The Importance of Ventilation

While talking about the importance of ventilation,the idea of having fresh air flow through your house seems odd as we are getting ready to move into the winter, but it is an important consideration for the months ahead.  Any advantages your home might have in how well it is insulated can be undone if it isn’t also properly ventilated.

What Ventilation Does

ventilation2More than exhaust fans, proper ventilation serves a variety important functions in your home. Ventilation:

  • Removes stale air containing water vapor, carbon dioxide, and airborne chemicals or pollutants
  • Draws fresh, outside air into your house
  • Distributes that fresh air throughout your home.
  • Promotes thermal comfort

Pollutants

One of the things many of us living in the Twin Cities seek to do before winter hits is make sure our home is sealed so that cold winter air can’t get in.  But did you know that if too little outdoor air is allowed into your home, pollutants can accumulate, reaching levels that can cause health and comfort problems? Making sure that you have proper attic ventilation is one way to prevent those pollutants from accumulating.

Air Flow

As odd as it may sound, a properly ventilated attic can actually help your roof during the winter months. Allowing the air to flow through your attic under your roof can help prevent ice damming that caused by heat trapped in the attic melting the snow on your roof, then refreezing and backing up under your shingles.

Thermal Comfort

As counter intuitive as it may seem, ensuring you have adequate ventilation inside your home can help with your “thermal comfort”. What is “thermal comfort”? Thermal comfort is your perception of how hot or cold you at any given time or place. While you may think of it in terms of air temperature, thermal comfort is also influenced by humidity, radiant temperature, air movement, the insulation provided by your clothing, and your own metabolism.

Humidity

Humidity is the water vapor in the air at any given time  and the amount of humidity in your home can vary greatly, as can its effects. Cooking, showers, laundry, all of these activities will release moisture into your home. Properly ventilated home will have enough air movement to remove the moisture. If your home is sealed too tightly and does not have adequate ventilation that same moisture will collect against the outer walls and in your attic which can damage your insulation and lessen its R-value.

Midwest Roofing, Siding and Windows has over 40 years of experience providing the Twin Cities with quality products and workmanship. We know this area and what your home needs when it comes to ventilation.

 

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