Home Ventilation Tips

How to tell loitering air to move along

Homes, like people, need to breathe in order to remain healthy. A lack of home ventilation can lead to an increase in air pollutants such as mold, mildew, and dust, which in turn can damage the health of those who live in the house.

At times when you feel like you need some fresh air, it may be that your house does too. Here are some home ventilation tips to help keep both you and your house breathing easily.

How does home ventilation occur?

According to The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineering, about a third of the total air volume in a house should be changed every hour. So how does this happen? Wind is one factor in home ventilation, as is the natural air movement caused by differences in indoor and outdoor temperatures.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there are three methods by which circulating air enters and exits a home:

 Infiltration

Infiltration is a home ventilation process that occurs when outside air enters a house through minute openings and cracks in exterior walls, as well as through building joints in walls, floors, and ceilings.

Natural ventilation

Natural home ventilation is intentional ventilation, i.e. air that flows through windows and doors opened for that purpose. Or, if you have children, unintended natural ventilation also occurs when they forget to close windows and doors.

Mechanical ventilation

Mechanical ventilation refers to home ventilation systems that use exhaust fans, ducts, and vents to circulate and replace the air in a house.

Home ventilation tips

Attic ventilation

A properly insulated and well-ventilated attic plays an important role in home ventilation. Air trapped in the attic will affect the air temperature in an entire house. For better home ventilation, use louvers and roof vents to keep hot air and moisture from accumulating in your attic.

Ceilingfans

Ceiling fans are a relatively inexpensive way to enhance home ventilation. Air can't circulate unless it's moving, and that's one way ceiling fans enhance home ventilation.

Windowfans

Many homes make use of window air-conditioning units to bring cooler air into the house, but window fans can be a great way to move stale air out. Hot air rises, therefore by securely placing window fans in a few upstairs windows and setting their fans to blow outside will draw cooler air into upstairs rooms to replace the warm air that your window fans expel.

Whole house fans

Many homeowners prefer to ventilate their homes using whole house fans. Whole house fans provide whole home ventilation by expelling old air through the attic and roof and drawing new air in through opened windows. Professional installation rather than self-installation of whole house fans is recommended.

Landscaping

An oft-overlooked way to influence home ventilation is through landscaping. Trees, hedges, and fences can all affect the speed and direction of wind flow. An intelligently landscaped yard can enhance the benefits acquired through natural home ventilation.

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