Most people spend a lot of time indoors, making it important to focus on indoor air quality (IAQ). Indoor air quality can profoundly impact our health, productivity, and mindset. One way to promote healthy IAQ is through the use of proper ventilation. This approach helps reduce the presence of allergens and pollutants while keeping relative humidity under control. Understanding the various ventilation options available can assist you in making supportive IAQ choices for your home in Dickinson, TX.
Here is the role that ventilation plays in your home’s indoor air quality.
Why Is Ventilation Important?
Household ventilation is the process of bringing outdoor air into your home and distributing it to the various living spaces. This can help dilute and remove indoor pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pet dander, dust, cooking odors, smoke, and more.
Ventilation can also allow excess moisture to escape, helping you maintain your indoor relative humidity within the recommended range of 35% to 50%. Additionally, ventilation replenishes your home with oxygen while reducing the buildup of carbon dioxide. This can make you feel more alert, productive, and comfortable when you’re at home.
There are serious health consequences to be aware of when your home has poor indoor air quality. Allergy sufferers usually experience an increase in symptoms when ventilation is lacking. If high levels of humidity lead to mold growth, this can trigger allergy symptoms, asthma attacks, and more. Exposure to VOCs, tobacco smoke, and radon can increase your risk of respiratory issues and cancer. You’re at an increased risk of illness if bacteria and viruses linger in the air for long periods of time.
Ventilation Options
There are two main options for ventilating your home: mechanical and natural ventilation. Both methods are effective, but your choice will depend on your indoor air quality needs, the layout of your home, and the current climate conditions.
Natural Ventilation
By opening doors and windows, you can naturally ventilate your home. This exchange of air between the outside and indoors can be cost-effective and energy-efficient. There may be limitations, especially during temperature extremes. Poor outdoor air quality may also be a concern. If it’s raining, this can increase the humidity in your home. The spring allergy season can bring high levels of pollen indoors.
Mechanical Ventilation
Using different types of fans and specialized equipment to control the circulation and flow of air in your home can allow for ample air exchange. This process can help you regulate the temperature, control humidity, and filter particulate matter out of your indoor air.
Balanced ventilation systems combine supply and exhaust fans as well as other equipment like energy recovery ventilators and heat recovery ventilators. A supply-only system will allow you to bring outdoor air inside; however, positive pressure is used to prevent contaminants from making their way indoors. An exhaust-only system will simply move indoor air outside.
Spot ventilation addresses specific areas of your home. Many homes use exhaust fans in areas where humidity can get quite high, such as laundry rooms or bathrooms. Make sure you regularly clean and maintain this equipment so that it functions optimally.
Regularly Maintaining Your HVAC System and Ventilation Equipment
Schedule an annual inspection of your HVAC system and ventilation equipment. Routine heating and cooling maintenance by professionals can help you spot issues that may impede your ability to maintain healthy indoor air quality. Ensure that you’re regularly changing filters according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Air Purification Devices
In addition to ventilation equipment, you can benefit from having a whole-house air filtration unit installed in your HVAC system. By using high-quality filters, such as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, you can reduce the amount of particulate matter in your air, putting less of a burden on your ventilation equipment. Additionally, you can use a UV light on your HVAC system to damage viruses and bacteria in your air, preventing them from making you sick.
Monitoring Indoor Air Quality
To properly utilize your ventilation equipment, you should monitor your indoor air quality. You can do this with CO2 monitors, hygrometers, and indoor air quality monitors. Many smart thermostats provide this technology, so consider upgrading your current model to a smart version.
Consider Household Design
When your HVAC system was installed, exhaust vents and air intakes should have been strategically placed to avoid the recirculation of contaminants back into your home. An HVAC professional can help you determine if changes need to be made.
If you’re using natural ventilation, it’s ideal to create a flow of air through your home. If you open a window or door at the back of your residence, open something at the front as well to create a cross breeze.
Where Homeowners Go Wrong
Many homeowners attempt to create a very tight home envelope in hopes of boosting HVAC efficiency. While keeping your home closed and sealed can prevent heat loss, it can also negatively impact your indoor air quality. Simply using equipment such as bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans can have a positive impact.
Signs Your Home Needs Ventilation
There are several signs that indicate your indoor air quality is low and in need of ventilation support. Frequent odors in your home are signs that you don’t have a healthy exchange of air occurring. This includes pet odors, cooking smells, and a general musty odor. The smell of mold should never be ignored due to its health implications. If you’ve spotted mold in the home or suspect it’s present, have an indoor air quality test performed. If mold is found, work with a remediation company to safely remove the mold from your residence.
The air in your home may sometimes feel uncomfortable and stuffy. This can be due to temperature issues, humidity problems, or high levels of particulate matter. Consider adjusting your thermostat and running ventilation equipment to accommodate. If you’re experiencing an increase in allergies, your indoor air may be to blame.
HVAC System and IAQ
Your HVAC system circulates air throughout your home and maintains a comfortable temperature. Additionally, your heating and cooling equipment filters particulate matter from the air. Run your HVAC system regularly to assist with ventilation.
You should schedule annual inspections and maintenance for your HVAC system. Change your furnace filter regularly to protect the integrity of the equipment and ensure proper filtration. Consider upgrading your furnace filter to one with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating between 8 and 12, as anything above 12 can be too restrictive and lead to HVAC issues.
Mackey Services can help you address your indoor air quality concerns and ventilation questions. We can perform an indoor air quality test to help you determine which contaminants are present in your home. This information can provide guidance regarding the type of ventilation and filtration equipment you should invest in. We can also install whole-home humidity control devices to help you maintain a healthy level of moisture. Contact our team at Mackey Services in Dickinson to schedule an appointment today.
