The “V” in HVAC stands for ventilation. Unfortunately, although ventilation is a crucial part of both home comfort and safety, it is also frequently overlooked. In fact, many people in Northern California are eliminating natural ventilation in their homes by tightening up their home envelopes for efficiency. While tight home envelopes minimize energy loss, they also create a greater density of pollutants in the indoor air. A whole-house fan helps you reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy bills as you improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Read on to learn more about whole-house fans and the benefits provided by QuietCool systems.
Why Whole-House Fans Are Increasingly Necessary
In theory, having an incredibly tight home envelope makes good sense. If you have a lot of cracks and gaps around your windows and doors, much of the conditioned air your heating and cooling system produces will escape outside. As a result, your furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner will have to work much harder to create and maintain the temperature you want. Adding insulation and using weatherstripping, caulking, and other sealants are common ways to prevent this.
In reality, homes are built to “breathe”. Small gaps and cracks in building materials bring fresh outdoor air in through a process known as induction. When homes aren’t completely airtight, indoor pollutants can flow out and less-contaminated air can enter. Although some homeowners continually strive to improve their IAQ, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can still be two to five times more contaminated than outdoor air.
Not only is IAQ affected by the chemical-laden solvents, surface cleaners, and self-care products that people often use, but it is also impacted by building-specific factors, such as off-gassing paints, particle boards, flooring adhesives, and more. Lighting candles indoors, cooking meals, and using plug-in air fresheners are all things that add harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and countless other pollutants to your indoor air. New toxins are introduced within your home constantly, but if your envelope is too tight, these toxins have no viable way out.
Excessively tight home envelopes also create problems with backdrafting. There is a limit to how much sealant and insulation can be added with envelope tightening, especially when homes have fuel-burning appliances. If you have a gas-fired furnace or water heater, a tight home envelope can create negative air pressure. When this happens, exhaust gases can get pulled back into your home, exposing residents to carbon monoxide (CO) and other serious hazards.
Whole-House Fans Put the “V” Back in HVAC
As a form of mechanical ventilation, whole house fans put the “V” back in HVAC. They prevent the potential problems listed above and improve IAQ. They also enhance home comfort. Best of all, they do these things while lowering home cooling costs and minimizing your household carbon footprint.
Cutting-edge whole-house fan designs by QuietCool offer whisper-quiet operation while dropping indoor temperatures by as much as 10 F.
These fans take the pressure off cooling systems and limit energy use far more than a dangerously tight home envelope can. On moderately hot days, you can turn on your QuietCool system to minimize your air conditioner use. Your indoor air will smell fresher, and building residents will be less likely to contend with IAQ-related symptoms such as:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Irritated nasal passages
- Recurring headaches
- Sore throats
- Nighttime nosebleeds
With less coughing, sneezing, and other symptoms of respiratory distress, everyone in the home can also enjoy a deeper and more restful sleep.
All About QuietCool
QuietCool provides advanced whole-house fan technologies for eco-conscious consumers who still want to live in well-ventilated, healthy, and fresh-smelling spaces. Much like their name implies, QuietCool systems offer near-soundless performance. This way, you can turn these units on and still hold quiet conversations, enjoy your favorite television programs, and engage in other quiet activities without interruption. QuietCool systems are available in multiple configurations for meeting a broad range of needs. You can select top-down, whole-house, attic, or garage cooling based on your goals.
Enjoy Impressive Energy Savings With a Quiet Cool System
Using a QuietCool whole-house fan can drop energy costs by as much as 90% in some homes. QuietCool systems provide a more aggressive inflow of outdoor air than natural induction. This flow clears hot air out and makes air conditioners less likely to enter cooling mode. With a QuietCool fan in operation, your home’s interior will rarely rise above your preferred temperature, even when your air conditioner is off. With home cooling costs accounting for almost half of the average household’s energy bill during peak cooling season, you’ll see a significant drop in this portion of your energy bill almost immediately.
Get Rid of Airborne Contaminants
QuietCool systems also solve the problem of having stale, stagnant air circulating within your home. There is no better way to flush out VOCs and other harmful toxins emitted from furnishings, flooring adhesives, paint, and more. If you struggle with headaches or low energy levels due to consistently low IAQ, you will likely encounter fewer triggers and have fewer symptomatic episodes after you install a QuietCool system.
Using a whole-house fan to ventilate your living space will lower the density of germs throughout the building. QuietCool systems help to move stagnant air out when one or more people in the home are ill. You’ll have fewer bacteria, viruses, and fungi proliferating in your air and on your interior surfaces. Although a whole-house fan can’t compare to the air cleaning provided by air scrubbing technologies or high-end air purifiers, it will offer a much broader spectrum of benefits while still noticeably improving indoor health.
Why Choose QuietCool for Your Home?
QuietCool products are flexible, high-performing, and supply long-lasting value. You can choose QuietCool ventilation for your garage if you regularly use this space for parking and as a workshop. If you have a hot, musty attic that traps heat during the summer months and makes everything below it feel muggy and oppressive, a QuietCool attic fan could solve your problem. With a QuietCool whole-house fan, you can extend the lifespan of your air conditioner by limiting the amount of work it has to do. You can enjoy home energy bills that are half what they currently are, and you can also vastly improve your indoor comfort and health.
Our experienced team at Environmental Heating & Air Solutions proudly serves residents of Roseville and the surrounding communities in Northern California. We work hard to help our clients lower their energy costs, improve their IAQ, and enhance their comfort within their homes. We offer HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance. In addition, we service heat pumps and ductless systems, clean and maintain ductwork, seal and ventilate your home, and provide a full range of plumbing services. We have experience with an expansive range of cutting-edge HVAC and IAQ products. To find out more about QuietCool technologies or schedule an appointment, contact Environmental Heating & Air Solutions today.
