For a long time, natural ventilation was the leading option for allowing fresh outdoor air into stuffy interiors. Here there was uncontrolled air movement from the outdoors into the interiors through small holes and cracks.
Although it worked, this strategy is not viable anymore, more so with the increase of homes that are air-sealed to boost their energy efficiency. Most homeowners are now leaning towards central HVAC systems.
This option also guarantees their homes’ security since they need not keep their doors and windows open throughout. There are several home ventilation systems for NZ properties currently available with central HVAC units.
The ventilation equipment, ducts, and fans in these options will work in conjunction to exchange your indoor air for the fresh outdoor one without wasting your home’s energy. The following are your ventilation system alternatives.
Exhaust Systems
These operate by depressurizing your building thus reducing the indoor air pressure. This forms the perfect environment for the infiltration of outdoor air through passive vents and gaps in your building’s shell.
Exhaust ventilation systems are generally used in cold climates since the depressurization might cause the in drawing of moist air in warm, humid areas which result in moisture damage.
These systems are inexpensive and comprise a single fan attached to one exhaust point. There is, unfortunately, a high risk of drawing in pollutants from the outdoors with these systems.
Supply Systems
These pressurize your interiors by forcing in outdoor air using fans and allowing air out of your home through fan ducts, intentional vents, and holes in your building. Supply ventilation systems will enable optimal control of the outdoor air compared with exhaust ventilation systems since they will discourage pollutants’ entry into your indoors.
They, however, work best in mixed and hot climates since the pressurizing of your indoors will cause moisture issues in cold climatic regions.
Balanced Systems
These will neither depressurize nor pressurize your indoors but instead introduce a similar amount of fresh outdoor air for the air that flows from your indoors. They comprise two duct systems and fans which facilitate the distribution of air through their placement in appropriate areas.
Balanced ventilation systems will not eliminate moisture from the air supplied into your home but will use filters for the removal of contaminants before the air enters your property. Although appropriate for all climatic regions, these systems are expensive to install and maintain.
Energy Recovery Systems
These feature multiple return and supply ducts whose runs should be as straight and short as possible to minimize their risk of breakdown. The ducts are also insulated to reduce energy wastage and should be the correct size to avert pressure drops that will affect their performance.
Energy recovery systems are designed to recover the energy from your exhaust air and lower your energy expenses. Using your existing ductwork rather than installing new ones for them will reduce the installation expenses of these systems.
Most people give little thought to the ventilation aspect of their HVAC unit. The right choice from the above will, however, determine your indoor comfort. As such, get an expert to advise you on the best for your climate and building.
