Options for ventilation

Options for ventilation

Ideally the air in a home should be 'renewed' every two hours, even when you are not at home. Some simple options are to fit aluminium windows with passive air vents or to fit security stays that allow the windows to be left ajar. When windows and doors cannot be left open, consider mechanical ventilation systems and air conditioning systems:

• Positive pressure or forced air ventilation systems work by blowing drier air into your house from the roof space above the ceiling or, in some types, from outside. They suit older houses with wooden joinery better than modern houses with sealed aluminium joinery – unless windows are opened or additional vents fitted.
• Balanced pressure / heat exchanger ventilation systems extract warm damp air from living spaces and pass it through a heat-exchanger to heat up dry air which the system brings in from outside. This can fully meet Building Code requirements. They work best in more airtight, modern homes.
• Extractor fans are used in places like the kitchen and bathrooms to remove steam.

For more information about ventilation systems go to consumer.org.nz. Note: you need to be a member to access this information.

Which system is best?