Having proper ventilation in your Portland area home is essential to maintaining optimal indoor air quality. Weatherization upgrades in modern homes often leave indoor environments too well-sealed, preventing a much needed influx of fresh air. If you feel your home has unnecessary odors, high humidity or a “stuffy” atmosphere, or you worry that home occupants are suffering unduly from allergies or respiratory issues, you likely need a whole-house ventilation system.
Whole-house ventilation systems exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. This is most effectively done when air is removed from rooms where moisture and odors are generated the most, such as your bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room, and when outdoor air is directed into all of your living spaces.
Whole-house venting systems come in four mechanical types: Exhaust, Supply, Balanced and Energy (or Heat) Recovery. Choosing which type is best for you depends on the regional climate, housing layout, budget and more. Once you have settled on a mechanical type, the next step is to ensure your chosen model has the following key qualities:
- Quiet Operation: Ventilation systems should improve your indoor comfort, not compromise it with excessive noise. Select a system with a fan noise rating of less than 1 Sone.
- Good Controls: The system should not be vulnerable to being inadvertently turned off. Choose a model with a programmable control that can be set depending on your family members’ activity times. The controls should be located somewhere where you can easily access them but where children can’t fool with them.
- Good Distribution: While the crux of the system is to introduce fresh outdoor air to your inside environment, this air must be well distributed to the places where you need it most. Choose a model with remote in-line fans that provide optimal air distribution.
- Filtration: You have spent much time weatherizing your home to prevent contaminants from coming in, and the last thing you want is for your ventilation system to work against you. Choose a model with high quality, easily accessible and easily maintained air filters.
To learn more about choosing the best system for your household, please contact our Portland area HVAC experts at (503) 673-6394!
