A whole-house ventilator is an HVAC ventilation system that works to improve indoor air quality. Ventilators work by swapping stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air to improve both comfort and air quality inside.Poor ventilation can affect indoor air quality (IAQ) and lead to problems including:

• Cooking smells long after a meal
• Lingering pet odors
• The buildup of potentially harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
• A buildup of carbon dioxide or unsafe levels of carbon dioxide.

Good ventilation is crucial for helping to ensure you're breathing in cleaner, fresher air while inside your home.

Not necessarily. Everyone needs proper ventilation but may not need a supplementary device. If you live in a climate where opening your windows increases ventilation without decreasing comfort or security, you might have adequate ventilation. But if you live in a newer, tightly sealed and insulated home, you could benefit from a mechanical ventilation system. 

If you're uncertain about whether your home needs a ventilator a good place to start is to begin measuring the air quality in your home using the Awair® Element. The Element is a smart, all-in-one environmental sensor that homeowners can use to monitor their temperature, humidity, CO2, chemicals, and PM2.5 levels (any fine dust or particulate matter that is 2.5 microns in width or smaller). 

Mechanical ventilation for new homes may be required by building codes. The International Residential Code requires a certain level of air exchange, rated in cubic feet per minute (CFM). In addition, the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.2 specifies minimum ventilation rates to minimize adverse health effects.

In addition to reducing all of the problems listed above, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), improving indoor ventilation can help you reduce airborne virus particles in your home. Increased ventilation can even help mitigate the spread of illnesses including influenza and COVID-19.

Trane ventilators are whole-home HVAC solutions, therefore the right one for you depends on factors such as home size, number of occupants, and more. Your local independent Trane dealer can help you determine the right one for your home.