Why Ventilate?

Fresh air is needed inside the home to help eliminate odors and pollutants harmful to human health. Fresh air also helps eliminate excessive moisture that harms the building structure and furnishings and is the source of mold and mildew growth. It is also important to replace the air that is expelled out of the home by kitchen range fans, clothes dryers, and other exhaust equipment. Failure to replace exhaust air decreases air pressure inside the home, causing outside air to be pulled into the home through leaks and other openings. In Minnesota, where many homes are fairly air tight, this depressurization can result in back drafting of the furnace and other combustion appliances: carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases are pulled back into the house rather than being expelled up the chimney. Although open windows are often relied on to supply fresh air, in a climate like Minnesota's this is not practical year round. Here, homes are "built tight" to ensure comfort and keep monthly energy bills as low as possible, especially during the winter. Although tightening up a home to prevent air leaks and then bringing in outdoor air through ventilation may seem like a contradiction, it is not. Tightening is essential for comfort and energy efficiency; controlled ventilation is necessary to ensure that the proper amount of fresh air is brought indoors in all seasons.

ВАРІАНТ IV