5 Problems Caused by Poor Ventilation in Raleigh, NC
Ventilation promotes ongoing air exchange and the release of trapped heat. When homes are properly ventilated, stale indoor air flows out and fresh outside air flows inside. Read on to discover five common problems caused by insufficient ventilation in Raleigh, NC, homes and businesses.
Bad Indoor Air Quality
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be up to five times more contaminated than the air outside. More often than not, this is due to poor ventilation and insufficient air exchange.
Not ventilating your property keeps volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other gaseous contaminants trapped indoors. It can also leave homes with more dust, dirt, dander, pollen and other allergens. If your home consistently has low indoor air quality (IAQ), insufficient ventilation could be why.
Excess Humidity
With multiple people completing steamy cooking projects and taking hot baths and showers, you need a way for indoor moisture to get out. Exhaust fans and other mechanical ventilation systems are essential in high-moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Ventilating your attic prevents moisture from collecting at the topmost portion of your home. Without adequate ventilation, the temperature difference between the indoor air and the air outside could leave your attic feeling muggy and damp.
Poor Health
Maintaining a consistently low IAQ can leave residents feeling worse for wear. Poor ventilation can lead to recurring problems with coughing, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. When indoor concentrations of VOCs become too high, symptoms like dizziness, fatigue and recurring headaches can develop as well.
High Energy Bills
Even with diligent HVAC maintenance, heating and cooling systems work harder in homes that aren’t properly ventilated. Trapped heat in attic areas can leave everything and everyone down below in muggy, sweltering conditions. Adding ventilation will limit the work that your AC system or heat pump must do and the amount of energy it uses.
Unpleasant Odors
With increased humidity and higher-than-normal concentrations of indoor contaminants, poor ventilation can also lead to unpleasant smells. These conditions additionally create the ideal environment for many odor-causing pathogens.
Short for ventilation, the “V” in HVAC is critical to your home’s climate control. At Mitchell Heating & Cooling, we offer mechanical ventilation products as part of our indoor air quality services in Raleigh, NC, so give us a call.
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