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Ventilation
Ventilation is the controlled exchange of indoor and outdoor air to maintain air quality.
Why it matters
Homes need fresh air. In tight homes, mechanical ventilation is required because air leakage alone is not enough.
Where people get this wrong
Ventilation is different from air leakage. Air leakage is uncontrolled. Ventilation is planned and filtered.
Real-world example
A tight new home feels stuffy. Installing an ERV provides fresh air continuously without losing much energy.
Where this hits your build
This affects comfort, energy costs, and indoor air quality. It gets locked behind drywall, so decisions here need to be right before finishing starts.
Most people do not just struggle with terms. They struggle with the decisions tied to them.
See how HouseChalk helps with the decisions behind terms like this