Air Movement. Most times we don't think too much about air movement, but it can affect us every day.
We do not strictly control Google ad content. If you believe any Google ad is inappropriate, please email us directly here.
Usually included in the local weather report is a prediction of change in air pressure; for instance, a low air pressure system will push high air pressure out. Huh? What does that mean? Possibly rain, thunder, wind, and falling temperature.
Yet, many people find joy when flying kites or sailing boats that require a fair amount of air movement. Air movement has the potential to bring misery or joy. And since we can't control outside air patterns, we remain at the mercy of its unpredictability.
While, we can't control outside air movement, we can do something about our indoor home environment. Air movement (related to the term, "ventilation") can be a big factor in creating a comfortable living area.
Why? Because air movement can help:
- bring in warmer or cooler air, which helps regulate indoor air temperature;
- circulate and/or remove stale, foul, or polluted air, and bring in fresh air;
- remove excessive moisture (as when using the ceiling fan in a bathroom).
Does controlled indoor air movement have advantages? In most cases, yes. Having mechanical control, like an HVAC (heating, ventilation, & air conditioning) system, makes raising or lowering temperature simple - just push a button or turn a dial. Also, a well designed system can virtually eliminate stagnant air pockets and hotter/cooler zones, making all areas uniformly comfortable to be in. ideally, air is well circulated throughout the home, and adequate fresh air is brought in. Some systems even filter the air.
What "miseries" may have to be endured if only a partial or limited form of controlled air movement is available indoors?
- "Patchy" temperatures - In most cases, if the only means available are fans and open windows in summertime, and/or space heaters in the winter, then erratic indoor temperatures will have to be dealt with. On a hot day, the coolest room will most likely be the one with the fan and windows, and be the most comfortable. On cold days, the room with the space heater will be the most comfy. Unfortunately, there are few, if any, portable mechanical units that can cool or heat an entire home, so in both cases, temperatures will fluctuate as a person moves from one room to another and throughout the home.
- Air quality - With limited mechanical means to replace stale air with fresh air, the burnt fish odor from last night's dinner may still be there the next day. Also, the air can become so foul from pollutants that , unless removed and replaced with fresh air, can result in an increased risk of health problems.
- Mold - Limited air movement, exchange and/or conditioning may cause excessive moisture to linger. With moisture comes the potential for mold growth, which brings several other possible health and cleaning challenges.
There are potential obstacles to controlling indoor air movement: The home was originally built without an HVAC system installed, and/or the homeowner is limited financially toward making home improvements. If home improvement, which may include costly remodeling, is not an option, then perhaps "air improvement" is still within reach. By investing in products and technology to help control indoor air movement, homeowners are, in effect, investing in a cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable future - advantages that the whole family can benefit from.
Consumers can consult the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) for well-vetted information about ventilation and related air-movement products.
HHI Error Correction Policy
HHI is committed to accuracy of content and correcting information that is incomplete or inaccurate. With our broad scope of coverage of healthful indoor environments, and desire to rapidly publish info to benefit the community, mistakes are inevitable. HHI has established an error correction policy to welcome corrections or enhancements to our information. Please help us improve the quality of our content by contacting allen@healthyhouseinstitute.com with corrections or suggestions for improvement. Each contact will receive a respectful reply.
The Healthy House Institute (HHI), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HealthyHouseInstitute.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on creating healthy home environments.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HHI provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HHI: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
