Ventilation is one of the most misunderstood parts of any central heating and air-conditioning system. Builders, contractors and homeowners alike may believe that the home’s ventilation needs are being met by the central forced-air system since it provides air movement and distribution.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) defines ventilation for indoor air quality as, "the process of supplying outdoor air to or removing indoor air from a dwelling by natural or mechanical means."
Traditional forced-air heating and cooling systems do not ventilate; they only recirculate the same air through the dwelling over and over again, controlling temperature but doing little to improve air quality. A large variety of excellent mechanical ventilation solutions is available, from single-point exhaust fans to balanced supply and exhaust systems with heat and energy recovery. Installation of HVI-Certified ventilation products will help to ensure optimum indoor air quality.
