Home ventilation is crucial as it helps your home rid itself of moisture, smoke, cooking odours and indoor pollutants. Structured ventilation also controls heat levels, moderates dampness and keeps moisture out of uninsulated walls. Without ventilation, airflow is interrupted, which can result in a blockage. Anything blocking the airflow in your home can cause damage to your home and health.
If a home is not adequately ventilated, condensation can occur and eventually lead to mould growth through dampness. These damp patches may appear on walls and ceilings, creating black mould and musty smells, as well as damage to the fabric of the house.
Mould associated with improper ventilation can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, respiratory infections and worsen asthma and allergic conditions. Inadequate ventilation in homes can also provide breeding grounds for dust mites that trigger many allergic reactions for people. Finally, homeowners must protect themselves from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These are invisible gases from anything such as permeant markers to fragrances to cleaning products. These gases can lead to significant health problems, and therefore, effective ventilation systems need to be fitted to dilute and control VOCs in the home.
ERV and HRV Systems
ERV (energy recovery ventilation) and HRV (heat recovery ventilation) systems can effectively ventilate your home and eliminate any condensation and health implications that arise from inadequate airflow.
An ERV system draws clean, fresh air into your home and removes stale air. The system also captures contaminants, pollutants, allergens, pollen and more, helping to ensure that the air that enters is kept clean and healthy.
HRV systems offer a solution by allowing fresh air to enter a building without affecting the inside temperature. This is particularly important in colder countries where buildings tend to be sealed to maintain heat, with no consideration for airflow and adequate ventilation. It works by drawing in the stale, warm air from inside your home along with cooler, fresh air from outside your home. In this transfer, there is no energy wasted.
If you want to know more about ventilation, including costs, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are experts in the sustainability field and love to answer your questions, especially our very own, Certified Passive House Designer and Consultant, Carole Haurd!
