Ventilation upgrades should generally be planned with the consideration of your home's overall airtightness, rather than in isolation.

If you are planning significant air sealing or insulation work along with a ventilation upgrade, address air sealing and insulation first. After completing those improvements, you can then size and install the ventilation system to match the improved conditions of your home.

If you install a ventilation system that is sized for a leaky home and then subsequently tighten the building envelope, the system may be undersized for your new, tighter conditions.

If you have an urgent indoor air quality (IAQ) problem, or if you are experiencing persistent condensation, mould growth, strong odours, or alters from carbon monoxide detectors, treat it as an emergency. Evacuate immediately and call 911 before investigating any cause.

This guide is intended for general information purposes only.

For advice specific to your home, please consult with a registered Energy Advisor (EA).

While we strive to keep this guide current, if you notice any outdated and/or inaccurate information, please use the feedback option on this page.