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Airing out (and in) our houses
Air must get in.
Air must get out.
How’s it going in your house?
I find that most new construction is not doing enough to ensure proper air exchanges. The air that we are breathing at the beginning of the week is often the same air at the end of the week. Who enjoys breathing in a paper bag for a long period of time?
“Whole house fan” timers are often installed in laundry rooms to operate the ventilation fans each day. I recommended these be set to run for 2-4 hours. When laundry rooms are on the main floor or doors are shut or houses are large the effectiveness of these fans are compromised. It is necessary that a vent be installed to ensure air movement even when the laundry room door is shut. Furthermore, a fan should be installed on each floor to help aid in air movement. If the laundry room is not present on the upper floor, or a fan is not installed in the upper hallway, a bathroom ventilation fan can accomplish this purpose. It is important that this be run daily for 2-4 hours.
The other problem is how to bring fresh air in from the outside. Many vinyl window manufacturers install vents that can be opened at the top of the window. I recommend these be left open. The heat loss or cold draft will be negligible and I think it is worth a steady source of fresh air.
However, I’ve seen countless homes that do not have window vents or any other means of bringing fresh air into the home. This means that the occasional door being opened or windows being left open are the only solution.
Two other solutions I have seen: First, installing a wall vent to the outside. The ones I have seen look similar to a smoke detector (a white puck) that is installed on an exterior wall. This can be opened and closed with a pull string. It is recommended that this be left open.
Second, I have seen HVAC work installed with a system to infuse fresh air in the home. This works in conjunction with the furnace system. You may talk with your HVAC specialist for options.
Bottom line – we need to get fresh air into our houses and old air out. It will make healthier and more comfortable living environments. This will have the added benefit of expelling excess moisture. If you haven’t looked around your house, do it! Where is old air getting exhausted and where is fresh air coming in?
