Choosing the right indoor ventilation system is more than just a comfort feature – it is essential for health, safety, and efficiency. Poor air circulation can allow pollutants, allergens, and moisture to build up indoors, which can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies. Assessing your specific needs alongside the unique characteristics of your home allows you to make an informed decision that improves your comfort and indoor living environment.
So which indoor ventilation system works best for you? This guide will explore the positives and negatives of each system to assist you in making the right choice for your home and needs.
Option 1: Exhaust-Only Ventilation
Exhaust fans are usually placed in strategic locations such as kitchens and bathrooms in order to remove stagnant indoor air. This method ensures the successful removal of pollutants, dampness and odours from targeted areas.
Pros:
-
- Ease of Installation: Compared to more intricate systems, installing an exhaust fan is typically less complicated as well as less expensive.
- Moisture Control: It is very good at removing moisture from places with high humidity, which reduces the chances of mould and mildew growing.
Cons:
-
- Limited Coverage: Since this system isn’t meant for whole-house ventilation, it might not be able to adequately address the air quality that is needed and will be used less frequently, usually on demand as an auxiliary function. This means that it does not run continuously like a balanced system might — instead, they’re typically turned on only as needed, for short periods (like 20, 40, or 60 minutes).
- Negative Pressure: The system has the potential to produce negative pressure in securely sealed dwellings, which could draw air from unfavourable places like basements.
- Backdrafting Risk: This is a serious concern, especially with appliances more prone to combustion. This happens with flue gases are drawn back into the house, which can pose major health risks.
Option 2: Supply-Only Ventilation
Using a ducted HVAC system, supply-only ventilation brings in fresh outdoor air into a house. This makes sure that fresh air is always flowing inside, which, in turn, improves indoor air quality.
Pros:
-
- Fresh Air Introduction: Actively bringing in fresh, outside air assists in diluting indoor air pollutants and enhancing overall air quality.
- Integration with Current Systems: If your home already has a ducted HVAC system, adding supply ventilation can be relatively straightforward.
Cons:
-
- Un-Tempered Air: Given that fresh air may not be conditioned, it might be excessively hot or cold depending on the season. This could make your energy bills go up because the heating and cooling system has to work harder.
- Problems with Humidity Management: Supply systems can inadvertently drive humidity into the building structure or attic, leading to potential damage and comfort issues.
- Risk of Frozen Locks: Un-tempered air in exceptionally cold weather might cause unforeseen problems, such as frozen locks.
Option 3: Balanced Ventilation
For households with asthma or allergy concerns, balanced ventilation is especially beneficial. By improving overall air circulation and reducing indoor buildup of allergens, this type of system helps create a healthier and more breathable environment. By simultaneously bringing in fresh air and removing stale air, balanced ventilation systems provide an all-encompassing strategy to improve indoor air quality. This strategy is typically implemented throughout the home.
Pros:
-
- Optimal Indoor Air Quality: Balanced systems provide maximum control over indoor air quality, ensuring that fresh air replaces stale air with causing pressure imbalances.
- Energy Efficiency: Many balanced systems come equipped with heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) or energy recovery ventilators (ERVs), which can transfer heat from outgoing air to incoming air. This efficiency can lead to significant energy savings.
- Safe for Combustion Appliances: Given that these systems maintain balanced pressure, they do not negatively impact combustion appliances, reducing the risk of backdrafting.
Cons:
-
- Complex Installation: Compared to simpler systems, setting up a balanced system can be more complex and expensive, requiring professional installation and maintenance.
- Maintenance Requirements: Regular upkeep is essential to ensure optimal performance and efficiency, which might deter some homeowners.
Selecting the right ventilation system for your home is an important decision that can significantly affect both your indoor air quality and overall comfort. Each system comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, which is why it is important to evaluate them thoroughly.
For instance, you might choose to consider your specific needs, such as humidity control or allergy management, alongside your budget and the layout of your home.
By taking these factors into account, you can make an informed choice about the indoor ventilation system that best enhances your indoor environment and contributes to a healthier living space for you and your family!
Sign Up for the Lifebreath Academy!
Education and training of industry partners have been an essential part of Lifebreath’s support. Sign up for our installation and balancing course to learn more about balancing your systems here.