Your House and How It Works 

It is important to remember that a house operates as a system. All the elements of a house, the environment, envelope, mechanical systems, and occupant activities affect each other and the result affects the performance of the house as a whole. Understanding these relationships is the secret to avoiding problems.

For example, reducing air leakage makes the house more comfortable and protects the envelope from moisture damage. But it will also increase humidity levels since less water vapour escapes. This can mean an increase of condensation on windows.

The lesson is that a change to one component of the house can have an immediate effect on another component. The combined effect of many small changes over time can also affect the balance of the system.

Before beginning any retrofit work, it’s a good idea to review what’s involved and to understand what other aspects of the house may be affected. Thinking things through and careful planning in the early stages of work will prevent unpleasant surprises and ensure that the work meets your expectations.