Open fireplaces and wood stoves depend on a good supply of air to function well. In homes that are tightly sealed to keep heat from escaping, this can also block the flow of necessary air for these fireplaces and stoves. This lack of air leads to issues like smoke from the fireplace filling the home, or wood stoves not burning efficiently. Such problems result in more creosote build-up, increasing the risk of chimney fires and lowering the quality of the air inside the house.
For a healthy living environment, it's essential for a home's air to be regularly refreshed. This ventilation process helps reduce indoor pollution, such as dust, unpleasant odors, and harmful gases. However, in homes that are extremely airtight, achieving this natural air exchange is difficult.
Appliances and systems that expel air from the house, like dryers, kitchen and bathroom fans, and older furnaces and water heaters, need to be balanced with fresh air from outside. If a home is too tightly sealed, this fresh air can end up coming in through the chimney.
If the chimney isn't clean, it can bring in soot or creosote, which is concerning because breathing creosote can be a health risk. This issue can affect indoor air quality even in homes where the fireplace isn't actively used.
While there's a trend towards making homes as energy-efficient as possible by sealing them well, it's important to avoid making them too airtight. Finding the right balance is key to ensure homes are energy-efficient yet still have enough fresh air for a healthy environment.