August 29, 2016
There’s been a lot of discussion lately among homeowners in Monmouth and Ocean counties about whether it’s better to have small amounts of outside air enter the home or to seal the home as tightly as possible. As with any aspect of home performance and energy efficiency, there’s no such thing as a “one size fits all” solution that can be applied across the board to all homes.
More often than not, the best course of action is to seal the home envelope tightly and utilize mechanical ventilation to keep your inside air fresh and clean.
Why Seal and Ventilate?
It makes sense at face value to seal your home completely given the energy savings and boosted comfort often associated with air sealing. A tightly sealed home isn’t necessarily a good thing, however, and it can actually be quite dangerous under certain circumstances. This is why it’s so important to ensure any home that has been sealed tightly is ventilated properly so that the inside air is safe to breathe.
Proper ventilation encourages better indoor air quality, regardless of how small or large the home may be. This is especially important for those who suffer from allergies or other types of respiratory illnesses, as dirt, mold and debris can become a problem if the home isn’t properly vented. Perhaps the biggest concern is that of carbon monoxide (CO) from your HVAC system, which can be extremely harmful and even fatal if inhaled for long enough periods of time.
Types of Ventilation
It can be scary to look at the dangers associated with not ventilating a home. Fortunately, though, there are plenty of ventilation options for NJ homeowners to choose from. Mechanical ventilation typically comes in three main varieties: exhaust-only, supply-only and balanced systems. All of these are relatively straightforward, and as one might expect, a balanced ventilation system will almost always be the best option. Balanced ventilation with heat recovery is also a commonly option for NJ homeowners.
Tom Rostron—Your Ventilation Specialist
At The Tom Rostron Company, our team believes firmly that nothing matters quite as much as the health and safety of you and your family. We go to great lengths to ensure that every ventilation job is handled with the utmost of care and professionalism, and we’ve got the track record to prove it.
