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The EPA tells us the air we breathe inside our homes and buildings can be up to 70 times more contaminated than outside air.

Improving indoor air quality requires four simple steps:

  1. Seal the structure as tightly as possible. ( Energy codes are making sure we do this).
  2. Remove known indoor air pollutants wherever possible. (See EPA's VOC explanation
  3. Dilute remaining indoor air contaminants with ventilation.
  4. Filter out particulates with a Merv 13 or higher filter. (See EPA's Indoor Particulates list) 

Priority Energy has been designing, installing, and servicing cost-effective ventilation systems, for both new and existing homes and buildings, for over a decade. They were also consultants on the formation of the state of Illinois' ventilation requirements for healthier living spaces.

Buildings do not need to breathe, but the people in them do

For healthy indoor air buildings need mechanical fresh air ventilation.
More specifically, they need whole building mechanical ventilaton systems.  

To understand what this means, let's start with what it doesn't mean

  1. This is not the ventilation installed in your attic (soffit, mushroom, gable, and ridge vents to name a few).
  2. This is not the combustion air needed for your gas furnace and water heaters.

A whole building mechanical ventilation system is a fan designed to bring fresh air into your office or home.  Whole building mechanical ventilation systems are one of the key elements of healthy indoor air, and one of the least expensive components of your HVAC system.

To design a whole building mechanical ventilation system, or fresh air system:

Determine the required CFMs of fresh air needed in the building based on its size, number of occupants and overall leakiness of the building.  We always refer to ASHRAE standards for determining ventilation needs:

    1. ASHRAE 62.2 for Residential Ventilation
    2. ASHRAE 62.1 for Commercial Ventilation

Determine a strategy for fresh air circulation and the type of system that will work best (exhaust only, supply only, or balanced). 
Several factors to consider include:

  1. How much air the building currently leaks, or will leak, after it is completed. If the building is new, you should follow energy code requirements for building tightness and/or work with a certified RESNET Rater, who can calculate square footage and air exchange.  If you already live in the house, or are planning a remodeling project,  it's always a good idea to have a blower door test performed.  The tightness of a home will dictate the best ventilation solution. Super tight homes will work better with balanced ventilation systems or a supply-only system with dedicated ventilation fans.  Very leaky homes may not need any added ventilation.
  2. Are there any external factors such as soil gases, damp crawl spaces or attics, connected garages or other harmful air sources that we need to be concerned with? This may rule out an exhaust-only system which could potentially put the house under negative pressure and cause unhealthy contaminants to enter the building
  3. Where is the house located? Is it in a hot and humid climate, a cold and dry climate, or temperate zone?
  4. What type of heating and cooling system will be in the home or building?
  5. How will the ventilation system impact the humidity levels in the home?


Once we understand the above factors we can begin to specify a type of ventilation system:

    1. Exhaust only systems, consist of one or more fans connected to an automatic switch to ensure the fan runs enough to meet the prescribed ASHRAE ventilation needs.  This could be as simple as a bathroom fan in a home, or an exhaust port on a commercial rooftop unit.  A major con of this type of system is based on the fact we only know where we are exhausting the air from; we have no idea where the fresh air (or if it's truly fresh air) is being pulled into the house.  This is our least favorite means of ventilation and we believe it should be reserved for local spot ventilation such as bathrooms and kitchens only.

    2. Supply only systems are usually tied into the return plenum (although some systems are independent), and cause a slight positive pressure inside the house (w.r.t. the outside). These include standard fresh air intakes, air cyclers and ventilating dehumidifiers, such as:

      1. Air Cyclers use a damper-controlled inlet to the return of the furnace which will open as necessary to deliver specified amounts of ventilation. (Dampers are capable of closing during extreme weather conditions).  The air cycler relies on the furnace/air handler fan to move air into the home.
      2. Economizers (typically found on commercial rooftop units, with openings on the return side of the unit, to let in fresh air for ventilation and/or economical cooling).  Economizers also typically rely on the main HVAC fan to move air into the building.
      3. Fresh Air Intakes are ducts connecting the return ductwork on an HVAC system to the outside with limited controls.  These also rely on the HVAC fan.
      4. A Dedicated Supply Fan moves air directly into the home, and usually into the return of the furnace.  Examples include simple fans set to move the required amount of air in ventilating dehumidifers which serve to ventilate and to dehumidify homes. 

    3. Balanced systems typically (but not always), use either a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) to exhaust stale air out of the home and bring in outside air at the same rate.


Once the system is decided upon, installation is the final hurdle.  There are many considerations:

    1. Will I have the space for the prescribed ventilation system(s)?
    2. Where will I be pulling air fresh air from, in the case of the supply only and balanced system, the fresh air inlet into the house must be 10' or more from any bad air sources (exhaust flues, dryer vents, exhaust fans, vent stacks), and can I get it off the ground enough to not worry about snow fall blocking the inlet?
    3. How will the system be ducted and how will that impact the flows of the ventilation system?
    4. For any system connected to HVAC ductwork, the normal operating pressure of the HVAC system will impact the ability of the ventilation to operate. Should I test the operating pressure?

All of the items above will impact system performance.

Once the system is installed, it then must be tested and verified to deliver the required ventilation to the building, which requires a certified energy auditor or test & balance firm.

Optimized Ventilation Can Help Prevent the Spread of Germs

Ventilation and the dilution of airborne contaminants is essential in preventing the spread of coronavirus and other germs, in offices and public buildings. Put your employees and visitors at ease by ensuring your ventilation system is providing the best possible fresh air circulation.  

The EPA on Ventilation and Coronavirus

ASHRAE's Guide for Re-Opening Buildings

ASHRAE's Guide for Re-Opening Schools

ASHRAE's Guide for Residential Homes and Multifamily Buildings

Priority Energy offers expert ventilation design, installation and service.  Call us today or fill out the form on this page for additional information - 312.767.9047.

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    Anonymous Builder
  • We were so impressed with the amount of information the Priority Energy technicians gave us during our ENERGY AUDIT.  If you are buying a house, I would strongly recommend having them do an energy audit on it, in addition to your usual home inspection.

    P.I.
  • Thanks for a super intelligent and deep seminar expertly handled by a staff which was a pleasure to be around. Lunch was superbly and subtly handled.

    A.S. Architect
  • I wanted to thank you for all of your extra time and energy during our BPI training over the last few weeks. You really helped put things in perspective. You are an awesome crew and your facility is a valuable resource for students and the community

    BPI Student, L.E.
  • There is much less dust in the house and the monthly gas and electric charges have been reduced by 10 to 15%.....I'm sure I will see greater savings over a twelve month period......thanks again.

    Aeroseal Client, R.N.
  • Just completed my BPI Field exam for my Quality Control Inspector (QCI) certification renewal at Priority Energy.
    Such a convenient and well-set-up training and test center with caring and knowledgeable staff and proctors! Thanks folks!

     

    P.R., Ottawa, IL
  • It's been cold here for the past few days and I really feel the difference in heating since the building was Aerosealed! My apartment is so much warmer now. Thank you Priority Energy!

     

    Miruna; Tenant at Country Manor Apartments, Peru, IL
  • Anytime I can be a reference for all the great work on my (new) house, please let me know.  Priority Energy is outstanding at what they do!

    Executive at Medline Industries, IL
  • I have a two story home built in the mid seventies. Lots of temperature fluctuation between the floors. The Aeroseal process dramatically increased the air flow to the second floor. Good experience. The company was very informative, answered a lot of questions.

    Vince from Oakbrook, IL
  • "It's been cold here for the past few days and I really feel the difference in heating since the Aeroseal, my apartment is so much warmer now. Thank you!"  

    MP from Peru, IL
  • Thank You so much for the super-fast turn around of our Manual J, D and S reprt for the Village of Glen Ellyn. Our original Manual J kept getting kicked back to us for corrections but your calculations/report got approved instantly-no questions asked and no more permit delays!

    Kim, Glen Ellyn, IL
  • Thank you. Truly. I appreciate you taking the time to clarify things for me and then going above and beyond to ensure that my CEUs are handled for our current RESNET cycle. You’ve always been kind to me and this is another shining example of that.

    Craig, HERS Rater, Batavia, IL
  • (Aeroseal) is a GREAT Product! Really made our townhouse more comfortable!

    Gordon; Chicago, IL
  • We are having less ice on roof since the Aeroseal duct sealing! Thanks!

    Bill; Downers Grove, IL
  • Duct sealing (with Aeroseal) was the smartest thing I ever did! Our home is sooooo much more comfortable! We were so very pleased with Priority Energy and their technicians!

    Richard; Lake Forest, IL
  • On to the Radon issue - Excellent results with Aeroseal!  From 5 + to a .4.  Before sealing like we discussed, I had warm air coming out of the sump basket with the furnace running. Even with the furnace running, it is still pulling air in now.

    Bill; Belvidere, IL
  • Pat was awesome and super helpful! We are experiencing weak air flow in the duct system of our 1950''s home and Pat gave us great recommendations to fix the problem when we do our remodel.

    David; Arlington Heights, IL
  • Already the house seems more balanced (since Aeroseal duct sealing yesterday) .. far end of house is getting more warm air flow!

    Bryan, November 2019, Chicago, IL
  • Priority Energy did a great job with an Aeroseal project for my home. The rooms are more comfortable and even throughout the house, including the far registers which never used to get significant airflow. Very honest and trustworthy

    Bryan, December 2019, Chicago, IL
  • I hired Priority to seal the ducts and air seal my home.  I have been very pleased with

    the results.  The personnel from this company are professional and quite competent.  I have literally saved

    Nelson, Lake Forest
  • Priority Energy did a great job with an Aeroseal project for my home. The rooms are more comfortable and even throughout the house, including the far registers which never used to get significant airflow.

    B. L., Chicago, IL Feb. 2020
  • Used Priority Energy to help insulate (Aeroseal) a property we purchased and could not have been happier.
    R. M., Lake Bluff, IL April 2020
  • Very knowledgeable and professional (Aeroseal) staff. I definitely highly recommend and would use again in the future for other services!

    D.F., Chicago, IL Feb. 2020
  • Employees were all very helpful and professional! Came out in a timely manner (to do our Duct Test). Would highly recommend this company!

    J. R. New Lenox, IL April 2020
  • I had Priority Energy analyze my older home for indoor air quality and comfort because I was having difficulty maintaining temperatures. They came out and discussed our options. We ended up sealing our ducts and installing a whole-house dehumidifier.

    D. L, Lake Zurich, IL Feb. 2019
  • Priority Energy did an aeroseal for our home. We have had issues with air flow in our kitchen (cold in the winter) and one bedroom upstairs (hot in the summer). After they were complete, there is such a stronger air flow from the vents, that it really makes a difference.

    J.J. Chicago, IL - November 2020
  • Excellent Service and Company to work with - highly recommended and professional!

    T. B. Chicago, IL - July 2020
  • Before we sealed our ductwork the rooms farthest from the furnace were always hotter or colder than the rest of the house. We felt an improvement in air flow to the kids rooms right away. 98% duct leak reduction!

    S. H. Glenview, IL - October 2020
  • The Energy Audit you did on last home was so helpful; we referred to it for years when we made home improvements. I'd like to have you do an audit on my new home now. B. A.

    B. A. Lake Forest Homeowner
  • "We were impressed with how well your technicians answered our questions and how quickly and neatly they performed our Aeroseal service. Our rooms are much warmer now that the duct leaks have been sealed! You have a great team."

    D.F. Palatine, IL
  • "You have a great Aeroseal team. We were impressed with how well they answered our questions and how quickly and neatly they performed our service. Our rooms are much warmer now that the duct leaks have been sealed!"  

    D.F., Homeowner in Palatine, IL
  • "We enjoyed meeting Dave, our Energy Auditor.  He was interesting, knowledgeable, and professional.  We appreciated all his time and effort." 

    S.B., Homeowner in Prospect Heights, IL
  • Priority Energy is an A+ company! I've been having issues with my house staying warm in the winter so I called them up and they came out right away. Kurt was so helpful and professional! He explained everything that was going on in my house and gave me  peace of mind.

    M.I., Homeowner in Norridge, IL
  • "The employees that showed up were friendly and took care to make sure they kept the house clean while performing the aeroseal job. They explained the procedure thoroughly, I would recommend this company A+."

    T.B., Elgin, IL
  • Excellent service and quality! (excerpt)

    R.N., Inverness, IL
  • "I had Priority energy clean and then aeroseal my supply ducts; what a great experience! Great communication, great technicians, and great overall customer service!

    M.G., Downers Grove, IL
  • The Duct Leakage assessment we had yesterday was extremely informative! I'm glad we had you come to our home.

    D.K. Homeowner, Chicago, IL
  • Anthony was brilliant and answered all my questions. Really appreciate his expertise on our energy audit!
    January 2023

    S.K., Chicago, IL
  • David was very professional, thorough, and easy to work with. He provided us with a clear, detailed report with helpful suggestions as to how to improve our home.

    C.S. Chicago, IL
  • I highly trust and recommend this company for their prompt response, punctuality, and honesty in the performance of their service.

    C. H. Chicago, IL

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