Homes that have an HVAC system installed have to ensure proper ventilation. In such houses, ventilation becomes more important because the flow of air is controlled. If the air entering the system is insufficient, the air leaving the system too would be insufficient. In short, the volume of air that goes in is the same volume that comes out and circulates within. There are consequences of poor ventilation that one will have to bear if due attention is not paid.
What Is Ventilation?
The conscious introduction of outside air into a closed space and its circulation is called ventilation. It is used to manage the quality of air inside the closed space by dispersing the pollutants through the dilution of indoor air.
Consequence Of Poor Ventilation
1. Hot And Cold Areas – Ideally, the temperature should be uniform throughout, but improper ventilation leads to hot and cold areas in the home. What basically happens is that the flow of air gets concentrated and is unable to circulate efficiently throughout the house. The places that receive air will become cold or hot, depending on the temperature setting, and the opposite will happen in the rest of your residence.
2. Pressure Differences – Pressure differences also occur inside the home due to poor ventilation. It can be felt in the form of sudden opening and closing of doors and windows. Additionally, it also feels as if a gust of air has been sucked inside or pushed outside suddenly. Adequate ventilation makes sure that no such pressure differences occur.
3. Icing Of Evaporator Coil – If there is an impediment in the airflow towards the evaporator coil, the temperature around it falls, causing ice formation. In extreme cases, the icing may extend to more parts than just the coil. When the evaporator coils freeze, the air conditioning unit has to work harder and far longer to provide the necessary cooling.
4. Insufficient Heating And Cooling – Due to poor ventilation, the central heating and cooling system cannot do a justifiable job. Either it shuts down before the actual preset temperature is reached. Or it keeps on running continuously and yet is unable to achieve it. Neither of these situations is desirable and should be avoided at all costs.
5. Unit Heats Up Faster – When ventilation is an issue, the HVAC unit has to work under continuous strain. It works longer and harder to give the same output causing it to heat up. The situation gets compounded when the unit is unable to cool down properly. The safety mechanism inside the unit may trigger its complete shut down due to excessive heating.
6. Health Problems – Dust, dander, allergens, mold, mildew, microbes, and pathogens accumulate in homes that don’t have proper ventilation. People living in these homes will often suffer from allergies, breathing problems, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and other illnesses. To ensure the good health of your loved ones, you will have to take steps to remedy the glitches in your ventilation system. A sound ventilation system will bring in outside air and dilute the contaminants present inside. It will also capture them and prevent them from becoming a part of the circulating air.
7. High Humidity – Humidity conditions will worsen inside your residence if there are issues with your ventilation system. In the absence of a good ventilation system, the moisture generated from showering and cooking will remain and add to the already present humidity. In winter, the moisture may accumulate in the form of condensation on windows, causing water damage to the adjoining walls and floor. When humidity is high, one tends to feel clammy and irritable. Adding to the problem is the fact that high humidity provides a thriving environment to allergens and mold.
8. Unpleasant Odors – Smells that permeate the home become a part of it when there are glitches in the ventilation system. Now, if the smell is pleasant, nobody minds it. On the flip side, if it’s bad, you will want to get rid of it at all costs. But alas, the ventilation in your home is not adequate, and so it takes days before you are free of it. To be honest, the problem is not just bad odors. Even the good ones are a cause of concern as they contain VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds that are known to cause allergies, skin ailments, nausea, and headaches. Adequate ventilation will dilute the effects of these VOCs and also trap their particles in the air filters.
Causes Of Poor Ventilation
It is clear from the above discussion that insufficient ventilation can give rise to many problems. But what are the causes of poor ventilation? Ventilation problems build over time, and some of its causes are –
1. The air filters in the HVAC unit get clogged with dust, debris, and other particles over a period of time. When they get clogged, the flow of air gets restricted.
2. Dust, debris, dander, leaves, scraps of paper, etc. accumulate on the fins of the condenser unit. Accumulations on the condenser unit block the free flow of air. If the condenser coil is dirty, it is unable to release the heat into the atmosphere, thereby preventing the refrigerant from cooling. This puts the unit under tremendous strain as well.
3. A malfunctioning fan will not circulate air adequately. Also, sometimes dust accumulations on the fan may make it sluggish, hampering the airflow.
4. If the vents are blocked, there is no way that the air can circulate properly.
5. Leaks, holes, cracks, and gaps in the ducts will also act as an impediment in the free flow of air.
6. If your unit is not of the correct size, airflow problems are bound to occur. A small unit will take longer to reach the desired temperature, and an over sized unit will reach it far quicker without adequately removing humidity.
Finally
At the end of this discussion, you are well aware of the things that can cause problems in your ventilation system. Also, you now know the consequences of poor ventilation. If you want to avoid these problems, we strongly recommend periodic maintenance and professional cleaning of your central heating and cooling system. For further queries, feel free to contact us at Aztil AC.
