HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC
UNSOPHISTICATED TEST YIELDS GREAT RESULTS A number of years ago, a colleague of mine and I were teaching building science in Russia to a number of contractors. The indoor air quality (IAQ) section of the training was provided by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) research division. The division had done great work on identifying and resolving IAQ problems in houses.
One image in the training was that of a skunk to highlight the opportunity of using odours to identify air quality issues. The training participants were confused by the picture. Our interpreter told us no one knew what the animal in the picture was; apparently, there are no skunks in Europe. Our intent to conjure up the memory of a commonly-known smell to focus attention on air quality failed. There was no shared experience with an odour that is so familiar to most North Americans. Even my threeyear-old grandson surprised me one fall evening when he crinkled up his nose and said “EWWH, skunk.” Indeed, this training experience underscored one of the major problems in trying to resolve odour problems in houses. Everyone has a different sense or experience with smells and we often struggle to find a common language to describe the odours we smell. I have written
before about the challenge of resolving odour problems for clients and the first step is always to determine if we can agree on what it is each person is smelling. Undoubtedly mechanical contractors get calls about odours in houses, especially in the fall when heating systems start up, or in the spring at the start of air conditioning season. Be aware that the way you describe odours may be different than how your client perceives it. Moreover, because the sense of smell varies greatly among humans, you may not even be able to detect any discernible odour, even when your client is adamant about how strong an odour might be. We all need to respect the differences in the sense of smell and be open to trying to resolve odour concerns that don’t affect your olfactory system in the same way they may be affecting your client.
Gord Cooke Gord is a professional engineer who has spent 35 years helping builders and HVAC
contractors implement innovative technologies into high-performance homes. He has particular expertise in IAQ and airflow management in houses, and can be contacted at gordc@buildingknowledge.ca.
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