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HOME Ventilation Guide Why Ventilation? Homes today require specific strategies to maintain a healthy and comfortable living environment. Ventilation reduces excess moisture and unhealthy indoor air pollutants. Properly designed and installed ventilation increases comfort and security. Today’s homes are more energy-efficient because they follow standards mandating better insulation and airtightness. However, without an appropriately designed, installed and maintained ventilation system, the benefits of these better-built homes can become liabilities. When we think of buying, building or updating a home, we all too often focus on aesthetic features rather than factors such as the quality of the indoor air. In fact, according to the American Lung Association, 85 percent of Americans didn’t realize the air in their homes posed a possible health hazard. The good news, however, is that we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of indoor air quality and its direct relationship to good health. We are demanding better comfort and healthier air. Mechanical ventilation is simply a system that moves stale, tired air out of the home, replacing it with an inflow of fresh air. A properly designed and installed home ventilating system provides a wide array of benefits not only to the homeowner, but also creates healthier, more comfortable and satisfied customers for mechanical installers and builders. 8 H V G www.hvi.org
Figure 1. Typical conditions found in a home with ways to improve air quaility. THE BENEFITS OF GOOD VENTILATION 3 More than 40 million single-family homes have been constructed in North America since the late 1970s. Well-built, highly insulated and extremely airtight to reduce energy consumption, these homes also can experience higher rates of indoor air quality problems. Common pollutants from materials, people, activities and contents used to build and furnish the home, combined with excess moisture from poor ventilation, can create an unhealthy environment. 2 1 2 1 1 2 3 Excess moisture Too much moisture can contribute to allergy problems and structural damage by encouraging the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria, dust mites, dry rot and insects. Showers, cooking and people produce large quantities of moisture on a daily basis. Common household chemicals and pollutants • Cleaning supplies • Paints and solvents • Formaldehyde from furniture, carpet and building materials • Pesticides • Volatile organic compounds • Odors Particles • Dust and dust mites • Pet dander • Pollen • Lead • Asbestos • Cooking by-products – grease and smoke Tobacco smoke A health risk to smokers and nonsmokers alike – children are especially at risk. 1. Intermittent local ventilation 2. Continuous whole-house ventilation 3. Attic and crawlspace ventilation Combustion products These are produced by fuel-burning heating equipment, gas water heaters, fireplaces, woodstoves, gas ranges and candles. They include but are not limited to: • Carbon monoxide • Carbon dioxide • Nitrous oxide compounds (NO x) • Soot • Unburned fuel • Moisture Heat Attics can overheat from long days of summer sunshine, and excess moisture can accumulate in the winter. Attic ventilation systems and components are designed to: • Remove excess heat to lower attic temperatures • Remove excess moisture to reduce relative humidity Control of these factors through proper ventilation will enhance the comfort and indoor air quality of the home to help keep the occupants breathing safely. A quality ventilation system also contributes to preserving the structural integrity of the home, reducing maintenance costs and adding to the home’s value. The strategies outlined in Figure 1 include: www.hvi.org H V G 9
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Figure 1. Typical conditions found in a home with ways<br />
to improve air quaility.<br />
THE BENEFITS OF GOOD<br />
VENTILATION<br />
3<br />
More than 40 million single-family homes have<br />
been constructed in North America since the late<br />
1970s. Well-built, highly insulated and extremely airtight<br />
to reduce energy consumption, these homes<br />
also can experience higher rates of indoor air quality<br />
problems.<br />
Common pollutants from materials, people, activities<br />
and contents used to build and furnish the<br />
home, combined with excess moisture from poor<br />
ventilation, can create an unhealthy environment.<br />
2<br />
1<br />
2<br />
1<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
Excess moisture<br />
Too much moisture can contribute to allergy<br />
problems and structural damage by encouraging the<br />
growth of mold, mildew, bacteria, dust mites, dry rot<br />
and insects. Showers, cooking and people produce<br />
large quantities of moisture on a daily basis.<br />
Common household chemicals and<br />
pollutants<br />
• Cleaning supplies<br />
• Paints and solvents<br />
• Formaldehyde from furniture, carpet<br />
and building materials<br />
• Pesticides<br />
• Volatile organic compounds<br />
• Odors<br />
Particles<br />
• Dust and dust mites<br />
• Pet dander<br />
• Pollen<br />
• Lead<br />
• Asbestos<br />
• Cooking by-products – grease and smoke<br />
Tobacco smoke<br />
A health risk to smokers and nonsmokers<br />
alike – children are especially at risk.<br />
1. Intermittent local ventilation<br />
2. Continuous whole-house ventilation<br />
3. Attic and crawlspace ventilation<br />
Combustion products<br />
These are produced by fuel-burning heating<br />
equipment, gas water heaters, fireplaces, woodstoves,<br />
gas ranges and candles. They include but are<br />
not limited to:<br />
• Carbon monoxide<br />
• Carbon dioxide<br />
• Nitrous oxide compounds (NO x)<br />
• Soot<br />
• Unburned fuel<br />
• Moisture<br />
Heat<br />
Attics can overheat from long days of<br />
summer sunshine, and excess moisture can accumulate<br />
in the winter. Attic ventilation systems and<br />
components are designed to:<br />
• Remove excess heat to lower attic<br />
temperatures<br />
• Remove excess moisture to reduce<br />
relative humidity<br />
Control of these factors through proper ventilation<br />
will enhance the comfort and indoor air quality<br />
of the home to help keep the occupants breathing<br />
safely. A quality ventilation system also contributes<br />
to preserving the structural integrity of the home, reducing<br />
maintenance costs and adding to the home’s<br />
value. The strategies outlined in Figure 1 include:<br />
www.hvi.org H V G 9
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