GBlist: Re: GBList: Dust Mites/RH and Infiltration -Reply

Arnie Katz (AKATZ@AEC.NCSU.EDU)
Thu, 06 Mar 1997 17:12:18 -0500

Loren:
I totally agree that the health/safety of the people is the top priority--much
more important than saving a few BTUs. The question,though, is whether
depending upon a leaky house--i.e., random infiltration--to supply enough
fresh air to dilute pollutants and breathe well is the best way to assure
their health.

My own experience is that it's not. The solution for the folks who may be
suffering from CO poisoning and oxygen deprivation is not to make the
house leakier. The solutions are 1) source control and 2)ventilation. If
they want to heat with wood (as I do) they need an air-tight stove,
combustion air piped directly into the stove, and a sealed flue/chimney. If
the stove is atmospherically decoupled from the living space, CO can't
enter the house. A digital CO detector as a back-up is also a good idea.

Then supply ventilation adequate for the people and moisture removal.

Letting the CO in the house, and hoping to dilute it with either random
infiltration or mechanical ventilation, does not seem like a sound strategy.

Arnie Katz
AEC
909 Capability Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27606

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