Ventilation
Why Ventilation is Important
If ventilation rates, measured as air changes per hour, are not sufficient, the excessive moisture produced in the home, such as from dry clothes or cooking, will not be expelled from the dwelling. High levels of moisture in the home, coupled with a lack of ventilation, may lead to condensation dampness and mould growth. In turn, this may result in deterioration in the health of the occupants.
Therefore, considering the above stated, ventilation is considered important in order to:
- Combat condensation dampness by ventilation excessive moisture in the home to the outside
- Provide a supply of oxygen to the heating system/appliance, especially those that burn the fuel in the home, e.g. solid fuel fires, bottled gas heaters and gas radiant fires
- Expel foul air from kitchen and bathrooms
- Prevent wood rot in roof spaces and areas under the ground floor
How to Ventilate A Building
In order to ventilate a building, ways of introducing oxygen and expelling unwanted moisture, etc., can be achieved through:
- The installation of air bricks
- The opening of windows
- The installing of trickle vents in double glazed units
- The fitting of a mechanical extractor fan
- The fitting of an automatic humidistat fan
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is for ventilation to occur in areas of high moisture level production. This is the main way to combat condensation dampness and maintain a healthy environment for its occupants. Keeping doors closed from these high, moisture producing areas is also vitally important to preventing moisture drifting throughout the building.
Unwanted Ventilation
Whilst ventilation is very important to the well-being of a building and its occupants, there is also unwanted ventilation. This is responsible for many buildings being cold and uncomfortable.
Unwanted ventilation is caused by:
- draughts around badly fitted doors and windows
- cracks in the fabric of the building
- gaps between floorboards and behind skirting boards
- from unused chimneys and flues
Draught proofing is the main solution to the above mentioned problems, but one should keep in mind that kitchens and bathrooms are not recommended for draught proofing as they could build up excessive moisture levels if not ventilated properly by other means.
