Natural Ventilation and Security – Getting Fresh Air Safely

When you want natural ventilation and security is an issue, it's possible to combine more than one kind of ventilation system. Houses are built so airtight today they often cannot breathe. Ventilation is the exchange of indoor and outdoor air and when ventilation is poor it often results in poor indoor air quality.

When no fresh air can enter your home, the result is stale and polluted air inside the house. This can lead to a number of health problems including respiratory illness or allergies. The goal is to provide a supply of fresh clean air on a regular basis while removing polluted air.

Natural ventilation is preferred by many people because it basically involves just opening your windows or doors and allowing fresh air to circulate. The problem that arises is natural ventilation and security don't always go together well. It's often not possible to keep your windows open without exposing yourself to safety risks.

Natural Ventilation and Security

In addition, people in congested urban areas frequently experience low air quality. The fresh air isn't so fresh! Even when you can use natural ventilation there's another problem. It can be difficult to control the flow of the air throughout the house so it's not always effective.

Natural ventilation also can occur through cracks in the home, loose sealing doors and windows, and even downdraft cook stove ductwork. Anyplace that indoor air can exit or outdoor air can enter the home is considered natural ventilation. Uncontrolled natural ventilation can be expensive if you are unwillingly losing air conditioned or heated air.

When you consider natural ventilation and safety is a concern, you should probably look into a whole house ventilation system. A whole house ventilation system controls the movement of air through the house. This would be a central heating and air conditioning unit that uses ductwork and air exchangers to keep the house uniformly ventilated and temperature controlled.

Natural ventilation and security can work together if you are able to bring fresh air into the house without opening windows. Other options include running attic fans or window fans that have a fresh air setting. But most homes need a central air handling unit to effectively control air quality.

Not all central air and heating units have an air exchanger. You need to purchase a system that doesn't just heat or cool air. You want one that actually removes bad air from your house and replaces it with outdoor air that's been filtered and is free of contaminants. The clean air is then heated or cooled.

Opening windows periodically is a good practice just to clear the house of stale air, but it's not something you do frequently. It's not safe to do in many areas and isn't effective if there's no outdoor air movement or too much polluted air allowed into the house. So natural ventilation and security often don't go together.

You should look for areas in your house where natural ventilation is occurring. If it's not planned air exchange, then repair the leak. For any other type of natural ventilation and security issues, you should consider a mechanical air exchanger.