What is a fresh air intake vent?
It is an open duct that goes from an outside vent that serves as a path for clean fresh air into the home. It often goes to the room where the furnace is or the basement. Newer homes will have several of these due to stricter building codes.
How many fresh air vents do I need?
Having several return vents (ideally one in every room, but even two or three is better than just one) creates consistent air pressure. If you have one return vent, your home is fine. Keep the doors to each room open so air can properly circulate.
Is a fresh air intake necessary?
Fresh air intakes are necessary for any home that has a furnace. Whether you have a conventional furnace or a high-efficiency option installed, there are downsides to not having a functional, fresh air intake.
What is the minimum requirement for fresh air?
ASHRAE (formerly called the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommends (in its Standard 62.2-2016, “Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings”) that homes receive 0.35 air changes per hour but not less than 15 cubic feet of air per minute (cfm) per …
Does HVAC use fresh air?
In general, the HVAC system does not bring fresh air into a building. A space is heated and cooled using recycled indoor air, with exterior HVAC units serving as a means of air release rather than intake.
How much fresh air is enough?
The Amount of Fresh Air You Need It states that every hour the home should receive 0.35 air changes or 35% of its total volume of air. So, the exact amount of fresh air your home needs depends on its size. ASHRAE recommends that this amount should not be less than 15 cubic feet of air per minute per person.
How is fresh air requirements calculated?
Simply select the type of building you are considering adding fresh air to, and estimate the typical number of people occupying the building. Multiply the number of people by the required cfm per person to determine the required fresh air flow.
How important is fresh air in the house?
Like the lungs, homes need to be able to breathe to make sure that fresh air comes in and dirty air goes out. Air indoors can build up high levels of moisture, odors, gases, dust, and other air pollutants. To keep the air safe indoors, fresh outdoor air is needed to dilute these indoor pollutants.
Is fresh air better than air conditioning?
Healthy and fresh indoor air is key to a good quality of life. It is much nicer to work when the quality of the air is good without a constant need to open the windows, and to go home to fresh air. Both air conditioning and ventilation help improve the quality of indoor air.