Ventilation Keeps Your Home’s Air Fresh

Newer homes are constructed much tighter than in days of yore. That’s great when it comes to energy efficiency, but not so great when it comes to indoor air quality. The air in most modern homes tends to be more polluted than that outdoors, with a host of airborne particulates building up and no way to get out.

That’s why a ventilation system is key in any home. If your home is older, with numerous cracks and crevices, it may not be an issue. But most homes do get stuffy, particularly when the windows are closed during the winter. Following are some ways to provide for fresher air in your home.

Open the Windows

Yes, we know it’s cold outside in our region in the winter but if you have no other form of ventilation, you might want to crack the windows in the bathroom or kitchen occasionally. This will let out some moisture, stale air and odors and let some fresh air inside.

Install a Spot Exhaust Ventilation System

Even if you have ventilation nowhere else in the home, you can improve indoor air quality by installing exhaust ventilation to the outdoors in the bathroom or kitchen. These are areas where moisture may build up and become a haven for mold or fungus. Be sure the exhaust goes outdoors, and not up into the attic where other moisture problems can arise.

Install a Whole House Ventilation System

These systems give the best results, providing controlled, uniform ventilation. They use fans and duct systems, exhausting stale air, and supplying fresh air to the home.

• Exhaust: Depressurizes the structure, sending air outside.
• Supply ventilation: Pressurizes the home by bringing air inside.
• Balanced: Introduces and exhausts equal amounts of fresh air and polluted air.
• Energy recovery: Controls ventilation without losing energy.

At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about ventilation systems and other energy and home comfort issues — especially HVAC and plumbing issues — so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.