Download the Minto Home Care Guide - Condo

HRV
Reduces the energy it
takes to bring the temperature
to a comfortable
level by pre-heating or
cooling fresh air before
traveling to your heating/
cooling equipment.
Ventilation Fan Switch
The ventilation fan switch is located beside the thermostat and it will control
the larger bathroom fan. The 90 CFM (cubic feet per minute) fan can be
operated from the ventilation fan switch or at the bathroom where the fan
is located. This is used to exhaust stale air from the unit with a new supply
of air entering the house at the combustion air intake at the furnace.
Condensation and Relative Humidity
New homes are better sealed and insulated today due to new and improved
building practices as today’s discriminating buyers expect decreased home
energy costs and improved comfort controls.
Generally speaking, humidity levels in the home should be within 30-50 percent.
The humidity level in the home is largely infl uenced and controlled by your
family’s lifestyle. A variety of individual factors can cause higher than normal
levels of humidity such as the number of occupants, cooking patterns,
showering and other daily activities of the household.
Increased humidity is more acute during the fi rst winter when the home is
“drying out” as many of the materials used in construction contain moisture
that will dissipate over several months.
A humidity indicator (hygrometer) is provided to assist you in determining the
humidity levels in your home. Humidity should be monitored so as to control
damage such as staining, rotting, mould and to preserve fi nishes such as
cabinetry and fl oorings.
Condensation on interior surfaces of the window and frame is the result of
humid, warm, moist air coming into contact with a cold surface. As soon as
excessive condensation occurs on inside window surfaces, steps should be
taken to reduce the Relative Humidity by controlling the moisture sources
or by increasing ventilation.
The following chart shows the maximum
relative humidity (RH) that can be tolerated
if condensation is to be avoided in
cold weather. Remember that a small
amount of condensation in the daytime
can result in signifi cant condensation
at night when temperatures drop.
Activating the mechanical systems
installed in your home will help control
levels of humidity and condensation by venting humid air to the outside.
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