Ventilators 101: Here’s What You Need to Know for Fresher Air

Learn how a ventilator can freshen the air in your home

How comfortable you feel at home doesn’t just depend on the temperature—indoor air quality matters, too. Over the last few decades, new homes have become more airtight to improve energy efficiency, but that means stuffy, unhealthy air gets trapped inside. How can you bring in much-needed fresh air without wasting energy? Whole-home ventilators are the answer. The River City Heating & Air Conditioning pros share everything you need to know about these genius air quality systems.

What is ventilation?

Ventilation is the process of moving air in and out of your home. Because indoor air can be as much as 100 times more polluted than outdoor air, it’s important to replace it with fresh, clean air to keep your home safe, comfortable, and healthy.

How do ventilators work?

Ventilators use a combination of vents and fans to control and exchange air. While opening your windows and doors can help, it doesn’t compare to whole-home ventilation systems, which:

  • Adjust the incoming air temperature to avoid wasting energy
  • Provide the proper amount of fresh, healthy air
  • Expel harmful particles, bacteria, and allergens
  • Help prevent excess moisture and condensation, which can lead to mold growth

Why do I need to ventilate my home?

When indoor pollutants build up and reach dangerous levels, they can cause serious health problems—like allergies, asthma, lung diseases, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. The most common air quality problems include:

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases emitted from common household products, like paints, disinfectants, cosmetics, candles, and cooking vapors. Because VOCs contain unsafe chemicals, they can have both long- and short-term effects on your health.
  • Excess humidity in homes causes serious damage to your walls, woodwork, and other features. This moisture can also lead to mold growth which can make your family seriously ill if it’s not found and treated. Ventilators help regulate moisture levels—but if your issue is more significant, you may need a whole-home dehumidifier.
  • Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soil and rock. In high concentrations, this colorless, odorless gas can cause lung cancer. Have your levels checked to ensure they fall within a safe range.

Which ventilator is right for my home?

We’re happy to recommend a system that provides your home with the perfect amount of ventilation without wasting energy dollars. Most often we recommend Bryant® Preferred™ and Legacy™ systems because they:

  • Precondition incoming air to minimize energy loss
  • Reduce humidity in incoming air during the summer
  • Pre-filter and clean incoming air
  • Are nearly silent when operating
  • Have a crossflow design that keeps stale, outgoing air from mixing with fresh, incoming air
  • Come with a 10-year parts limited warranty

Find Out If Ventilation Is Right for Your Home

Not all homes need a ventilation system—it depends on a number of things, including how airtight your home is. Talk to our pros about your options today. We’ll let you know if one of these powerful systems would be beneficial in your home, and which model is right for you. Have more questions? Just ask! Email or call 507-454-7689.