Did you know that your home can be TOO air tight? If your home is newer and highly insulated, or if you have remodeled your home and upgraded insulation and windows in order to save money on energy bills, it is quite possible your home may be too tightly sealed. This condition can not only cause your existing heating system to work less efficiently and comfortably than you expect, but it can also leave your home with poor indoor air quality.
As windows and doors are typically kept shut this time of year, moisture and stale air that may be carrying contaminants, odors, pollutants and even pathogens circulates inside your home and can contribute to problems including mold, mildew, health issues, and even furniture deterioration and peeling paint. (See these posts here andhere for more information on indoor air quality and its effect on your home and family).
If you have a home that is very well insulated, it is important that you take steps to evaluate your air quality and improve it as needed. Often, this may just be as simple as installing a ventilation or exhaust fan.
An exhaust fan is a mechanical ventilation device that helps to draw out stale air from your home and pull in fresh air, thereby improving the quality of indoor air. Exhaust fans are typically ducted to the exterior of your home, through which poor quality indoor air can effectively be removed from your living space.
Exhaust fans can be ceiling mounted, wall mounted, kitchen range, inline, exterior remote, or a combination of types. They can be used for complete ventilation of your home including intermittent local ventilation for baths, kitchens, and utility rooms or continuous whole house ventilation throughout your home. They can also be used to exhaust hard-to-ventilate spaces such as crawl spaces, attics, and basements.
To ventilate your home effectively, it is important that the exhaust fan you choose has the capacity to exhaust the intended space completely. To ensure this, you must select the right sized fan for your needs. For simple installations like bathrooms and kitchens, an online calculator or manufacturer’s recommendations may be all you need, but for whole house ventilation, things can be a bit more complicated. Consulting a qualified installer can really be worth the cost in this case, and often a home energy audit that checks your home’s air flow, heat loss and humidity levels can be a big help too.
If you think your home could be too tight and in need of some ventilation, give us a call and we can help you get started figuring out your needs and how to meet them.