Ventilation and humidity assessments in Halifax

Halifax gets about 3,870 heating degree-days a year, a measure of how much heating its climate needs, and its winter design temperature, the cold day heating systems are sized for, is −15.9°C. Those figures come from the climate data for Shearwater in HOT2000, the home-energy software Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) gives energy advisors. On Halifax's coldest days, window glass and poorly insulated corners get cold enough for condensation at humidity levels that feel normal indoors, so winter humidity needs to stay at the lower end of the comfortable range.

Of Halifax's 121,700 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 22% were built before 1961 and 63% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. Newer houses (22% of Halifax's were built since 2001) are tight and usually have an HRV or ERV that needs balancing and cleaning. Older houses that get air-sealed can lose the accidental ventilation they used to rely on.

Wildfire smoke reaches Halifax in some summers. The Government of Canada's advice is to keep windows and doors closed, limit exhaust fans and use the best filter your system can handle, so ask the advisor what your furnace or HRV can take. An HRV or ERV brings in outdoor air, so ask the installer or check the maker's instructions for how to run yours on smoky days.

• Relative humidity in living areas and the basement.
• Actual airflow from bath and kitchen fans, and whether they vent outside rather than into the attic.
• How much fresh air the house gets, and whether an HRV or ERV is balanced.

The ventilation and humidity assessment in detail.

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