Most of the time rooms such as basements, attics, storage spaces or even rooms are constructed without windows. This leads to poor air flow and bad air quality. However this does not mean that you cannot improve the air quality of your room.
Here in this article we will give you some insights about the importance of ventilation, health effects related to poor ventilation and also how you can provide more air circulation within these areas.
How to improve air circulation in a room without windows
We can improve the air circulation in a room without windows by the following means:
- Create ventilation using portable and ceiling fans
- Use of evaporative coolers and whole house fans
- Turn on the HVAC system
- Add an air conditioning system
- Use a dehumidifier or an air purifier
- Simply open the doors and windows
- Introduce plants that purifies air
- Reduce the amount of furniture in a windowless room
- Use of porous building material
- Use scented candles
What is the importance of ventilation?
Ventilation is very important for a healthy, disease free, fresh smelling home.
The following are some of the reasons why ventilation is so important:
Ventilation removes condensation
Condensation leads to moisture build up and dampness in the house, which becomes a breeding ground for mold growth. Mold growth is characterized by damp patches on the walls, paper peeling, musty odors and several health problems like; allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic conjunctivitis, fatigue, nausea, and secondary bacterial infections such as sinusitis.
Ventilation is vital for healthier living environment
Excessive dampness due to poor ventilation leads to certain health related issues like asthma attacks, skin problems like redness, itchy skin, eczema, chronic sneezing etc.
Ventilation keeps hay fever at bay
A well ventilated house is considered disease free as it filters the airborne allergens such as pollen out of your house. Thus reducing the chances of catching seasonal hay fever.
Ventilation reduces the effect of radon gas
Radon is a naturally occurring gas found in the soil. It can enter the houses through cracks and crevices. Exposure to this harmful gas can cause lung cancer.
A proper ventilation system reduces the level of radon exposure.
Ventilation reduces the exposure of harmful VOCs such as benzene, acrolein, benzo(a)pyrene
Common sources of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) include paints, solvents, wood preservatives, aerosol sprays, household cleansers and disinfectants, air fresheners, stored fuels, etc.
VOCs are known to cause symptoms like; eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, headaches, fatigue, nausea,dizziness and many skin problems. Some VOCs are suspected to cause cancer such as Benzene. It is a known human carcinogen.
Proper ventilation allows fresh air into the house and dilutes the effects of VOCs.
Ways to improve improve air circulation in a room without windows
There’s no need to worry if you have a windowless room. We will give you some tips to increase airflow in your room, so try the following strategies to get a freshly smelling, clean, and habitable room.
Create ventilation using portable and ceiling fans.
If opening windows are not feasible consider using bathroom and stove exhaust fans. Try placing the fans close to an open window or a door.
This ensures better air circulation and draws the air borne particles like viruses, bacteria and particulates out of your house.
An exhaust fan works in a reverse motion. It blows air outward and draws fresh air and moisture inwards. This removes contaminants and allows moisture into your house.
Ceiling fans are also efficient at proper air circulation even if the windows are closed. Use of ceiling fans is a relatively energy efficient, and cost effective way to enhance the airflow of your house.
You can find the links to some of the fans in the links below:
| Types of Fans | Why i recommend it |
| AC Infinity AIRLIFT T10, Shutter Exhaust Fan | Offers high airflow; draws out heat, moisture, odor, and dust etc.EC-motor with PWM-control increases and reduces energy consumption and noise levels (67dB)Blades are made of aluminum that are resistant to liquid and dust. |
| VENTISOL Variable Shutter Exhaust Fan | Provides superior airflow; ideal for garages, gardens, attics, barns, greenhouses, basements etc.Easy installation consists of hard wire connection for wiring. Body made of galvanized steel frame, 3 aluminum shutter blades, fully enclosed ball bearing motor, self closing shutter system provides protection to fan when not in useIt’s suitable for ventilating a building to the outside.Powerful & Efficient: 120 volts at 70W, 0.57 amps, with 1680rpm |
| Hunter Aerodyne Ceiling Fan | High performance fan with ultra powerful airflow which gives high speed cooling Quiet operation Energy-efficient WIFI Compatible; compatible with Alexa, Apple and Google Assistant You can adjust the brightness of light and speed from anywhere in the room with the included remote controlIdeal for living room, lounge, and bedrooms |
| Prominence Home Indoor/Outdoor Journal Ceiling Fan | The ceiling fan can be used both indoors and outdoors in covered spacesThe fan has a carbon filter on one side.This ceiling fan comes with two blade options Reversible, 3 speed motor. The reverse air flow feature allows the direction change of the fan, for a properdistribution of air.Easy Installation |
Use of evaporative coolers and whole house fans
Evaporative coolers are also known as swamp coolers. They help in increasing the ventilation in the room and also cools down the indoor air. Evaporative coolers are ideal for dry climates. They require water to provide cooling and also enhances the relative humidity of the room.
The whole house fans provide cooling by pulling the outside air through the open windows and doors. The use of whole house fans should be avoided if the air pollution is high outside.
You can find the links to some evaporative coolers and whole house fans in the links below:
| Evaporative coolers and whole house fans | Why i recommend it |
| Pro Breeze Evaporative Air Cooler with Remote Control | Offers powerful cooling with its waterfall cooling technology that propels air through an ice cold honeycomb filter.A portable swamp cooler air conditioner ideal for room, home office or bedroom. This is a 3-in-1 appliance which can operate as an air cooler, a cooling fan and a humidifier.It runs at just 0.0065 kw/h, which is much more energy efficient than an air conditioner hence it is energy efficient & cost-effective |
| Air Cooler Sunday Living Portable Air Conditioners | This swamp cooler has a double layer water circulation system which purifies air can also be used as a humidifier or a fanWater tank has a large capacity with visible water level window This cooler does not have compressor and chemical refrigerants and hence its environmental friendly Comes with a bladeless cooling solution Cost effective Compared with your costly AC,Safer to use in the household that has children or pets. |
| AC Infinity CLOUDRAY T10, Whole House EC Fan | These whole house fans cool and ventilate entire homes by exhausting hot air from indoor spaces.Comes with a Smart digital controller that controls temperature and humidity and fan speed control, PWM-controlled EC motors result in quieter and more energy-efficient fans than most others.Quiet operation; operates at 48dB of sound levels. |
| Tamarack Technologies HV1000 R38 Ductless Whole House Fan with Insulated Doors | Saves up to 80% energy cost on cooling and heating.Easy installation and self-sealing insulated doors Easy installation: It can be installed vertically inside attic wall or horizontally inside attic floorSaves money and energydraws indoor air pollutants, allergens, moisture, and odors out through attic vents. |
Turn on the HVAC system
The HVAC system works efficiently towards filtering airborne contaminants. If you have a central heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) at home, set the fan to the “on” position rather than auto, especially when you have visitors. This helps in continuous circulation of air. The filter should be upgraded on a timely basis in order to maintain its efficiency.
Below are the best HVAC systems for improving the air flow in your room:
| HVAC Systems | Why i recommend it |
| Honeywell F300E1019 Electronic Air Cleaner | This can be operated with gas, oil and AC systems. Efficiency for capturing particles is upto 98%.Has a very low pressure drop |
| DAIKIN 9,000 BTU 17 SEER Wall-Mounted Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner HeatPump System | Daikin’s ductless technology offers greater energy efficiency; cools and warms up the room fast.Smart inverter technology with integrated inverted variable speed compressorProvides continuous heating and cooling with minimum temperature fluctuations.Quiet operation; with indoor sound levels as low as 37 decibels. |
Add an air conditioning system
Apart from cooling, the air conditioners also help in ventilation by the circulation of air inside the room.The air conditioner works on a principle that it draws the warm air of the room and replaces it with cool air, thus ensuring proper air circulation. Air conditioners also help in keeping the dampness at bay.
You can find the links to some air conditioners in the links below:
| Air conditioners | Why i recommend it |
| AmazonBasics Window-Mounted Air Conditioner with Remote | Remote controlled AC with dehumidifier Built in filter can be washed and reused Comes with an Auto restart and shut off feature |
| LG 6,000 BTU 115V Window Air Conditioner with Remote Control, White | Quiet operation: produces sound as low as 52dComes with three fan speed options and allows customized cooling Auto restart feature Provides a cooling upto 260 sq ft Ideal for medium rooms |
Use a dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers help extract the excessive moisture out of your room. Dehumidifier works on a two step principle:Firstly it draws moisture out of the air and collects the water on a drip tray Secondly it warms up the collected dry and cold air and finally fan the dry air back in the room.
Below are the some of the best dehumidifiers for improving the air flow in your room:
| Dehumidifiers | Why i recommend it |
| Gocheer Upgraded Dehumidifier | High efficiency dehumidifier Equipped with a 2000ml water tank capacity It is very compact and portable suitable for highly humid areas; such as the bathroom, basement, kitchen, living room etc. Quiet operation of as low as 40dBComes with automatic shut off mode to prevent overflowing of water tank Saves energy with a consumption of only 1.15 kW of electricity within 24 hours of operation. |
| COSVI Upgrade Dehumidifier | COSVI home dehumidifier keeps moisture below 35%Comes with one-button switch design for easy operationOffers a whisper quiet operation with sound levels below 35 dBEnergy efficient; consumes less energy with a power only 48W/ hour after running for 24 hours. Cost effective Comes with an auto shut featureCompact and lightweight ideal for bathrooms, basements, kitchen, bedrooms etc. |
Use air cleaners and purifiers
The simplest way to improve basement air quality is to install air purifiers. Air purifiers are devices which circulate the air through a set of filters and capture the contaminants like; microscopic particles such as dust, allergens, molds, spores, bacteria, etc, that are floating around.
If you do not have an HVAC system then you can also use high efficiency particulate air or HEPA cleaner. They work efficiently against air borne particles
Nowadays there are many filters available in markets having several features like HEPA filter, Activated carbon filter, and ultraviolet light.
Below are the best air purifiers for improving the air flow in your room:
Air purifiers | Why I recommend it |
| HATHA SPACE air purifier HEPA Air filter | Particle efficiency of about 99.97% for particle size 0.3-0.1 micron.Effective against pollen, dust, VOCs, tobacco smoke, odors, pet hair, etc.Medical grade filterGood for extra large roomsAuto mode available for fan speed adjustmentComes with a 5 years warranty |
| LEVOIT Air Purifiers for Home | You can access this device from anywhere, fan speeds can be operated through your smartphone. Better purification with its 360 degree design. Suitable for large rooms. It has an ultra fine nylon pre filter and activated carbon filter. Highly efficient against 99.7% contaminants for particles as small as 0.3 microns such as; dust pollen, pet hair, mold, odor etc. Does not make much noiseVoice control feature |
| Germ guardian true HEPA filter air purifier with UVlight sanitizer | Particle efficiency of about 99.7% for particles as small as 0.3 microns.UV C light sanitizer is effective against viruses like; staph, rhinovirus, influenza, and VOCs.Effective against allergens; pet dander and other large particles. It has a carbon filter and is highly effective against odors like; smoking, pets, odor from cooking, etc. Does not make much noise |
| TOPPIN HEPA Air Purifiers for Home | Efficiency of about 95% for particle size of 0.3 microns. It has UV light, carbon filter and nano silver filter coating. Highly efficient against airborne contaminants; dust, pet hair, pollen and also efficient against odors, tobacco smoke etc. Fragrance sponge and aroma diffuser are also present. Purifies a large area of upto 160 sq ftLow noise levelsUV lamps are covered to avoid direct eye contact. |
Introduce plants that purifies air
Introducing certain plants at your home not only adds value to your decor but also Purifies the air around you. These plants are of low maintenance offering you numerous benefits. Whether it is filtering out the toxins or providing you a 24X7 oxygen supply. So introduce the following plants into your house today and feel the difference!
Snake plant or Sansevieria
Snake plant is number one on our list as this plant is a 24×7 oxygen emitting plant.They pump oxygen day and night constantly purifying air. Apart from that their large leaves are also efficient at removing certain harmful chemicals like xylene, toluene, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.
Warneck Dracaena
Dracaena is known for its pollution combating properties; it works wonders against toxins like paints, varnishes, detergents and oils. They are low maintenance plants and do not need direct sunlight.
Bamboo palm
This plant not only has a beautifying effect on your house but also it filters out toxins like benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene.This plant does not require much watering.
Gerber Daisies or Gerbera jamesonii
The Gerbera plant is excellent at absorbing harmful carbon monoxide and benzene. Gerbera has beautiful bright flowers and adds to the aesthetic value of your house along with constant oxygen supply.
English ivy
Next on our list is the English Ivy. Apart from its attractive looks, this plant helps absorb excessive dampness at your home and catches airborne mold. It also helps combat issues related to poor respiration and prevents you from developing infection.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is the most common plant and is usually found in almost every household. This plant provides oxygen even at night, keeping your room’s air clean and fresh.
Reduce the number of furniture in your windowless room
Too much furniture in your windowless room will create hindrance in the airflow. It might lead to dampness and stuffiness.
Use scented candles
Scented candles enhance the air circulation leaving your room smelling fresh. It also helps remove dampness to a certain level.
Use of porous building material
There are certain construction materials that help maintain a sufficient airflow due to their porous nature. One such material is the air brick. The use of air bricks introduces a natural airflow into the room.
Other FAQs about Air Quality that you may be interested in.
How to Improve Air Circulation in a Room
How to improve air intake on a car
Does Air Quality Get Better at Night?
Conclusion
So in this article we gave you some insights about the importance of ventilation, health effects of poor ventilation and lastly how you can provide more air circulation within these areas.
References
hvacseer.com/how-to-improve-air-circulation-in-a-room-without-windows/