Moisture and Air: Ventilation Options

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Moisture and Air: Ventilation Options

After reducing moisture sources, ventilation may be used to improve indoor air quality.

All ventilation systems should be balanced, i.e., air in = air out, with intakes sized to allow easy entry of enough air to supply all exhaust devices.

Passive ventilation
In the winter, open one or more windows for a short time. This can provide temporary ventilation, but is not always effective or economical.

Passive Ventilation

Exhaust-only ventilation
The minimum is exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchen running for hours per day*.

Exhaust Only Ventilation

Caution: when using large exhaust fans, combustion appliances with chimney may not operate properly.

Ventilation combined with air circulation
If you have a forced air system, operate the fan continuously or intermittently. Combined with opening windows or using an exhaust fan, this will result in improved air quality through the whole house. A drawback is that most fans have a high energy consumption.

Balanced ventilation systems
Exhaust fan runs in conjunction with fresh air intake to the furnace circulating air system.

Balanced Ventilation

Heat recovery ventilation
Combustion applicances with matched intakes and exhausts run smoothly.

Heat Recovery Ventilation

Note: In some houses that employ combustion devices, gas, oil or wood furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, etc, a fresh air supply may be required to match the flows of exhaust-only ventilation systems.

Solutions

Many ventilation options can affect the performance of combustion appliances, especially when large fans are used. You can protect yourself from the worst effects of combustion appliance spillage through the use of a CSA certified carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarm.