A whole home ventilation system can help rid your living environment of volatile organic compounds (VOC), allergens such as pet dander and mold spores, carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke and other pollutants. Exhaust, supply and balanced ventilation systems employ a combination of venting and fans to exchange stale indoor air for fresher outdoor air. Energy recovery systems also have a built-in heat exchanger that draws 70 to 80 percent of the warmth from the air before it’s sent outdoors.
What to Look for in a Whole Home Ventilation System
It’s wise to seek the advice of a knowledgeable HVAC professional about which of the four types best matches your particular situation and budget. No matter which of the four you ultimately decide on, you’ll get the biggest benefit by choosing a system with these attributes:
- High-quality, quiet fans. Choose fans rated one sone or less to ensure quiet, vibration-free operation. You’ll appreciate the quiet particularly if the fans are installed near the living or sleeping areas. High-quality ventilation fans should provide reliable, continuous service for 10 years or more.
- Convenient controls. Ask your contractor about adding a programmable control that allows you to set the level of ventilation based on the season and your daily routine.
- Additional filtration. Incoming air filtration can help remove pollutants before they reach your living space. If you add extra filtration, you’ll need fans that have enough power to compensate for the decreased airflow of a clogged filter. Make sure your contractor installs the filter unit in a convenient location so you can change it as necessary.
- Adequate air distribution. Make sure that the system employs in-line fans that are ducted to various rooms instead of simply relying on your ceiling fans to move the air.
- Neutral pressure. Some ventilation systems can create pressurization issues in homes that are extremely airtight, so be sure that your contractor takes this into consideration.
Contact us today at Around the Clock Heating and Air Conditioning and let us help you make your whole home ventilation system purchase a stress-free experience. We’ve proudly served Los Angeles area homeowners since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about whole home ventilation systems and other HVAC topics, downloadour free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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