Ventilation Services in Cambridge, Ontario

Common signs include persistent window condensation during winter, musty or stale odours that do not clear, visible mould on closet walls near exterior surfaces, and a stuffy feeling that improves when you open a window. Doors that pull shut on their own when the dryer runs indicate negative pressure. Renovated heritage homes in Galt that have been tightly sealed are particularly susceptible, and so are newer Champlain builds that were airtight from the day they were finished.

Often yes, and owners are usually surprised by it. The assumption is that a stone or masonry house from the 1800s breathes freely, which was true when it had original windows and an uninsulated attic. Once the windows are replaced, the attic is insulated, and the rim joists are sealed, that natural air exchange largely disappears while the moisture load from cooking, laundry, and occupants stays exactly the same. We have measured renovated Galt properties with CO2 well above 1,000 ppm in occupied rooms. Testing settles it, since no two renovations closed up the envelope to the same degree.

The Grand River corridor through Galt and Preston contributes to higher outdoor humidity during summer months. It does not cause ventilation problems on its own, but it removes the easy fix. In a drier climate a stuffy house can be aired out by opening windows, whereas here that often brings in air more humid than what is already inside. Homes along the river corridor benefit most from controlled mechanical ventilation for exactly that reason, because it manages air exchange without depending on outdoor conditions cooperating.

It can be either, which is why we measure before recommending. Air conditioning removes moisture as a side effect of cooling, so an oversized system that satisfies the thermostat in short bursts never runs long enough to dehumidify properly, and the house ends up cool and clammy. That is an equipment sizing issue, not a ventilation one. A home that stays humid with the air conditioning running steadily and the windows shut is a different problem, usually related to moisture sources indoors and inadequate air exchange. Relative humidity readings taken alongside airflow and CO2 tell us which one you have.

Yes. An HRV is meant to move roughly equal volumes of air in and out. When exhaust exceeds supply, whether from a balancing that was never done at commissioning or from a supply duct that has since been restricted, the unit actively depressurizes the house. In a Cambridge home with an atmospheric-vented furnace or water heater, that adds to any depressurization the dryer and other exhaust appliances are already causing. We measure airflow at every supply and exhaust point and adjust dampers until the system is balanced, which is a routine part of servicing an existing unit.