Ask Jon Eakes

Last Updated: Friday, October 15th, 1999, Created: Friday, October 15th, 1999

CONFLICT: A MAJOR PUBLICATION SAYS NOT TO RUN AN OUTSIDE FRESH-AIR INTAKE INTO THE COLD-AIR RETURN ON THE FURNACE DUCTING.

"Energy Efficient Housing -- A Prairie Approach" is the only book I know of which advises against this practice (check out the graphic, keyword "ventilation", title "WHAT IS A CONTROLLED COLD-AIR INLET?"), so I asked the Saskatoon Research Council why. They are not against the practice in general. In the context of super-insulated and super-sealed houses, the subject of their book, such ducting is not harmful but wasteful. Thus, if your house is super in every other respect, the cold-air inlet should not go directly into the furnace ducting but first pass through a Heat Recovery Ventilator to save even more energy.

Keywords: Air Quality, Exhaust Fans, Furnace, Ventilation

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