilation is also necessary in areas of your home with fuel-fired appliances such as gas water heaters, furnaces and stoves, as carbon monoxide is a combustion by-product that’s less of a hazard when leaking if there’s plenty of fresh air. Lastly, ventilation can help to control temperatures and moisture in your attic, preventing damage to building materials and insulation.

Home ventilation: It’s in your hands

In the past, people often relied upon incidental cracks and leaks around their homes for natural ventilation. However, because these infiltrations can also bring contaminants into the home (pollen, mold spores, insects, etc), it’s important to take control of home ventilation. Here are a few ideas for ventilating your home:

• Spot ventilation – This type of system is ideal for areas that experience high humidity levels, such as bathrooms or kitchens. Be mindful, though, that over-ventilation also can be a problem. An exhaust system with a humidistat or timer is your best bet.

• Whole-home ventilation – If you want to keep your whole home ventilated, your best option is a balanced system. This will force air out of the home while drawing in equal amounts of fresh air by utilizing your current HVAC system for distribution and mixing. Look into an energy recovery ventilator or a heat recovery ventilator for active air exchange in your home that also helps with the heating and cooling process.

• Attic ventilation – Ridge vents, soffit vents and attic fans are all a great way to control airflow in your attic to eliminate moisture problems and prevent damage due to overheating.

For more tips on home ventilation, please contact us at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions. We proudly serve residents of Orlando and Central Florida.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about Proper Ventilation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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