If you’re struggling with mould, mildew, and wood rot in your home, it could be at risk of extensive structural damage. It can also pose serious health risks for your family and make your home more at risk of termites.
Enlisting the pest control Melbourne locals turn to for subfloor ventilation is an effective way to rid your home of excessive moisture. What does this process involve and how will your home benefit? Keep reading as we explore the key pointers about subfloor ventilation.
What is Subfloor Ventilation?
In short, subfloor ventilation refers to a mechanically installed system that has been designed to stop extra moisture from getting into your home. This system removes damp air and circulates dry and fresh air under your floors.
Subfloor ventilation is a popular choice for anyone looking to remove dampness, mould, mildew, and growing bacteria from their home. This system is also effective for removing stale and trapped air from your floors.
An Effective Way to Ventilate Your Home
Proper ventilation in your home is essential to your family’s health and the safety of your home’s structure. When homes aren’t adequately ventilated, there’s also the increased risk of mould and mildew. Subfloor ventilation can help you with this. Here are a few points to help you understand how the process works.
Understand How the Installation Process Works
You may think that installing subfloor ventilation is a hugely complex process. Fortunately, having the installation done by a professional installer will ensure that the process takes place quickly and safely. Here’s a rundown:
- Test for moisture: A moisture test is conducted of the space below your floors. When installers treat your subfloors or install ventilation systems, they conduct moisture tests before and after the work is done to ensure 100% success.
- Measure the area’s ventilation and access: To ensure your floors are well-ventilated, having circulation systems ducted to all the corners and cavities of your crawl space is important. Installers first measure the existing access space and any additional space that may need to be created. A ducted system is installed if there is access to the space. Spaces that don’t offer access may require a fan to be installed in the exterior portion of your walls.
- Choose the best fans: There are several quality fans to choose from. Your installer will always recommend the best unit for your home.
- Installation: Fans are mounted onto a base that has a rubber barrier of 20mm installed between the base and the fans. The fans are mounted on the cavity’s floor or screwed onto its joints. The goal here is to ensure that the fans are installed in a manner that offers even distribution of air in every part of the subfloor.
- Testing the system: Smart fans are installed with a waterproof timer that can run for a set period and adjust to your requirements. To do this, its waterproof timer or hygrometer helps it switch on and off after determining the prevalent humidity levels. While the fans are programmed to function when there are no occupants, you can adjust them to suit your needs.
Opt for Quality Ventilation Systems
Poor air quality in your home can lead to major issues with the structure of your home and affect your health. Having a well-ventilated home not only reduces the likelihood of this but also improves the air quality in your home, creating a healthier, safer environment.
With this in mind, it’s essential to opt for quality ventilation systems. Here are some of the features to look out for:
- Effective design and energy efficient
- Robust components
- Unobtrusive operation
- Low maintenance
- Neat and compliant with Australian standards
- Affordable and efficient
Know What the Average Cost Can Be
The overall cost of the subfloor ventilation installation depends on the size of your property and the ventilation requirements. On average, an underfloor kit can range between $199 and $529. Speak to a professional for a quote based on your home’s unique needs.
Consider High-Flow Vents
Some older brick homes that have been built on timber floors may have the original metal vent blocked. In some cases, slit bricks may have been used to facilitate ventilation. However, over time, this may also get blocked.
If this is the cause of your ventilation problems, your installer will recommend installing a high-flow vent. This model has been specifically designed to minimise moisture retention in the floors. Doing this will also go a long way toward keeping termite and other wood boring pests out. You can also opt for solar-powered (enviro) fans that also maximise the overall airflow to help avoid mould growth.
Final Thoughts
Adding subfloor ventilation to your home is always a good idea. This is especially the case if you live in a high rainfall area, experience high-humidity or you’ve had a termite infestation. Increasing the ventilation in your home will not only reduce excess moisture but you will also have peace of mind that your home’s structure is being protected.