I will never understand the the workings of world economics

[kit]

I live in a large apartment building (94 apartments) and each one has a outside-exhausting range hood fan over the stove. The heat is electric so there's no ductwork. When the fan is operating it is trying to suck air out of the apartment. In the wintertime when the windows are shut and the main door to the hall is closed there is no ventilation and the exhaust fan does not work properly because there's no air coming into the apartment to replace the air that the exhaust fan is trying to remove. So if I open my door a crack, air from the hall can enter and provide the ventilation necessary for the fan to work properly and bring new air into the apartment. I run the fan for several hours a day whether I'm cooking or not. It's the only form of ventilation I have in the winter, and it works.

[Clipper]

I am surprised that building codes don't require some ventilation or air exchange of some sort. You shouldn't have to open your door and draw cold air from the hallway. The air must get quite stale incapsulated in the apartment otherwise.

[kit]

Yes, for some of us who may spend 3 or 4 days in the apartment without going out, it does get quite stale. With my type of COPD the buildup of Carbon Dioxide from our exhalations is uncomfortable if not dangerous, especially in the bedroom which is the farthest from the exhaust fan. With each inhalation of fresh air, there is .04% carbon dioxide, but with each exhalation there is .4%. That's 100 times more when we exhale. And without proper ventilation the CO2 builds up and breathing becomes more difficult. In the summer, or warm weather in general, we can open our windows and there's no problem, but wintertime isn't very nice for someone with COPD. Running the exhaust fan and opening the door a crack helps a lot.

[Clipper]

I am very fortunate. Even after smoking 1-2 packs of cigarettes a day for over 40 yrs, including several years of smoking non-filtered Camels, and Luckys, my last pulmonary function test results showed the bottoms of my lungs to be clear and my breathing capacity to be great for a former smoker. The only thing that causes me to get short of breath with exertion is the fact that I am a fat ass, haha.

Kathy has COPD quite badly. She was affected by it for years, but having covid twice has left her depending on supplemental oxygen when she sleeps, and times when she has to grab her portable unit and a nasal canula when the heat is oppressive.

[kit]

That's why I use the exhaust fan and cracked-open door... to avoid having to use Oxygen at night. So far it's working.

[BHU]

I too was a heavy smoker for over 30 years & I quit 9 years ago. I had a lung function test last spring & I do have minor COPD according to them but I'm not really bothered by it. Yet. I'm hoping that by going to the gym I can help to stave off any issues from smoking all those years.

We have a sliding patio door that is a bit drafty on the bottom but I don't care. I figure a little fresh air in here this time of year won't hurt anything even though it may raise the heat bill a couple bucks a month.

[kit]

I had no problem in my previous house. It was built in 1873 with double hung windows with no storms and no insulation. There were drafts all over the place so I always had a little 'fresh air'. This building is tighter than a drum, and without ventilation it can get a bit stuffy in here.

[Clipper]

Even with good insulation and replacement triple pane windows there is not much danger of not getting good ventilation in our 100 year old farmhouse. Our only problem is that the floors are cold in winter and we usually wear slippers. Our house sits over a crawl space that is only about 4 feet deep. It is vented against mold and dampness. In the fall I cover and seal those vents which are located about every10 feet all around the foundation. But even with the vents sealed, without a basement or any heating source the cold air still leaves the floors cold when it is extremely cold, even with fiberglass bat insulation between the joists.