Is Your Home Adequately Ventilated?
If you are a home building contractor, you already know
everything you need to about ventilating a home to keep it
insulated and safe. Yet, many homeowners want to ensure their
homes are adequately ventilated without paying hefty consulting
and contracting fees each time they have a question or make a
repair. That is why it helps to understand something about your
home's ventilation system and learn how to handle some of the
minor adjustments yourself.
Every home needs to be adequately heated to protect family
members from getting sick or developing hypothermia. But too
much heat can feel uncomfortable during the warm season or in
tropical climates and promote the growth of mold or other
bacterial invasions that require a warm, moist environment to
grow and thrive. A home's thermostat that is linked to the
heating and cooling system provides much of the temperature
control a family needs to be comfortable year-round. But attic
space permitting air flow can increase your home's comfort level
by preventing moisture buildup and promoting air exchange during
temperature extremes outdoors.
An attic ventilator usually provides this needed service. Since
the attic is separate from the sealed part of the house that
receives warm and cold air from the furnace and air conditioner,
it is the ideal place to circulate indoor air outside, and
outdoor air inside, to break up air pockets that can nurture
mold, bacteria, and other unwanted germs. If your attic
ventilator, which is usually perched on the highest point of the
attic, proves inadequate, you may want to consider adding soffit
vents beneath the eaves and used with a continuous ridge vent
for maximum airflow.
If you are not sure how to tackle the problem of installing
soffit vents, ask someone whose home maintenance work you trust
for advice or help. Alternatively, you can pick up a handyman's
manual or a ventilation guide to learn how to do this procedure
yourself. Check out part prices at local hardware stores for an
idea of how to budget your ventilation adjustment. Also be sure
you have all the needed tools beforehand, along with a few spare
parts, if needed.
Venting your home appropriately can reduce the level of toxic
emissions or fumes. It also may keep everyone from getting sick
as often or passing around the current flu bug, since air that
is circulating can make it difficult for germs to grow. Check
out your attic to make sure there is good cross ventilation and
that your current ventilation system is working properly. Then
decide whether this would be a good time to consider adding
soffit vents for increased airflow. Try to get it done in good
weather so you won't have to work outdoors or in a chilly attic
when it's rainy or cold outside.