Can Energy Efficiency Lead to Suffocation?
Energy efficiency is the big thing in terms of
home improvement these days. The high price of power and the desire
to live a greener lifestyle have combined to encourage homeowners to
find ways to reduce their power consumption.
One of the best ways to do that is to insulate a home effectively
and to seal up any holes or leaks that may be encouraging
inefficiency. Sometimes it seems like many people would love a way
to create a hermetically sealed home!
But is there a risk associated with this mindset. Is it possible to
“batten down the hatches” too snugly? Will sealing all of those
leaks create a suffocating environment inside your home?
Theoretically, it could. Look, we all know that fresh air
circulation is necessary for the well-being of those who live in a
house. Not only does it make things more pleasant, it’s also
necessary for good health. If you lived in a completely sealed
environment for too long, it wouldn’t be a pretty situation.
So, if a house was too tightly sealed in pursuit of maximum
efficiency, it could lead to an unpleasant state of affairs.
We could say that it “does” create some bad situations. There are
recorded instances of ultra weatherproofed homes have some problems
in this regard. For most of us, however, there’s no real need to
worry at all.
Energy efficiency is not going to lead to suffocation in your home.
Here’s why:
First, most homes will still circulate air even if you do patch up
most or all of the noticeable leaks. Your home is anything but a
closed system and it’s unlikely to ever become one no matter what
you do. This is particularly true of drafty, older houses but it’s
also an accurate assessment of even the tightest new homes.
Second, you’re going circulate air on your own, anyway. Unless
you’re hermit who keeps all doors and windows shut at all times, you
will be letting air in and out. If you have concerns, you’re
probably going to do enough window opening to ventilate three homes.
It isn’t that tough to get some fresh air inside.
Third, if you did “tighten up” too much there is an available quick
fix. There are home ventilation systems available that will insure
an appropriate flow of fresh outdoor air.
If you’ve been hesitating to start plugging those leaks because of a
worry over airflow, you can take a deep breath and relax. Unless
you’re one of those super-rare anomalies, you have absolutely
nothing to worry about.
So, start finding those links, buying that weather stripping,
investing in insulation and calling the double-pane window guys. You
don’t need to worry about suffocation and can hop safely aboard the
efficiency bandwagon.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
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