Ventilation is the exchange of indoor air with outdoor air, and everyone home needs at least some in order to bring in fresh air. Natural, whole-house, and spot ventilation do more than just bring in fresh air, though. Airflow out of the home pushes indoor pollutants outside, and air circulation is one of the major methods of controlling indoor moisture and humidity.

All homes have at least some natural airflow. Fresh air from outside flows into your house through cracks and holes in the walls, while stale air from inside flows out. Homes that are sealed to maximize efficiency have reduced natural airflow, which is why many energy-efficient homes require some spot ventilation, and, possibly, a whole-whose system.

A whole house system uses a system of ducts, and a fan to control airflow within the home. Depending on the type of system, it may use an exhaust fan to force fresh air out the home, a supply fan to push stale air into of the home, or both types of fans to mimic the effects of natural airflow. A whole-house system gives you the most control over indoor humidity and air circulation.

A balanced, energy-recovery system does a number of different things. It brings fresh air inside, and pushes stale air outside like natural airflow would, and it also makes your HVAC system more efficient by recycling some of the heat that would otherwise be lost with the air that goes out of your home.

Spot ventilation uses exhaust fans in areas like the kitchen and bathroom to control moisture directly. Localized exhaust fans can be used to pull moisture directly out of an area where a lot of humidity is being generated, such as when you’re cooking. Moisture control is the key method of preventing mold growth, which makes adequate ventilation even more valuable for increasing indoor air quality.

If you have questions regarding your heating and cooling system, or other home comfort issues, contact LBA, and we’ll be happy to give you advice that suits your needs.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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