ᐅ Comparison Tests of Various Centralized Mechanical Ventilation Systems with Heat Recovery + Additional Questions
Created on: 1 Nov 2017 17:46
4
4Motion
Hello dear forum community,
I have a few questions about controlled residential ventilation systems that my own research online and in this forum haven’t helped me with. If you don’t want to read everything, feel free to jump straight to the questions.
First, about our situation: Two builders independently advised us against controlled residential ventilation. The first said it’s not necessary. He prefers to build with clay bricks (Poroton), which are vapor-permeable and allow excess moisture to move outside. He also applies hydraulic lime plaster to the walls, which can quickly absorb and release a lot of moisture and also absorb pollutants. Both the plaster and Poroton do not provide a breeding ground for mold or bacteria. Just occasional manual ventilation (opening windows briefly) is sufficient. He is also critical of the cleaning of duct systems. Well, that’s his opinion for now.
The other builder builds entirely with wood but argues similarly. He told us about customers who installed a controlled residential ventilation system just for safety but have now completely turned it off because they didn’t need it.
So initially, we were against controlled residential ventilation. After my research, however, I still want to have one. Personally, I’m somewhat negligent when it comes to ventilation. My wife, on the other hand, is a ventilation fanatic and always needs a lot of fresh air. She also always finds the air in prefabricated house showrooms very stuffy, which made us even more opposed to controlled residential ventilation. She actually prefers to ventilate manually all the time. Some windows in our home are even left slightly open for longer periods.
1. I am still a bit skeptical. Is there a statistic on what percentage of new builds have a controlled residential ventilation system?
2. To me as a layperson, all systems sound the same. Are there any comparison tests between different brands? Since controlled residential ventilation systems are so widespread, there should be tests similar to those for vacuum cleaners or kitchen appliances.
3. Who are the market leaders and which brands are rather niche players? So I can compare the top 5 myself.
4. Is it better to use round ducts with wide radii instead of flat ducts that sometimes bend sharply at 90°, to allow better cleaning? Or have you not considered that important?
I have a few questions about controlled residential ventilation systems that my own research online and in this forum haven’t helped me with. If you don’t want to read everything, feel free to jump straight to the questions.
First, about our situation: Two builders independently advised us against controlled residential ventilation. The first said it’s not necessary. He prefers to build with clay bricks (Poroton), which are vapor-permeable and allow excess moisture to move outside. He also applies hydraulic lime plaster to the walls, which can quickly absorb and release a lot of moisture and also absorb pollutants. Both the plaster and Poroton do not provide a breeding ground for mold or bacteria. Just occasional manual ventilation (opening windows briefly) is sufficient. He is also critical of the cleaning of duct systems. Well, that’s his opinion for now.
The other builder builds entirely with wood but argues similarly. He told us about customers who installed a controlled residential ventilation system just for safety but have now completely turned it off because they didn’t need it.
So initially, we were against controlled residential ventilation. After my research, however, I still want to have one. Personally, I’m somewhat negligent when it comes to ventilation. My wife, on the other hand, is a ventilation fanatic and always needs a lot of fresh air. She also always finds the air in prefabricated house showrooms very stuffy, which made us even more opposed to controlled residential ventilation. She actually prefers to ventilate manually all the time. Some windows in our home are even left slightly open for longer periods.
1. I am still a bit skeptical. Is there a statistic on what percentage of new builds have a controlled residential ventilation system?
2. To me as a layperson, all systems sound the same. Are there any comparison tests between different brands? Since controlled residential ventilation systems are so widespread, there should be tests similar to those for vacuum cleaners or kitchen appliances.
3. Who are the market leaders and which brands are rather niche players? So I can compare the top 5 myself.
4. Is it better to use round ducts with wide radii instead of flat ducts that sometimes bend sharply at 90°, to allow better cleaning? Or have you not considered that important?
4Motion schrieb:
And the other room combination is on the south side, where I want to let in cool air at night during the summer without having the windows tilted open (There are two alternating fans from GetAir there).The effect is likely to be minimal. On the other hand, this will cause drafts in winter and create two holes in the wall that let in more noise from outside.
Ah yes... he guarantees that his house cannot develop mold. How is that even possible? What he probably means is that the warranty covers only the period during which a mold problem is unlikely to occur.No, because the Poroton walls, the red lime plaster, and the lime paint are alkaline, mold cannot grow on them. They also regulate moisture to some extent.
However, the ceilings are made of concrete, covered and finished with woodchip wallpaper. That could actually develop mold!?
ares83 schrieb:
The effect is probably minimal. But then in winter, you get drafts and two holes in the wall that let more noise in from outside. Do you really think it doesn’t help? At night, you could easily have two full air changes. The solid construction stores the heat from the day, and you could use this to release some of it.
So yesterday, I visited another builder. He also uses a vapor-permeable construction method. Since I definitely want this, I only go to such providers. Maybe that's where the mistake lies. In real life, everyone advises me against controlled ventilation systems for living spaces. Here in the virtual world, everyone definitely recommends a controlled ventilation system.
You can guess what the builder said. Only 10% of his customers install a controlled ventilation system. According to him, it’s not necessary with his vapor-permeable construction using wood.
I’m very grateful for your experience reports. Maybe you could also mention whether you have a vapor barrier in your walls or, as my builders always ask: Are you living in a plastic bag or a Gore-Tex jacket?
You can guess what the builder said. Only 10% of his customers install a controlled ventilation system. According to him, it’s not necessary with his vapor-permeable construction using wood.
I’m very grateful for your experience reports. Maybe you could also mention whether you have a vapor barrier in your walls or, as my builders always ask: Are you living in a plastic bag or a Gore-Tex jacket?
4Motion schrieb:
No, since Poroton walls, lime plaster, and lime paint are alkaline, nothing can grow mold on them.Well, try telling that to the mold fungi that they are not allowed there.
4Motion schrieb:
That could already mold!?As soon as people occupy a room or building, moisture is generated. Without adequate heating and ventilation, mold will appear inevitably and everywhere.
4Motion schrieb:
Only 10% of his clients install a controlled mechanical ventilation system.There may be many reasons for that, but usually people are not familiar with these systems and therefore don’t install them, or they consider them too expensive. Many only think as far as midday. Nowadays, houses are no longer built according to the standards of the 1970s or 80s but are generally sealed as tightly as a balloon.
However, anyone who knows houses with ventilation systems also knows the difference.
4Motion schrieb:
It is not necessary with his vapor-permeable construction method using wood.Ah, so the laws of physics work differently in wooden houses than everywhere else, and the energy saving regulations are completely different for wooden houses… sure.
sven.conzi19 Nov 2017 11:304Motion schrieb:
No, since Poroton walls, lime plaster, and lime paint are alkaline, nothing can mold on them. They also help regulate humidity to some extent. However, the ceilings are made of concrete, covered and finished with textured wallpaper. Those could potentially develop mold!?Furniture and carpets can also be affected by mold if there is insufficient ventilation.Similar topics