DIY Home Ventilation

Quick Fixes

• Maintaining or changing the furnace filter is one the best things you can do. The filter is designed to catch the dirt and debris that is in the air so that it does not cycle through the home. The disposable pleated panel filters cost about $5 and are better for removing dust particles. Most washable filters should be washed and treated on a monthly basis. Your household cleaning supplies, paints and solvents should also be stored away from air intakes, preferably in unoccupied spaces.

  The ducts on a gas dryer, central vacuum, gas-fired water heater or furnace must be properly sealed and vented to the outside. The heating and air conditioning unit and ductwork should not be located in the garage or any other space that could potentially draw pollutants into your home. Consider installing automatic door closers and weather stripping on any doors leading from the house to the garage. This will minimize any airborne contaminates that may get into the house.

Ventilation Fans

• If you need to replace an older kitchen or bathroom fan with a new one, it is a relatively easy DIY task to accomplish, especially if you are fitting the new fan in the existing opening. Even if you have to install an exhaust fan from scratch, if there is a light fixture in the ceiling, you already have the required power source. You'll only need to replace the light fixture with a combination fan/light fixture. Most of the work will consist of running a vent to an exterior wall for venting.

  You can also add ventilation to your attic. Non-mechanical gable vents and soffit vents are common options. If your home already has gables, but unvented soffits, you can dramatically improve ventilation by adding soffit vents. The circular aluminum soffit vents are easy to install. You'll only need to bore the openings and snap the vents in place.

  Power gable and roof ventilators and whole house fans are also popular choices for increasing attic ventilations. The average gable-mounted ventilators covers about 2,000 square feet of attic space. They are not difficult to install; in many cases, you won't need to do any carpentry work. However, you will need some basic electrical skills in order to connect it to the power supply. Roof-mounted ventilators can be powered or unpowered. Also called turbine attic ventilators, these ventilators will start rotating with just a slight breeze. This creates an updraft that pulls heated air out of the attic. They are available from 12-inch to 24-inch sizes and are as capable as power ventilators fo ventilating attic space.