Dec
4
Healthy Home Ventilation Can Keep You Sane and Happy
Most people try to freshen the air in their homes by keeping them open as much as possible so that the air can flow from outside through the house, but this is not always possible with the changing seasons – the weather is sometimes either too hot or too cold to keep the windows and doors open all the time. You can enjoy better health and an improved sense of well being through healthy home ventilation. By keeping mildew and humidity at bay through effective home ventilation, you can prevent chronic illnesses and health issues.
Architects should not overlook the aspect of proper ventilation while designing a new house. You can choose from numerous venting system options depending on the place of your residence. For example, provision for ventilation is done on the roofs of houses in tropical areas in order to let in adequate amounts of fresh air. In areas that experience colder climate, more attention to detail is necessary while venting a home. Mechanical systems work by removing the polluted air from inside the house, and exchanging it with clean, fresh air that it brings in from outside, without the need to have the house open at all. These systems are available for single rooms, and there are those too, that are capable of filtering and conditioning the air throughout the entire home.
Home ventilation systems eliminate the security risk and reduce outside noise levels too, that are involved with having the house standing open, and, as they prevent air that is too hot or too cold from entering, the inside of the home stays at a steady, pleasant temperature. For example, a good exhaust fan should be installed in the kitchen, as this is the main area that attracts excessive moisture. A good exhaust fan will not only help in eliminating unwanted odors associated with heavy cooking but can also make the air in an area more breathable by bringing in some fresh air.
A high amount of humidity and bad smells can also pervade the bathroom areas. This can be eliminated only through proper home ventilation. Through proper ventilation, excessive moisture in rooms can be prevented; this in turn can prevent the need for replacement of wooden and metal doors and structures that were eaten away due to moisture. The excessive mold and mildew on walls can also take a toll on our health. With the help of a good venting system all of these problems can be sorted easily and permanently within a short span of time.
According to the American College of Allergists, 50% of illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma and allergies, are caused or irritated by inferior air quality inside the home. Things such as pollens, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold, and unstable organic compounds are all found in the air inside the home, and, if they are not expelled somehow, will result in the illnesses mentioned above.
Too much humidity in the air will immediately make the home uncomfortable too, as will pet and cooking odors, and also the smells that are caused by many other normal living activities, all of which cause the air to become sticky and odorous. An excess of humidity also makes it perfect for mold and mildew to breed, which after a time, will begin to destroy the surfaces on which they are growing. This problem will be a thing of the past if a ventilation system combined with a dehumidifier is installed, as all that excess humid air will be replaced with natural, fresh air from outdoors, minimizing the damage that is normally caused by too much moisture in the air.
You can also ventilate your home by opening the doors and windows regularly. This can help in replacing musty or polluted indoor air with fresh air from outdoors. You can also select a good quality air conditioner filter to improve the quality of air inside your home. This can help in reducing health complications such as asthma and other respiratory disorders arising from poor air quality.