In almost every home, an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system is present. It’s an easy acronym to remember and one that is used without much thought by homeowners and renters alike; but how many people actually understand the importance of HVAC and what it does inside a home?
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The “V” in HVAC—the ventilation system—is vital in that it helps get rid of that bad smell in the kitchen or the humidity in a bathroom, and, most importantly, helps maintain overall indoor air quality.
A ventilation system regulates indoor air quality and comfort, while also controlling temperature, replenishing oxygen and removing odors and dust. There are various approaches to controlling a mechanical ventilation system, and controls can be classified into two broad categories: manual and automatic. Manual controls are operated directly by the occupants; automatic controls require little or no user input.
Manual Controls
Manual controls allow for increased airflow at times when occupants are present and decreased airflow when occupants are away from home. The fan is still operating continuously, but the ACH (air changes per hour) are moderated based on occupant need/traffic. Some people are more sensitive to indoor air contaminants than others, and therefore may prefer to manually control air flow. While manual controls can be simple to operate, there is nothing to force occupants to use it.
Automatic Controls
An automated ventilation system simply runs when needed, maintaining uniform temperatures, relative humidity and/or other factors automatically based on pre-set conditions.
Because there are a number of variables that determine when and how much fresh air is needed, an automatic control system might need to account for temporary increases in indoor humidity, or occasional indoor pollution problems such as burnt toast or spilled disinfectant. For an automatic control system to account for many contingencies, it can be fairly complex.
If outdoor air quality is inconsistent, an automatic control is ideal as it measures pollutants in the outdoor air and shuts the general ventilation system off when outside air quality declines. A unit with a filter to clean the incoming air may also be helpful. Most systems have a manual override switch enabling occupants to shut off the automatic control if the outdoor air is especially poor, or if they expect to be out of the home for an extended period of time.
An example of an automatic ventilation system is demand-controlled ventilation (DCV). The demand-controlled ventilation is an automatic system designed to run only when the space is occupied. A DCV system turns on when people are indoors and shuts off when they leave. It can sense occupancy in a number of ways - by detecting relative humidity, motion, carbon dioxide or monoxide levels, air-pressure changes, or by a combination of control strategies.
Regardless of the type of control used for ventilating your home, the control should be user-friendly, clearly labeled and include an instruction manual.
Be sure to select ventilation equipment that has been independently certified by the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI). HVI members manufacture products that are designed to work well with a variety of control options. For the highest quality of ventilation in your home, HVI recommends contacting the manufacturer when deciding which control will work best within a desired ventilation system. For more information visit www.hvi.
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