Mechanical Filtration | Green Construction Contractor

Household Ventilation

October 20th, 2011 — Air/Water, Green Construction, Home

There is a renewed need for mechanical filtration in our homes, as the technology that has become part of the house helps to work more efficiently, leading to a need for maintain air quality in much tighter quarters. This need is very significant, as the American Lung Association has compiled a list of correlations between asthma and lung health issues and the tightening of our homes and introduction of new chemistries to our indoor space. This one-two combo of new and increased pollutants and the smaller enclosures has led to the only possible solution; one must do what is needed to ensure that the air in our homes is fresh and pollutant free.

What is in our air?

It can be hard to fathom, but the air around us contains particulates. Some particulates you can see, for example those within a sunbeam, but most you are unable to see. Those we cannot see are the worst kind, such as VOCs. These threats are the most harmful.

The solution is to design and install a ventilation system. The system should filter air for all areas of the home, and the system must meet ASHREA standard 62-02. This states that the air movement should be 7.5 cubic feet a minute per bedroom plus and additional 0.01 CFM per square foot. A good rule of thumb is to have around 50 CFM for a 1900 square foot, average home. There are two principle design strategies to designing the ventilation system - exhaust and supply systems and air to air heat recover systems.

Exhaust and Supply Systems -

This system's primary mechanism is the placement of an exhaust fan, typically on the second floor. This fan runs quietly either on a low speed continuous or high speed intermittent. This fans placement may allow it to piggy back other parts of the system, but over all the system uses the exhaust fan to take out fresh air for the inlet. The entire system can be modified by removing the exhaust fan and letting the air handler draw in fresh air. The cost of this system is between $400 and $1000, which is heavily dependent on the equipment used.

Air to Air Heat Recovery Systems -

This is a more expensive alternative that recovers some of its energy during its operation. The basic mechanism is that the exhaust passes by the incoming fresh air giving some of its heat (or cold) to the incoming air. These systems also have airflow adjustment to allow the system to work during exhaust. The price for the system can be from $1,800 and $2,500, again heavily dependent on the equipment utilized.

It is important to ensure that your home is free of airborne particles. Choose a high quality filter and a system designed for the needs of you home to ensure that the airborne pollutants are kept to a minimum. This is a necessary element to ensuring the respiratory health of you and your guests.

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Originally posted 2009-01-30 05:41:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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