HVAC makeup air questions for tight homes in Greater Vancouver

As Greater Vancouver homes get tighter and better sealed, makeup air has become a common question. If your kitchen hood or other exhaust pulls more air out than the house can naturally replace, you need a plan to bring fresh air back in. Here is what homeowners should understand.

What makeup air is and why tight homes need it

Makeup air is replacement air brought into a home to balance what powerful exhaust devices remove. When a strong range hood, for example, pulls hundreds of cubic feet of air per minute out of the house, that air has to come from somewhere. In a leaky older home, it seeps in through gaps. In a tightly sealed modern home or a deep renovation, there are few gaps, so the house goes negative, or depressurized.

Depressurization causes several problems: doors that are hard to open, drafts whistling through small gaps, and, most importantly, the risk of pulling exhaust back down a gas appliance's vent. Lower Mainland homes built or renovated to high efficiency standards are exactly the ones most likely to need a deliberate makeup-air strategy.

Common questions homeowners ask

Homeowners often ask whether cracking a window solves the problem. It can help a little in the moment, but it is not a reliable or comfortable solution, especially in our wet winters. They also ask whether makeup air is required, and the answer depends on the strength of the exhaust equipment and how tight the home is. A high-capacity range hood in a sealed home almost always calls for a planned makeup-air supply.

Another frequent question is whether makeup air and ventilation are the same thing. They overlap but are distinct. Whole-home ventilation manages everyday fresh air and moisture; makeup air specifically offsets large, intermittent exhaust loads.

• A high-capacity range hood usually drives the need for makeup air
• Cracking a window is a stopgap, not a real solution
• Tighter homes and renovations are more likely to require it
• Makeup air offsets big exhaust loads; ventilation handles daily fresh air

Getting it sized and done right

Makeup air has to be sized to the exhaust it offsets and, in our climate, often needs to be tempered so you are not dumping cold, damp outdoor air into the kitchen. That balance of airflow, comfort, and safety is why it should be designed by a professional rather than improvised. HeatLand can evaluate your home's exhaust loads and recommend a makeup-air approach that keeps the house balanced and your gas appliances venting safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need makeup air in my home?

It depends on how much air your exhaust equipment removes and how tight your home is. A powerful range hood in a well-sealed Lower Mainland home commonly needs a planned makeup-air supply to avoid depressurizing the house.

Will opening a window provide enough makeup air?

An open window can relieve some pressure briefly, but it is not reliable, comfortable in winter, or a substitute for a properly sized system. A dedicated makeup-air supply is the durable solution.

Why is depressurization dangerous?

When a home goes strongly negative, it can pull exhaust gases back down a gas appliance's vent instead of letting them escape. That backdrafting risk is the main safety reason makeup air matters.

Is makeup air the same as an HRV or ERV?

Not quite. An HRV or ERV provides balanced everyday ventilation and moisture control. Makeup air specifically replaces the large volume of air removed by big exhaust appliances. A home may need both.

HeatLand Heating & Cooling is a licensed and insured, TSBC-certified HVAC company serving homeowners across Greater Vancouver. Our technicians diagnose the real fault, explain your options in plain language, and complete the work safely and to code.

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