Why Is Ventilation In The Home Important?

For a comfortable environment in your home, ventilation is crucial. It is important that the air passes easily around your house which is good for your health. House ventilation helps to avoid air pollutants from affecting your and your family’s health and provides a good environment to be in. Let’s find out why ventilation in the home is important.

IMPORTANCE OF AIRFLOW

Circulation of air helps to cancel out the unwanted and strong odour which ruins the environment and affects the hygiene of your house. It is best if your house has access to fresh air and nothing blocks it from passing through the house. Installation of kitchen chimneys and exhaust fans is also done to eliminate cooking scents and have a proper passing of air for this very reason.

If you have a reasonable flow of air in your house, the chances of the wood in your house catching moisture become less. Most people have wooden furniture as well walls and doors that can easily catch moisture or dry out which can ultimately lead to it getting rotten. Ventilation would prevent it from happening and keep everything in your house safe.

HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES

Having adequate airflow will also prevent mould from building up around your house which is dangerous for your health if exposed for an extended period. Some minor symptoms you can notice when having mould around the house are irritation to your eyes, nose and throat.

1. To remove condensation which causes damage to the home

A recent My Health My Home survey found that 58% of homes experience condensation.  Everyone knows what condensation is, but what causes condensation and what can be done about it?

If you have ever noticed the droplets of water that form on the outside of a canned drink when you take it out of the fridge, then you have seen condensation at first hand. The reason why this happens is all to do with temperature, air, and water vapour.  The temperature on the surface of the can is reduced as air passes over it. As the air gets cooler its relative humidity rises and the water vapour turns into moisture. The air passing over the can is unable to hold onto the moisture which ends up as droplets running down the side of the can’s cold surface.

This is what happens in thousands of households across the nation when the temperature drops inside the home, especially at night-time when the heating is turned off. The air reaches the point where it can no longer hold onto to all the moisture that we create in our homes and it migrates to the coldest surfaces – windows, walls and behind furniture – where it appears as condensation or the more familiar sight of streaming windows.

Condensation is most noticeable in winter because there is a large difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the home. That means once the heating is turned off the inside temperature drops quickly and soon reaches the point of 100% saturation. As the air cools further, some of the water can no longer be held in the form of invisible water vapour and begins to form liquid droplets. Condensation is the most common form of dampness and will eventually lead to mould growth.  If it is left to develop over time then damp patches may start to appear on walls, which means that wallpaper may peel, and ultimately black mould will grow. This leads to musty smells, damage to the fabric of the house and it can even result in health problems.

Introducing adequate ventilation, with a condensation control unit, gently ventilates the home from a central position such as the landing to transform a stagnant and stale atmosphere into a fresh, healthy and condensation free environment.

2. To make a healthier living environment and reduce asthma

Did you know that damp and mouldy conditions can be major triggers for asthma?

If a home does not have an adequate ventilation system and humidity is high, this can provide a perfect breeding grounds for dust mites. These dust mites and their airborne detritus thrive in homes that are not effectively ventilated.  When their detritus encounters the skin or is inhaled, it can cause allergic reactions, resulting in asthma attacks, eczema, watering eyes, itching, sneezing and a runny nose. These issues can be significantly reduced with an effective ventilation system and some asthma sufferers have seen immediate benefits when such a system has been fitted in their homes.

3. To help alleviate symptoms of hay fever

In the summer, hay fever causes misery and suffering for many people. An effective ventilation system can filter out larger particles, such as pollen, preventing them from entering the home. Having a ventilation system in place means there is no need to open the window, which can cause a problem for those with pollen allergies. A ventilation system could be the answer to a more comfortable summer.

Some sufferers of seasonal health conditions, such as hay fever and pollen allergies, have noticed improvements in their condition when an effective ventilation system is fitted. A constant supply of filtered fresh air entering the home can help to control pollutants in the indoor atmosphere, which can have a positive impact on health.

4. To reduce the effects of naturally occurring Radon gas

Some parts of the country are affected by Radon gas. This is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas, which is formed by the decay of small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils. When this occurs, it produces another radioactive element called Radon’s Daughters, which can attach themselves to dust particles in the air and, if inhaled, they will stick to the airways of the lung.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has linked Radon exposure to between 3 and 14 per cent of all lung cancer cases.

Radon is mainly found in areas with high levels of granite and other igneous rocks and is prevalent in areas such as the South West and the East Midlands. If you are in a Radon-affected area, it is worth having tests carried out in your home and it may be the case that a Positive Input Ventilation system can help to reduce Radon to safe levels, reducing the risks to your health.

5. To lessen the impact of VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds – or VOCs as they are often known – are invisible gases that can lead to many health problems in the home.  The Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks calculates there are up to 900 chemicals in indoor air, with negative side-effects much more common in properties without adequate ventilation. In fact, figures from the Environmental Protection Agency show the air inside homes could be 70 per cent more polluted than it is outdoors!

How to Use Ventilation to Protect Health

• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms to remove moisture and gases from the house.
• Fit your kitchen with an exhaust fan that moves the air to the outside. Use the fan or open a window when cooking to remove fumes and airborne particles.
• Make sure gas, propane, wood or other combustion appliances vent completely to the outside. Do not use ventless stoves.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector in multiple locations in your house.
• Vent clothes dryers to the outdoors, too. Clean out the vent regularly to make sure the dust does not block air flow.
• If you paint or use hobby supplies or chemicals in your home, add extra ventilation. Open the windows and use a portable window fan to pull the air out of the room.
• Test your home for radon, and if you have elevated levels, hire a professional to add ventilation to remove it. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
• If the air indoors remains too moist, look for sources of moisture that need to be controlled. If that still does not solve the problem, if a dehumidifier may help. If you use a dehumidifier, make certain you clean it regularly. Check with an air systems specialist to see if your system needs improvements.
• Never idle your car in an attached garage. The exhaust can move into your home.

What Are Some Challenges Triggered by Poor Ventilation?

• When not enough air circulates, pollution builds up indoors. Sometimes efforts to make buildings more energy efficient can backfire by not allowing enough air to move, building up pollution.
  Carbon monoxide can build up to deadly levels indoors without proper ventilation, but it is not the only risk.
• Concentrations of radon, which can cause lung cancer, can increase in homes with low ventilation.
  High humidity outside can make indoor air more humid, increasing the risk of moisture damage indoors, such as mold growth or wood rot.

Contact ACE Group if you’re interested in well-ventilated luxury homes in Noida Expressway.