Proper home ventilation is more than just a luxury; it's a necessity.
In today's world, where homes are built tightly for insulation, and most people spend a significant amount of time indoors, maintaining air quality is critical for your health and comfort. Poor ventilation can lead to a buildup of pollutants, moisture, and odors, which can severely affect our well-being.
However, installing an air supply fan is one of the most effective solutions for improving home air quality and ventilation. This guide will explore what air supply fans are, their benefits, and how to choose the right one for your home.
What Are Air Supply Fans?
An air supply fan (also known as a supply ventilation system) moves fresh outdoor air into your home. It draws in clean air and distributes it throughout one or several rooms through ducts, pressurizing your home and forcing stale indoor air out through vents and natural gaps in the home.
Supply fans work best in hot or mixed climates. However, homeowners should remember that supply fans do not temper or remove moisture from the air as it enters the home, so they can cause moisture issues in certain situations and may contribute to higher heating or cooling costs.
Supply Fans vs. Exhaust Fans
Before purchasing one of these systems, understanding the difference between supply and exhaust ventilation is essential.
Simply put, supply fans pull fresh air into a building, while exhaust fans push stale air out.
But while supply fans pressurize the home, filling it with a constant stream of air and pushing old air out through vents and natural ventilation sources, exhaust fans depressurize the home, expelling stale indoor air and pulling in fresh air through similar sources.
Each of these fan types has distinct advantages and disadvantages, and sometimes, the two fans are used together in a balanced system that introduces and exhausts an equal amount of indoor and outdoor air.
It is important to know the distinction between exhaust and supply, pressurization and depressurization, and how your ventilation system balances the airflows. But which system you install will depend entirely on where you live and your home's ventilation needs.
Improving Air Quality with a Supply Fan
The primary benefit of air supply fans is their ability to drastically improve indoor air quality.
By consistently introducing fresh air from outside, these fans help dilute and remove indoor pollutants such as dust, pollen, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They can also filter fresh outside air at the source, and by pressurizing the home, they reduce the likelihood that indoor pollutants will enter the home to begin with.
This continuous exchange of air ensures you breathe cleaner, healthier air, reducing the risk of respiratory issues and allergies for you and your family.
Does Your Home Need an Air Supply Fan?
Signs of Poor Ventilation
Recognizing the signs of inadequate ventilation in your home is the first step in determining whether an air supply fan is needed. Some common indicators include:
- Stale Air and Odors: Persistent odors and a lack of fresh air can signal poor ventilation, resulting in an uncomfortable and unwelcoming environment.
- Health Symptoms Like Allergies: If you or your family frequently experience allergy symptoms or respiratory discomfort indoors, it could be due to insufficient ventilation.
- Mold Growth: Poor ventilation can lead to moisture buildup, accelerating mold growth.
Evaluating Existing Ventilation
Before deciding on an air supply fan, assessing your home's current ventilation system is essential. Check for any existing fans or vents and evaluate their effectiveness. Consider factors such as airflow, noise levels, and maintenance requirements. If your current system falls short in these areas, upgrading to an air supply fan may be worthwhile.
Building Codes
It's essential to be aware of any building codes or regulatory standards that may dictate ventilation requirements in your area. Compliance with these standards ensures that your home meets safety and health guidelines, offering peace of mind for you and your family. If you are unsure what your local building codes are for ventilation, consult an HVAC professional.
Choosing the Right Size Air Supply Fan
Selecting the right size air supply fan for your home is crucial, but for non-HVAC experts (most people), there are way, way too many variables to choose one without a professional's opinion. So, our best advice for getting a correctly sized supply fan is to contact a ventilation professional before buying.
That said, you should be aware of a few sizing factors and metrics for these fans.
- Airflow CFM: Most fans are rated by their airflow output in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
- Static Pressure: Static pressure measures resistance to airflow in a ventilation system. It is measured in inches w.g. In many cases, the CFM a supply fan can produce is limited by the amount of static pressure present in the system.
- Air Changes Per Hour: Air changes per hour measure the number of times indoor air is replaced by fresh outdoor each hour. According to the EPA, most organizations recommend a system that can provide between 0.35 and 5 ACH for residential spaces.
Installation of Air Supply Fans
Air supply fans should almost always be installed by an HVAC professional, not DIY. Incorrect installation can lead to damage, performance, and safety issues, and may void the system's warranty. Save yourself a headache and shell out the money for a professional to size and install your system for the best results.
Top Air Supply Fan Brands and Models
- Broan: Broan offers several high-capacity air supply fans, including the Broan FRESH-IN 180 Basic and Premium Supply Fans. Both models provide a max airflow of 180 CFM, multiple installation options, and advanced operating features.
- S&P: S&P's lineup of air supply fans includes models from the reFresh series, like the S&P reFresh RF10 Full-Size Air Supply Fan. This fan provides an airflow of between 40 and 170 CFM and can use MERV 8 and MERV 13 air filters.
- Aprilaire: The Aprilaire 8145 Fresh Air Intake Ventilator is an effective and efficient supply fan. Awarded the Energy Star Most Efficient Rating for 2022, it provides an airflow of up to 250 CFM in spaces as large as 7,500 square feet.
Does my home need an Air Supply Fan?
Selecting the correct air supply fan is crucial for improving your home's ventilation and ensuring optimal indoor air quality. However, which air supply fan you choose will depend on where you live, your home's ventilation requirements, and your regional building codes.
Sylvane strongly suggests seeking help from an HVAC professional when choosing and installing an air supply fan in your home.
For more information about air supply fans and help finding the best device for your home, call Sylvane product experts toll-free at 1-800-934-9194.
