Indoor Air Quality
A Breath of Fresh Air
New homes are built much more airtight than older homes, which can create a build-up of indoor air pollutants – some concentrations can exceed 100 times outdoor pollutant levels. A poor indoor environment can have negative health effects, particularly for family members with allergies or asthma.
We recommend an air-to-air heat exchanger, or heat recovery ventilator (HRV), as a standard inclusion in new homes to improve indoor air quality, as well as to control moisture levels. An HRV provides a constant supply of fresh air inside your home and controls excess moisture to prevent damage. It reduces allergens, including pet dander, pollen, and dust, and exhausts other unhealthy air pollutants from your home (e.g., cleaning fumes, pesticides, and smoke).
Efficient Heating
A home with a high-efficiency furnace (90% efficient and above) not only will save you heating costs, but it’s also healthier and safer. High-efficiency furnaces recover heat by recapturing it after it is blown outside, bringing it back into your house for the combustion process. Many high-efficiency furnaces utilize a 4″ media filter with a HEPA filter, which traps more contaminants and lasts much longer.
Direct-Vent Water Heater
Rather than using your home’s pre-heated air, a direct-vent water heater draws fresh outside air into your home. In addition, a direct-vent water heater has a sealed combustion chamber, which virtually eliminates the risk of dangerous carbon monoxide entering your home.
James Craig Builders knows there is a difference between a house and a home. We don’t just want to build a place for you to live; we want to create a custom home you will truly love and that performs for years to come. To help demonstrate how you will benefit from what makes us different, we’ve created a helpful Home Builder Comparison Checklist and a list of our Standard Practices and Inclusions.