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This
topic is very important if you want your home to last anytime at
all, and if you want its environment to be healthy once you move
in. There are a couple of vital factors that improper
ventilation will affect a home and the people whom live within
it.
Proper
ventilation:
Allows
harmful gases and pollutants to be removed from the home.
Prevents
moisture build-up in the home to protect the home from wood
rot, mildew and mold.
Black
mold can be deadly and people have had to move from their home
because of it. Don't let it happen to you and your family.
Take
a look at these articles:
http://www.thefairways.com/stachybotrys.htm
http://archive.nandotimes.com/healthscience/story/0,1080,500560749-500802101-504352075-0,00.html
What
all needs to be vented?
Ventilation
installation can be done by more than one sub-contractor. The
plumber contractor will be venting your toilets, drains,
bathroom vents, hot water heater, and perhaps, your dryer....
where
as, the heating and air sub-contractor often installs vents for
your... furnace, fireplace, and perhaps, your range. Therefore,
you will need to know which sub-contractor will be taking care
of what vent.
Why
vent the roof, you ask?
To
allow circulation within the attic to prevent condensation and
moisture build-up.
There
are several different ways to ventilate a roof and a qualified
professional is the best place to get your answers.
There
are several factors that affect the type of ventilation system
you use:
The
climate in which you live.
The
pitch, or slope of your roof.
Your
roof/ceiling design—Attic/no Attic, Cathedral &
Vaulted Ceilings.
Soffit
Size
The
following article gives a little more information on this topic:
http://www.cedarbureau.org/roofmanual/roofmanual_13_ventilationdetails1.htm
There
is one very important issue to think about when deciding on how
and where to vent your appliances:
Some
ventilation systems allow you to vent through the side of the
home rather than the roof. If it is at all possible and works
well for your home, this is an option to consider.
Get
advice on this subject from the product manufacturer, for
installation specifications.
Before
I close on this subject, I would like to discuss whole-house...
...attic
fans. Yes, they can be a little noisy, but they're not near as
bad as in the past. An attic fan is a great way to air-out our
home as well as conserve on your electric bill.
If
I haven't mentioned it before, there is evidence that the indoor
air pollution is far greater than the outside air.
Go
to: http://lungusa.org/air/air_indoor_index.html
http://www.montana.edu/wwwcxair/
If
you have had the house shut-up for awhile, open up the windows
and turn on the attic fan.
If
you happen to burn something on the stove, open a window and
turn on the attic fan.
If
you happen to be painting, staining, or cleaning with something
toxic, open a window and...
...turn
on the attic fan.
Usually
whole-house attic fans are priced to start around $100.00 and
are well worth that money spent. If you are not going to have an
attic, then you may want to check into alternative ventilation
products.
For
installation information check out this site:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/home_improvement/2000/9/attic_fan/
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