Ventilating
Although it is energy efficient to ensure that your home is not drafty, it is extremely important to have adequate air transfer between outdoor and indoor air. If a home is completely airtight, it traps indoor air pollutants inside, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and radon. Ventilation also helps reduce humidity, which in excess, can result in the development of mold and mildew. All of these are attributed to health issues, such as allergies and asthma. Not only can moisture in your home lead to health problems, moist insulation causes heat loss resulting in higher energy bills, and mold growth which causes structural damage.
Make sure you ventilate your home in 1 2 ways to reduce indoor pollutants, moisture, and odors:
- Spot Ventilation
- Whole-House Ventilation
Spot Ventilation
Spot ventilation is for reducing localized pollution. Exhaust fans, such as oven range or bathroom fans, quickly dissipate pollutants, odors, and moisture from a specific location.
Whole-House Ventilation
Whole-house ventilation systems use multiple exhaust fans simultaneously to remove pollutants from a home and supply it with fresh air in a uniform fashion. This type of ventilation effectively dilutes pollutants within the home and forces air out through ducts and exhaust fans.