How to Create a Healthy Environment, Step 3: Intermittent Mechanical Ventilation
All homes have pockets where extra moister accumulates or pollutants build up and cause bad indoor air quality, such as the kitchen, bathrooms, utility room, or garage. The slower continuous ventilation in the house will not provide adequate ventilation for these areas. This is why intermittent ventilation also known as spot, local, or secondary ventilation is added.
Intermittent ventilation quickly ventilates an area and uses less energy. It is also more effective in concentrated areas than continuous ventilation. This results in less exposure to the occupants of the home. Knight West uses two different intermittent fans in their homes.
The first fan is a Panasonic Whisper Green Energy Star Rated exhaust fan. It has variable 2-speed and delay timer controls. It is installed in the Master Bathroom. The fan runs on low speed all the time. When the switch is turned on it goes to high speed. When the switch is turned off, it continues to run on high speed until the timer that you pre-set turns it back to low. This is usually about ten minutes. This fan helps with the continuous ventilation, but also provides intermittent ventilation while the switch is turned on. On low speed it is whisper quiet.
The second fan is a Panasonic Energy Star Rated exhaust fan. It is installed in the main bathroom, half baths, laundry/utility room, toilet rooms, and garages. It turns on and off when needed with the switch on the wall. It’s very effective in eliminating the extra moister from tubs, showers, washing machines, and sinks along with any odors in the room. It is effective in eliminating chemical pollutants from the air.
Using a combination of three fans, the two fans mentioned in this post along with the fan mentioned in the previous post, provides balanced ventilation for the home. This gives the occupants a healthier living environment and added comfort.