Ventilation

Ventilation is critical for maintaining good indoor air quality. The most efficient way to keep air clean is to use an energy recovery ventilator (ERV), which removes indoor air pollutants from the kitchen, bath, laundry, etc. and supplies filtered fresh air to the bedroom and living spaces. 

  1. Do you have a whole house ventilation system?

2. Do you have a balanced system with heat recovery?

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Great!

3. Do you have a whole-house fan?

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Remove it and seal the hole.

If it is not a balanced system (equal supply and exhaust) replace with a balanced ERV.

4. Do you have a kitchen hood?

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Install one, vented to the outside, with makeup air kit if exhaust exceeds 200 cfm or so.

5. Is your kitchen hood ducted to the exterior?

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Consider makeup air kit if CFM is over 200 or so.

6. Do you cook with gas?

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Install a vented hood immediately.

Go to question 7.

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Consider a vented hood especially if you don’t have ERV.

Go to question 7.

7. Do you have exhaust fans from bathroom(s)?

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Consider tying into ERV system.

 
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Add exhaust, preferably tied into ERV system.

 

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 This flowchart was originally conceptualized by Tom Bassett-Dilley of Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects, Ltd.