Ventilation plays a vital role in maintaining the atmosphere of a house. If you work remotely or stay at home most of the time, your chances of getting out and exposing yourself to fresh air and sunlight are minimum. Ventilation helps you ensure the constant flow of fresh air that’s important not just to help us breathe but also cure our houses of any air pollutants that can harm our health. Before we get into the details of the benefits of good ventilation, let us understand what ventilation means.
What does ventilation mean and what are its benefits
The term ventilation refers to the process in which clean air enters the room and bad or stale air goes out. Usually, houses are designed in such a way that there is an entry point for fresh air and an exit point, often on the opposite side, to leave the room.
In closed spaces like offices, seminar rooms, banquet halls etc. proper ventilation is not present which often induces suffocation and shortening of breath. In most modern commercial buildings and malls, ventilation systems are installed to at least meet the minimum requirement of fresh air.
Importance of Ventilation
The purpose of ventilation is to intentionally circulate fresh air in the house of the building but its importance is way more than just circulation. It refreshes the atmosphere inside and removes any air borne-bacteria and microorganisms from the air. Moreover, it also removes any bad odours, cooking smells, smoke and pet smell bringing positive energy in the room. If the windows and doors remain closed, the humidity level and moisture in the room increases and ventilation helps in maintaining the balance with outside.
Now, let’s quickly jump into the benefits of ventilation.
Advantages of Ventilation
Following are the benefits of ventilation in homes and workspace:
- Stops condensation
- Removes air pollutants
- Maintains air quality and humidity
- Health benefits
- Efficient energy use
Stops Condensation
Condensation is the process of changing water from its gaseous form into liquid form. It is the reverse of the vaporization process and occurs when warm air cools down and loses its ability to hold more vapours resulting in droplets on surfaces.
This is what happens when the temperature drops at night and the heating is turned off, the air inside cannot withhold any more vapours and it starts condensing the moisture on the colder surface behind and under the furniture. It can be commonly seen on the window panels of the bedroom and bathroom after a hot bath.
The droplets trickle down to the surface creating dampness which eventually leads to a breeding ground for moulds even on the walls. This not only damages the furniture and interior of your home but can also be problematic for your health.
It is important to keep windows and doors open for some time every day and dust the room thoroughly in order to stop the growth of such microbes.
Removes Air Pollutants
If you live in a big city where pollution and air quality index are relatively higher than in other cities, you might be convinced to keep the windows and doors shut. You will be wrong to think that because the air pollutants inside closed spaces can be harmful not just for you but also for the visitors.
Ventilation through windows and external devices can help in stopping the growth of any harmful bacteria, mites and other air pollutants.
If someone in your family has hay fever, it is very important for you to increase the intake of fresh air in the house and removal of stale air. This will stop the spread of germs to others who are breathing the same air as the patient.
Maintains Air Quality and Humidity
In winters we prefer to keep the house warm using heating systems and not letting in the chilled air outside. This increases the humidity level especially if there are more people living in the house or some guests have come over. Utilizing the same oxygen as others and lack of fresh air coming in can not only expose a person to contagious diseases but also create bad odour inside. Use of ventilation systems in winters is essential to maintain air quality as well as the humidity level.
Health Benefits
Use of ventilation systems in closed spaces can save you the trouble of visiting a doctor more often. Some of the health issues are triggered by lack of ventilation coupled with poor air quality inside the home as well as workspaces.
A good ventilation system will prevent headaches, allergies, sinusitis and even reduce the cause of respiratory issues and asthma while helping and your family thrive in a healthier environment.
Efficient Energy Use
Ventilation in houses is not a part of modern architecture rather it has been here since the beginning of the human race. In old mansions and houses which had higher ceilings, ventilators closer to the ceiling along with windows were kept in rooms so that fresh air can be crossed. Today in modern architecture, only windows and doors are used along with proper ventilation systems.
If the proper ventilation is provided in the houses, the cost of electricity bills can be reduced by a lesser use of air conditioners and dehumidifiers.
Difference Between Ventilators and Air Purifiers
What you want is clean and fresh air in your home or your workspace. Although the function of both the devices look the same, the mechanics of both are different.
Ventilators
Ventilators work on the simple mechanism of bringing in fresh air from outside and removing the musty air from inside. It does not purify the air, it just refreshes the air as well as the atmosphere inside.
Purifiers
a purifier operates in such a way that it doesn’t bring any fresh air rather it cleans the air inside. There are filters with tight fibres which capture the pollutants as well as any other air contaminants like pollens and allergens and the resultant is clean air.
If you want clean fresh air without dust, allergens and other air pollutants, an air purifier is what you will need.
Whichever option you end up choosing, remember that both provide air which is not only fresh but also healthy. The type of ventilation system you need depends on your requirements but you can visit the market or consult a professional to get more guidance on what will be best suited for your home or your office building.
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