Is your home healthy?
Did you know that indoor air can be three or four times more polluted than the air you breathe outside?
Poor indoor air quality can result in asthma, allergies, stuffy nose, headaches and fatigue caused by things such as dust mites, hair, mould and gasses from building materials, furnishings and cleaning products.
Air quality is also affected by other factors, such as: pets, cooking odours, tobacco smoke, perfumes, air cleaners/scents and more.
Often, a furnace benefits the household by being a resource fo fresh air. As the air is being pulled through the air duct for heating, it is filtered.
Indoor air quality is a growing concern in homes and businesses.
Learn more about the indoor air quality of your home at Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Canada's Centre for National Occupational Health & Safety Resource (CCOHS).
Efficiency vs. ventilation
All buildings, particularly newer, more airtight homes, require ventilation to get rid of stale air and indoor toxins, and eliminate excess moisture.
Today's energy-efficient homes are so tight that they virtually eliminate all air leaks. Good for your heating bill, but if overdone, it can be bad for your health — recirculated stale air contains a build-up of pollutants, odours, carbon dioxide and excessive moisture.
If you’re designing, renovating or building a new home, consider installing an HVAC (Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning) system. The system draws fresh air from outside, while removing stale air from inside the building. Both air streams go through a box where, in winter, heat from the stale outgoing air is transferred into the cold incoming air. In the summer, heat is removed from the incoming air stream. Cooking odours disappear in no time, and the air is always fresh. An HVAC system can add considerably to your home’s air quality, your comfort and health.
It's all about balance
It's important to think of your house as an integrated system, with everything in your home functioning cooperatively towards good indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Proper building techniques and appropriate mechanical ventilation can help resolve indoor air quality problems while meeting energy code requirements.