There is a lot more that goes into managing indoor air than maintaining the right temperature. You also have to think about the quality of the air inside the home and how to ensure all the rooms in your home are properly ventilated. Every room in your home is different and this will require a different ventilation solution. Here is how to handle ventilation in different parts of the home.
Garage
Apart from parking one or two cars, most people do not use their garage for much apart from as a storage space. Your garage needs adequate ventilation because you might store toxic substances like paint, thinners, pesticides and other chemicals in there.
You need to ensure that any toxic fumes or chemicals in the air are vented out completely, so they do not contaminate the rest of the house.
Natural ventilation works well for a garage, especially if there are no spills. However, you may need additional mechanical ventilation especially if there is a door that connects the garage to the rest of the house. An exhaust fan is a perfect addition to any garage.
Bathroom and Kitchen
The solution required for one works for the other and this is why they can be ventilated the same. The bathroom and the kitchen are both sources of humidity and often a cause of poor indoor air quality.
Without adequate ventilation, humidity can turn into condensation which could lead to other issues such as mould and mildew growth. Also, the different cleaning products we use in both areas could create issues if the kitchen and bathrooms are not adequately ventilated.
There are specific kitchen and bathroom fans from retailers like BPC which you can find at www.BPCVentilation.ie that can vent out bathrooms and kitchens of different sizes. One way to tell if you have the right size fan is not seeing condensation on the walls or other surfaces after leaving the fan on for about 30 minutes.
The Attic
Most people do not think about ventilating their attic because it is not usually a living space. However, it is important to vent it because not doing so could compromise the structure of your house. Additionally, how well you ventilate the attic has a direct effect on your energy consumption.
In the summer, it can increase the overall house temperature, and in the winter, it can cause ice dams to form and these damage the roof. The most common ventilation options are gable vents, soffit vents, dome or box vents, and ridge vents.
Most homes have most, or all of these ventilation options installed.
Living Area
The main concern for the living areas is air quality. Because of this, you want all the air coming into this space to be free of pathogens, dust, and other debris.
The best solution for these areas is a supply ventilation system that causes positive pressure in the home forcing all air out. Any air that comes in to replace the one expelled is filtered before getting into the home thereby ensuring excellent air quality.
Although there are ventilation solutions that cover the whole home, it is important to think about the unique needs and characteristics of all parts of the home when choosing a ventilation system. Doing so will allow you to choose the best ventilation solution for each.