Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Illustrated above is a mechanical utility depicted as a blower door. In addition to measuring the standard unit of measure for air fluctuation, the data provided also encompasses three variables. All of which include pressure, flow and holes/leaks. Its primary objective is to determine the ratio for the amount of air-flow necessary to generate a change in pressure over the air tightness of the building/structure inspected.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The illustration in the bathroom fan venting section, demonstrates the importance of the set-up as well as location selection. Bathroom fan ventilation plays a significant role in the ventilation of a home and how the effect can vary depending on the proper power it generates. On average, the typical time a bathroom fan vent is powered by the homeowner is only 11 minutes per day, which is definitely not enough to dry the wetness off of the walls that comes after a hot shower. All of these different factors come into play when utilizing the fan vents to maximize their effect.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The image chosen in the ‘Illustration Gallery’ is the Bathroom Fan Venting display. In the indoor air quality lesson I learned the importance of the Bathroom Vent location and the key role it plays in minimizing humidity, thus providing proper ventilation. Regardless of it being the home all together or individually just the bathroom, negative pressures are applied throughout the entire exterior perimeter of the home in order to release positive energy outside of the vicinity - in regards to mechanical fans.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
A gas furnace is an appliance that provides heat through the process of burning fossil fuels . This combustion serves as a source of extraditing air from the living space as well as the off gases producing moisture. It is essential that the furnace should vent through the roof.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Water intrusion is a serious issue with structures. It is important to view all visible piping , both supply and drains, for leaks drips or potential issues. Valves are susceptible to leaking as are toilets and showers. These are not the complete list but are critical ares in which to observe.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Plants and Indoor Air Quality
Surprisingly, indoor air can often be much more polluted than outdoor air. Plants can serve as an effective means of removing environmental airborne toxins and reduce symptoms of poor health. Plants are able to remove common VOCs including benzene, TCE, formaldehyde, and toluene. Various studies have proven the effectiveness of plants on improving IAQ, with significant reductions in eye and respiratory irritation. Although some controversy regarding these experiments exist, and moisture can become an issue with over watering plants, they have the capacity to improve the quality of indoor air under the right conditions.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
An important part of maintaining indoor air quality is to manage the systems of the home that are critical to air filtration. Although proper construction techniques and practices are important, they still require homeowner maintenance and monitoring to optimize the quality of the indoor air. This image shows an air filter on the HVAC system in good condition. Although dust was present on the surface of the filter, the buildup did not appear excessive. The filter was also dated by the occupant as a reminder of how long it had been in place–a good practice in responsible home ownership.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Continuous ventilators are becoming more popular as homes become tighter. However, the added energy efficiency goes out the vent when ventilators run continuously as this increases both electric needs and air exchange with the outside. ERVs and HRVs do not publish any information about how these systems could save energy if connected to bathroom exhaust on demand. Still a lot of room to grow in this sector.
Research & Writing Assignment:
There’s a lot of issues with indoor air quality. Most seem to be related with the dispersion of contaminants, but others related to home use. Sensors to automate these ventilators need to be developed in large scale to automate detection and ventilation.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
A bathroom fan is required ventilation if there is no adequate opening window for ventilation. The fan is required in a bathroom for the removal of moisture and humidity, as seen by a quickly clearing mirror after a hot shower, but also aids in the removal of various odors. The bathroom fan should always meet minimum requirements for the rate of exhaust, and that differs whether or not the fan is intermittent or continuous.
Research & Writing Assignment:
There are many areas that a homeowner should review to secure the home and make it less-attractive to break-ins. Many of these are related to the doors and windows, which are the first places a burglar would try when attempting to enter a home. Doors and windows should have adequate locking mechanisms that can’t be breached or in some way circumvented (by glass or other possible openings). Special attention should be focused on the easier sliding glass doors which can be “jimmied” open. A secondary lock should be recommended. Also be wary of any pet doors or operable transom lites that can be used to gain access. Inquisitive and protective bigger dogs with loud barks are an excellent deterrent.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The image illustrated above is commonly identified as an instrument of measurement known as a Blower Door. The prime purpose of this tool is to measure the building-to-outside air pressure within a vicinity such as a home or commercial building.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The image I selected within the illustration gallery comprises of the diagram pertaining to the condensation in walls during opposing climates. In a warmer environment, moisture is more likely to develop on the interior side of the wall. As opposed to colder climates where the moisture occurs on the exterior side of the wall because of warmer air coming from inside.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In the image chosen we find what is known as the “Blower Door”. This is a very important tool that can help inspectors determine the Indoor Air Quality of a home by finding problems - such as leak/holes. Generally a well-sealed home will have an Air Flow of 1,500 CFM at 50 pascals. Anything above a 4,000 CFM would indicate a ‘leaky’ home. A blower door covers an entire door, corner-to-corner, attached in it is a fan and gauges that perform and provide air flow data. Every door and window in the home must be shut, and it is recommended to perform one test with the garage door closed and one open.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The illustration I studied from the gallery is the “Bathroom Fan Venting” in the indoor air quality portion. In the lesson I learned the importance of Local Exhaust Fans such as the one found in bathrooms. The bathroom standard is 50 CFM on demand or 20 CFM continuous - to provide proper ventilation. Bathroom are one of the main areas of the home that hold moisture, it is essential that the bathroom has proper ventilation to minimize the indoor air pollutants to build. The best proven location for the fan to be located is directly above the bathroom - ceiling - which we can see in the illustration.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
I chose the blower door. The blower door is utilized to measure the zonal pressure in a designated area. When they were first invented, they were extremely heavy but thanks to modernization, they are now much more light weight and easily portable.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The photo I selected was condensation in walls. Within warmer climates, condensation is more likely to occur within the interior of the structure due to colder air coming from the interior. As opposed to colder climates, where moisture is developed towards the exterior of the wall due to warmer air coming from the interior.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
A home owner of a newly constructed house contacted me complaining about excessive dust in her home. After examining the home it was concluded that though a whole house ventilation fan was installed and operating properly, there were no means of controlled or mechanical outside air intake ventilation. It was reasoned that because no outside are was supplied to the home that the system was bringing in pollutants from the attic and crawl space. The attached photo shows a vent for a condensate drain line that was not in use and not sealed, and was allowing for air transfer from the attic into the thermal envelop thus contributing to the poor indoor air quality of the home.
Research & Writing Assignment:
There are basically 4 factors in moisture transfer: air transported moisture, vapor diffusion, capillary action, and liquid flow. Heat transfers by three basic factors: conduction, convection, and radiation. Optimal Humidity levels within the home are between twenty percent and fifty percent.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Bathroom is venting directly into attic space. Vent should be to the outside of structure. Venting into the attic adds moisture laden air into the attic space and promotes wood rot and poor indoor air quality by promoting mold growth. The furnace vent next to it is a single wall pipe. Should be a double wall. The bathroom vent is within one inch of pipe and presents a fire hazard.
