How Ventilation Impacts Indoor Air Quality

Ventilation in your Downers Grove, IL home can dilute and remove indoor pollutants. This includes things like dust, pollen, mold spores, and volatile organic compounds. You can also use ventilation to regulate humidity and replenish oxygen. Without sufficient ventilation, your indoor air quality will suffer, especially in the winter when we maintain a tighter home envelope. Our team at Fire 'n' Ice Heating & Cooling Inc. can help you promote adequate ventilation in your residence. This includes the use of exhaust fans and daily practices.

Why Does Ventilation Matter?

The quality of your indoor air is significant. A buildup of particulate matter, biological contaminants, and VOCs can negatively affect your health. Ventilation can reduce the discomfort caused by allergies, asthma, and other health problems. You can dilute contaminant concentrations by introducing fresh air. Exhausting stale, contaminated air removes the problem at the source. Combining adequate ventilation with other forms of filtration for a layered approach is ideal.

Sufficient ventilation in your home can control the amount of relative humidity that is present. Ideally, this level should be between 35% and 50%. High levels of humidity can lead to mold and mildew growth and higher concentrations of particulate matter. Arid indoor air can irritate your sinuses, skin, and airways.

Different Types of Ventilation

You can ventilate your residence in several ways. The most common method is to open windows and doors to let in fresh air and let stale air out. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, depending on the weather and outdoor air quality. Airing out when temperatures outside are chilly can result in overuse of your heating equipment. This can lead to higher-than-normal utility bills and HVAC strain.

You likely have exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom, which can be used when you’re cooking, cleaning, or bathing. Consider installing these exhaust fans in other areas of your home, such as your laundry room, attic, or basement.

A balanced mechanical ventilation system, like a heat recovery ventilator, can supply fresh air while recovering heat from the exhaust air. This is ideal for promoting indoor air quality in the winter without compromising heating efficiency.

Choosing the Right Ventilation

It’s important to work with a professional when coming up with a ventilation strategy for your home. There are several factors to consider, including ventilation rate, air distribution, filtration, and source control. We will talk to you about occupancy and household activities. How airtight your home is will also matter. A tight home envelope allows for efficiency. However, it often means you require additional ventilation.

We ensure that you’re using ventilation along with proper filtration. The filter in your HVAC system is important because it traps large particles. This process protects not only your indoor air quality but also the integrity of your heating and cooling equipment. If you have whole-home filtration equipment, this addresses particles while allowing ventilation to tackle gases and humidity.

Monitoring your indoor air quality is also important. An indoor air quality assessment is a great place to start. You’ll learn about the types of contaminants in your air. Ongoing monitoring enables you to control ventilation equipment properly. Use a standalone hygrometer or a smart thermostat with a built-in hygrometer to measure relative humidity.

Keep up with routine inspections and maintenance for your ventilation equipment and other components of your HVAC system. Have our team come out at least once yearly to service fans, clean interior components, and address repairs. Catching issues early can prevent equipment failure and system inefficiencies. Clean and replace any filters in your ventilation system according to the recommended schedule. Keep exhaust paths clear of obstructions to allow for ample airflow. This ensures sufficient ventilation while protecting your ventilation equipment.

Ventilating your home doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. Our team at Fire 'n' Ice Heating & Cooling Inc. in Downers Grove is here to assist with all your indoor air quality concerns using whole-home filtration, purification, and ventilation. We can also service your heating and cooling equipment and perform installations when necessary. All of our work is in accordance with the local building code. Our team ensures reliability and efficiency for years to come. Contact us at Fire 'n' Ice Heating & Cooling Inc. in Downers Grove to schedule an appointment today or learn more.