A Breath of Fresh Air: Why Your Home Needs Mechanical Ventilation

New Zealand’s Healthy Homes standards are primarily concerned with insulation rather than ventilation, requiring insulation in the floor and ceiling along with at least one heating source in the house. However, insulation alone won’t solve all of a home’s problems. In fact, just increasing the insulation can sometimes do more harm than good.
 
Additional insulation reduces the amount of heat escaping, but this escaping heat can also help to dry out the walls, floor, and roof of the building. That means that adding insulation, while making it slightly less cold inside, can increase the internal moisture levels by inhibiting the building’s capacity to dry itself out. This can lead to an unhealthy and uncomfortable living environment, which is why an effective, efficient ventilation system is vital to maintaining good air quality and moisture levels in your home.

• In early 2020, MBIE published a report on the moisture issues caused by airtight buildings. View the report here.

​A holistic approach is necessary when you’re looking to upgrade or improve the health of your home; no single element can ensure optimal performance by itself. If you only have the budget for one substantive renovation, however, an effective ventilation system will likely have a bigger overall impact on your home becoming healthier, warmer, dryer, and more comfortable.

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