Technology. Performance. Service.: How To Improve Air Quality In A New Home

How To Improve Air Quality In A New Home

Air quality and ventilation in a house are very important for personal health and comfort. Stagnant, dirty air can cause unpleasant odors and problems for those with respiratory issues such as asthma.

Older homes can suffer from excessive air leakage, causing increased heating and cooling costs, and discomfort from cold drafts in the winter. The good news is through it's inherent defects, an older home can have a good supply of fresh air.

New homes on the other hand, are designed and built to be energy efficient, with a small amount of air leakage. This is great for keeping heating and cooling costs low, it also means odors, moisture, pet dander etc. can be trapped in the home. A mechanical ventilation system needs to be present to allow the house to breath and to get fresh air into the home, and exhaust old stale air to the outdoors. Here are some things that can be done to improve air quality in your new home.

1) Heat Recovery Ventilators - (HRV)

These devices are very common in new homes. They work in conjunction with the furnace and/or principal exhaust fan to remove stale air and bring in fresh air, transferring some of the heat from the exhaust air into the incoming air to reduce heat loss in the heating season. If you have one, it will be installed in the utility room, and will be hanging from the ceiling. There are reusable filters inside the unit which need to be cleaned regularly. Some are static systems, while others have fans installed in them to help pressure balance the air in the home. They can be retro-fit into older homes if needed, but are fairly expensive. An HRV may be required by building code in newer homes.

This photo illustrates the Standard installation

air flow through a

Heat Recovery Ventilator

The core and filters inside the HRV

2) Change furnace filters regularly

Furnace filters play an important role helping keep the furnace clean. They should be replaced every 4-6 months to ensure optimum performance. A clean furnace means cleaner air.

3) Run exhaust fans

In addition to removing odors and moisture, kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans can also help the ventilation process. Some new homes also have a principal exhaust fan. If your new home has one, there will be, what looks like a light switch located on the main floor, (probably in the hallway, close to the thermostat) labeled "ventilation fan". It works with the same principal as a HRV, without the actual HRV unit. A principal exhaust fan works via a secondary fan unit (also located in the basement ceiling) and air ducts only. It provides an air exchange in the home, exhausting old air and bringing in fresh air. A principal exhaust fan may be required for new homes without a HRV.