How to improve the health of your home
Carbon monoxide, pet dander, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) mould spores,…these are only a few of the particles that can end up trapped in your home without proper ventilation.
We chatted to the experts from Xchange Air about the different types of home ventilation available to make your home more comfortable and what the pro’s / con’s are on each.
What are the main benefits of a home ventilation system?
A home ventilation system can improve the quality of the air you and your family breathe through circulation and filtration. Here are some of the benefits of installing a ventilation system in your home:
- Push hot air out before it builds up in your roof cavity.
- Input dry, fresh, filtered air to force out damp stale air.
- Prevent indoor pollutants from stagnating inside.
- Lower indoor moisture levels and prevent issues like mould or dust mite infestation.
- Save money on band air solutions i.e. damp crystals and dehumidifiers.
Different Types of Home Ventilation Systems in Sydney
There are different types of ventilation systems. It’s important to understand each type’s pros and cons to choose the best one for your needs.
Whirly Birds
You can see whirly birds on the roofs of many Sydney homes. These domes are inexpensive solutions that don’t use any electricity.
When a breeze causes the whirly bird vent to spin, it creates a vacuum effect in the roof cavity and draws hot air out.
The main problem with whirly birds is that these domes don’t spin unless there is a breeze, which isn’t always the case in the summertime. A whirly bird might sit and not extract any warm air from your home on the hottest days of the year and during winter it exhausts all the heat out of your roof when you want it there most.
Air Conditioning Units
Contrary to most beliefs, domestic air conditioners recycle the same air in the house. The air is pulled through the return air filter which is a rock catcher that only catches large particles. It either heats or cools the air and pulls it back in.
One of the biggest issues with Air Conditioning is the mould within the unit which it can spread throughout the system and your home.
Positive Input Ventilation System
If you often notice condensation on windows and other issues linked to humidity, a Positive Input Ventilation system could be an ideal whole-house ventilation system for you.
A PIV system will draw air through the roof before filtering it to remove pollutants and other particles. The system will then circulate the outside air throughout your home to create a continuous airflow.
This continuous movement of air from the inside to the outside is ideal for condensation control.
Sub Floor Ventilation
A poorly-ventilated subfloor can result in mould growing in your home. It can trigger asthma symptoms as a result or see signs of damage from humidity on your wooden floor. Termite infestation is another common sign of a damp subfloor.
Moisture typically builds up in your subfloor because of insufficient airflow. Ventilation plays a crucial part in preventing humidity from building up underneath your home and causing damage.
You can prevent damp air from rising through your floor by exhausting the subfloor space with specialized mechanical sub floor fans.
Sub floor damp is very common and most houses require mechanical sub floor ventilation systems.
Forced Air Ventilation
Your roof cavity can become a hotbox during the summertime. As hot air rises, temperatures will go up under your roof, and the heat will remain trapped once the sun goes down. If it’s difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home during the summer, you might need a mechanical heat extraction system.
Installing fans and outgoing vents toward the top of the roof cavity will eliminate the hot air that builds up, and placing incoming air vents lower will let plenty of cool air in. It’s one of the most effective ways of keeping your home cool in the summer.
There are different options to explore for forced air ventilation. You can opt for electricity-powered fans or for solar roof ventilators. A solar-powered system will reduce your bills and your environmental footprint. It’s a solution that can reduce your roof temperature by up to 30 degrees.
Roof Ventilator System
Is your house too hot? A roof ventilator system can make a difference. A roof ventilator system can remove the hot air that builds up in your roof cavity. These systems use a built-in sensor that will stop the airflow once your home reaches the desired temperature.
The introduction of a sensor makes these systems ideal for maintaining a comfortable temperature all-year-round. You can take advantage of the hot air pocket that builds up underneath your roof to stay warm in the winter and maintain a continuous airflow to cool your house down in the summer.
Heat Transfer Unit
Is your house too cold? A ventilation system with a heat transfer unit can draw warm air from the room where you have a heating appliance, like a log burner or gas heater. The heat transfer unit can distribute warm air evenly throughout your home.
It’s a type of ventilation system that will help you save on heating costs while circulating your indoor air.
Learn more about home ventilation specific to our Sydney environment
Xchange Air provides installation services for home ventilation systems in the Sydney area. Their solutions can help with issues like sub floor damp, mould prevention, musty smells and condensation issues.
Their FAQ is a great place to start if you want to learn more about home ventilation or give Michie & the Xchange Air team a call on (02) 9427 8800 to book a free assessment.
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