- Q.I have been called to solve
an air-quality problem at a house with air-lock
entries. The house has hydronic heat. The vestibules
have no mechanical ventilation, and the air quality is
poor. What type of ventilation do you suggest for these
very small rooms?
A.Ventilation consultant
Andy Shapiro responds: In general, opening and
closing the doors provides enough ventilation for
vestibules. My guess is that there is a source of
odor in these vestibules that is leading to the
air-quality complaints. Could the problem be caused
by the smell of boots taken off and left in the
mudroom? Mold from excess moisture from some
source? Off-gassing of materials or finishes?
The first approach with any indoor air-quality
problem is to identify the pollution source. After
the source has been reduced as much as is
practical, ventilation can be used if necessary to
dilute the remaining, hopefully low, concentration
of offending air.
If the house has a whole-house ducted
ventilation system, such as a heat-recovery
ventilation system, and the source of the smell
cannot be reduced to acceptable levels, then a
small exhaust from the vestibule could be connected
to the whole-house system. But first, find the
source.