Safe and Healthy Housing: Ventilated
Volunteers replace a ceiling fan at one of our repair projects. Ceiling fans effectively circulate the air in a room to create a draft throughout the room.
A safe and healthy home is vital for overall health, which is why Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte’s Safe and Health Housing model is foundational for all the critical repair projects we do. The eight principles of a safe and healthy home are: clean, dry, safe, contaminant-free, maintained, thermally-controlled, pest-free, and ventilated.
Whenever you first walk into a space, one of the first things you notice is the air. We’ve all had that experience where we walk into a home or business and unfortunately want to walk straight back out due to the smells hitting our noses. While that’s sometimes related to the cleanliness of the area, proper ventilation also makes a world of difference!
The Home’s Respiratory System
Often overlooked yet crucial in the scheme of healthy housing, ventilation is the respiratory system of your home — the lungs that ensure the building is taking in fresh air and exhaling pollutants. Proper ventilation safeguards your well-being and enhances your overall quality of life.
Adequate ventilation not only eliminates stale air, which often has a bad smell, but also expels potentially harmful pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds and indoor allergens. Thus, ventilation provides a continuous influx of clean, oxygen-rich air. In addition to mitigating health risks, effective ventilation regulates humidity levels, preventing the formation of mold and mildew that can compromise structural integrity and exacerbate respiratory issues. Beyond these tangible benefits, a well-ventilated home fosters a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere, making you happier and more productive.
Ventilation System Management
Installing proper ventilation systems, such as exhaust fans, in kitchens and bathrooms are often part of the critical home repair and accessibility modification projects RTGC provides at no cost to neighbors in need. W also regularly repair or replace HVAC units —did you know that HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning? — which is an investment in both our client’s immediate health and the longevity of their living spaces. Older bathrooms and kitchens often lack ventilation fans and ducts, so installing them instantly improves these areas in the home and is a fairly inexpensive upgrade to your living space if you don’t already have them.
Make sure to take care of your HVAC system by having it properly serviced regularly, and change out the filters for an instant breath of fresh air. Bulk packs of filters can be ordered online, and keeping a supply of the right filter in the right size can help keep them easy to change. If your HVAC is working as it should and you have exhaust fans, take a look at your windows and doors. Ensure they have intact screens in good condition, and consider adding an inexpensive screen door if you do not have one already. When pollen levels are low, opening the windows and doors for just an hour or so can bring plenty of fresh air in and clear out lingering musty or cooking-based odors. You can also utilize inexpensive box, window or pedestal fans to dry wet flooring or move air around your home. Also, you should consider investing in an air purification system to scrub allergens out of the air.
So, let your home breathe freely, and in turn, relish the revitalizing embrace of a well-ventilated haven that champions your health and well-being.