Some of the worst pollutants in any home are airborne. In the world where energy efficiency and more weather tight homes are the norm, proper ventilation becomes more important than ever. A proper exhaust fan can keep much of a home’s breathable air fresher and cleaner.
“Sick building syndrome” is most often associated with modern office environments (where windows do not open and air is re-circulated without much exchange). The modern home is also well-sealed against outside drafts and air flow. In such an environment, many ordinarily dispersed pollutants such as radon gas, tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, bacteria, fungi, and pollen can not only make the occupants sick, some of these can kill (radon gas is linked to certain types of cancer, for example).
The garage, too, can be a source of noxious fumes. A leftover can of kerosene, leaky gas cans, yard chemicals – these things contribute harmful fumes to the air. Another contributor is carbon monoxide from car exhaust, or maybe from a leaky flue. Carbon monoxide can build up to lethal concentrations over time. In an airtight or infrequently ventilated space it can kill. The installation of one or more garage exhaust fans should be included in any custom garage plan because they can ensure that pollutants are vented outside and away from the main living space.
Older homes because of their poor insulation, the settling of the house, etc., allow more fresh air in than any new construction. Homeowners in such older houses generally don’t have to think about ventilation in the same way a newer home’s owner might. For the newer home, a simple passive air exchange system may be the only thing necessary to promote a healthy house. These systems use a vaned turbine at the top of the house. They operate on the simple principle of hot air rising – when warmer air rises, it passes over the vanes of the turbine causing it to spin. This, in turn, creates an updraft that pulls fresher air from outside and lower in the home creating circulation.
Good home ventilation combined with simple, common sense home usage can reduce the amount of pollutants and the health risks associated with it. It is also advisable to install garage door sensors that can activate or set off an alarm if a harmful amount of pollutants are detected. The money needed to properly ensure that your family is protected is minimal and fans are very cost effective to run and maintain.
