Homes today, by code, are built tighter than ever. This saves energy, but also creates responsibilities for the homeowner. Condensation, cooking odors, indoor pollutants, radon, and carbon monoxide may all accumulate in your home, if not properly replaced with fresh air. Your attention to fresh air ventilation and humidity is important to health and safety.

If your lifestyle results in conditions that create more humidity, cooking exhaust, or other pollutants, you may want to increase the amount of fresh air in your home.

Your daily habits can help keep your home well ventilated:

·            It is essential to operate the kitchen cooking exhaust fan when you are cooking, the utility room fan when washing or drying clothes and the bath fans when bathrooms are in use. Open a window slightly when operating these fans.

·            Keep all vents in windows open where applicable.

·            Verify whole house fan runs a minimum of 2 hours a day.

·            Proper ventilation will prevent excessive moisture from forming on the inside of windows. Building codes also require attic and crawl space ventilation to minimize accumulation of moisture. Attic ventilation occurs through roof vents in the soffit (underside of the overhangs) and on gable ends, as applicable. Driving rain or snow may enter the attic through these vents, but not to a degree that would cause concern.

·            Homes with crawl spaces include vents in the foundation or wall vents. Never cover any attic or crawl space vents as this will void a number of warranties for your home.