Is your condo getting enough fresh air?

Please note that Esplanade Building Manager Jonathan Chaffin was able to verify some, but not all of the information below. Modern heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are quite complex, and only a qualified HVAC engineer would be able to make a thorough diagnosis.

Is your condo getting enough fresh air?

A helpful "Esplanade News" reader recently submitted information regarding proper condo ventilation. According to the submitted information, the ceiling vents in bathrooms and laundry rooms should be drawing air at all times - even when the fans in your unit are off. Apparently there are fans on the roof which draw stale air from condo units through the bathroom and laundry room vents, and subsequently draw fresh air from outside, through the vents near your condo's windows. 

How to tell if your vent is not working, due to a blown motor or broken belt on a rooftop fan:

1. Without turning on your bathroom or laundry fan switch, take a piece of toilet paper and place it over the vent on the ceiling, and it should stick to the vent. This means the rooftop exhaust fan is working properly, meaning it is drawing fresh air from outside (from the vents located by your window), keeping your unit freshly oxygenated.
   
   
2. If the tissue blows away (meaning air is being pushed into your unit) from the vent, it means the fan on the roof is no longer working (due to a blown motor or broken belt). This is not good, as you may start to smell odors (from other units) and soot may accumulate in your bathroom or laundry room (i.e. toilet, washer and dryer surfaces, etc.). Owners may also notice a dirt taste in their unit. Furnace filters will show increase of soot/dirt on them.
   
   
3. Non-functioning vents should be reported by the homeowners, either to Jonathan or to management. The rooftop fans run 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, and may be vulnerable to breakdowns.

Thanks to the alert homeowner for providing this information. Jonathan verified that indeed, there are rooftop ventilation fans for every stack. After inspecting the fans on Feb. 24, he reported finding one or more fans that had stopped working, and promptly scheduled repairs.