Understanding the Importance of Subfloor Ventilation
Subfloor ventilation is usually overlooked in buildings. But what a lot of home/office owners do not know is that poor, or the complete absence of this type of ventilation, can cause harm to humans and even properties in the building.
In this blog post, we'll take you through subfloor ventilation, and its importance in buildings.
What subfloor ventilation is, and how it works
Subfloor ventilation systems refer to systems that deal with the extraction of damp air from a house so that fresh air enters the floor area. So, if your subfloor is musty, damp, smelly or mouldy, you probably need a subfloor ventilation system in your home.
The simplest way to achieve the objective of subfloor ventilation is to install vents around the building's walls and then depend on natural ventilation to get the job done. But if the issue lingers even with natural ventilation, then it'll be wise to install subfloor fans that'll allow cross ventilation.
Why do you need subfloor ventilation?
A couple of reasons why you need sub floor ventilation include:
1. Condensation builds up in homes that do not have subfloor ventilation systems
Condensation-related problems are some of the most significant reasons why you need subfloor ventilation in your home/office. If the ventilation is poor, condensed water droplets can cause wooden structures to get damaged. Repairing these structures can be very costly, but you can easily avoid such costs. Subfloor ventilation creates an outlet for damp air to escape your home/office building, thereby preventing it from condensing.
2. Gases can concentrate in homes without subfloor ventilation systems
Of all the gases that are harmful to humans, radon gas is perhaps the sneakiest. You cannot smell or see it, which means that it may be in your homes at high concentrations. Houses near rick beds or caves are at a higher risk of being contaminated with radon and other harmful gases. However, with subfloor ventilation in a home, this silent-killer gas can be expelled, leaving only clear and fresh air.
3. Fires can escalate where there is poor subfloor ventilation
Fire needs a sufficient amount of air to burn properly. When a fire starts in an insufficiently ventilated house, air is pulled in through a process called back drafting. This causes the fire to burn more rapidly. But in subfloor ventilated buildings, the air pressure is maintained, thereby reducing back drafting in case of a fire outbreak.
4. Subfloor ventilation helps to reduce moisture in floors
Moisture in a building serves as a breeding ground for termites, moulds and other pests. This is why you'll find many of these creatures in insufficiently ventilated buildings. However, with a subfloor ventilation system, the floor is kept cool at all times, so the breeding ground and conducive environment for these insects are destroyed.
5. Home/office buildings with subfloor ventilation systems smell fresh and clean
It's as simple as that.
In conclusion
Not having a subfloor ventilation system in your home/office does not only pose health risks but also cost implications majorly through the damage of structures. Therefore, if your building is damp or condensed, it is a wise decision to start thinking of ways to bring in dry, fresh air. What better way to do this than through subfloor ventilation? Click here to get in touch with your Sydney specialists.
