Opening out the airways

Home matters

Home ventilation has come a long way from the stone louvers of brick homes generations ago. Today, along with being sophisticated, these systems serve several purposes all in one go, writes Ruth Dsouza Prabhu.

Whether we realise it or not, ventilation is an essential part of our environment. Our vehicles, electronics, appliances and several other systems that make up our lives have ventilation as an integral component. Buildings too are no exception and ventilation has been a part of construction ever since the first mud homes were slapped together.

Ventilation systems have evolved over time. Homes of brick and mud with tiled roofs had vents made of terracotta, brick and at a later stage, metal incorporated into the walls.

These were often found at the top corners of rooms such as the bedroom, bathroom and even the kitchen. The sizes of course varied according to the room and its function.

Several of the homes made at that time were also of the double brick version with vents that had holes just about the breadth of a finger.

The primary idea with these vents was to allow a free flow of air through the home. It allowed for the natural cooling of a home in summers and helped in giving the wooden rafters that formed the inside of tile roofs the necessary space for expansion and contraction in summers and winters.

While these ventilation systems worked perfectly for the kind of environment and surroundings these individual homes were in, both home owners and builders alike soon began to notice a few drawbacks. For starters, the moisture that settled on these vents made them breeding grounds for mould, bugs and slime. This naturally brought down the quality of air. Constant exposure to the elements and the inability to thoroughly clean these fixed vents also brought in the termites that tended to feast on wooden rafters and frames. Gradual build-up on the holes of the vent finally defeated the purpose of having the vents in the first place as they were no longer able to circulate air.

Especially in bathrooms and kitchens, exhaust fans were then attached to these vents to help facilitate their usefulness. But without a system of cross ventilation in place, these fans would air out a room well in summer and pretty much do the same in winter, thereby bringing down the insulation a home had. Also, when these vents were installed in homes that had walls higher than 9 feet, ventilation was not too efficient because air had more places to travel to than just the vent. This was the same issue that prevailed when homes began to get customised in size and shape, and commercial buildings started to grow taller and bigger.

With buildings growing taller and closer to one another, the smaller ventilation systems gradually faded away. Cross ventilation in apartment complexes were designed into the construction. These often had windows facilitating air flow. While these, even today, work perfectly when unobstructed, the lack of space between buildings often lends them to be completely ineffective. Keeping windows open through the day is also not feasible because of the exposure to the elements, pollution, security reasons and more.

With construction being integral to our society today, ventilation systems have grown to suit present day needs. Vents are created with complex piping systems that circulate air in and out. While these have placed extreme pressure on resources such as electricity, they have proven to be effective in large buildings. Considering that innovation in technology is a natural phenomenon, green buildings are the current day focus with ventilation systems being self-sufficient rather than dependent on external resources.

There are several advantages that you will get from this. The first is use of efficient technology. The concept of a green building is based on the use of technology that is not generally utilised in traditional structures. Reducing expenses of heating and cooling, while naturally ventilating the building is a part of the construction plan. Second is better quality of air. Since these buildings are made of materials that are more environment-friendly, the quality of air you get indoors is much better. The carbon output is also reduced since the building will run on solar and wind power. Third is the return on investment. Such buildings are easier to maintain and therefore bring down expenses. Moreover, they give you a relatively quick return on investment considering the number of bills you will be reducing with the right ventilation methods in place. Most of the ventilation systems of today may be hidden behind extensive piping that is built into the walls or the exterior of buildings. But what you do see in your home are the vents.

Speaking from an aesthetic sense, these vents have come a long way from the brick, metal and terracotta versions that were the norm decades ago. Choosing the right kind of vent will ensure that the ducts attached to them are able to circulate fresh air all through your home in the right manner.

Here are a few factors you will need to consider. Pressure balance is something that you will have to keep in mind. There may be a few situations where you will need to have a vent that is partially closed in order to balance out the pressure from fans and from what is circulating in your space.

The kind of material you choose for the making of your vents will be important. For places such as the bathroom, be it for the floor or wall, which is often made of ceramic tiles or marble, you will have to have vents made of stone. These remain unchanged in the face of moisture, heat, dampness and other such elements. Air vents can also be included for doors where the louvered style is predominant. They give you the privacy you will need as well as the necessary flow of air. There are numerous kinds of ventilation systems that can be incorporated into a space. Of course getting the right kind of professional to work out the finer details would be in your best interests.