Hello everyone, the title already describes the problem. Approximately 20% humidity in all living and sleeping rooms. We moved in about two weeks ago. That can’t be normal, right? I expected such low humidity only after 2-3 years, but not right from the start...
The first night in the house was really horrible. On top of that, we have been dealing with colds and coughing the whole time. We now have a humidifier running all night in the bedroom (starting in the evening, about 12 hours total) and wake up with around 35-40% humidity.
Could something be set incorrectly in the mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, or is this low humidity normal in a new house?
What can we do? Apart from the bedroom, we don’t notice it being a problem in any other room. Enthalpy exchangers are supposed to increase humidity by a maximum of 5%, right?!
Thanks for your feedback and best regards
The first night in the house was really horrible. On top of that, we have been dealing with colds and coughing the whole time. We now have a humidifier running all night in the bedroom (starting in the evening, about 12 hours total) and wake up with around 35-40% humidity.
Could something be set incorrectly in the mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, or is this low humidity normal in a new house?
What can we do? Apart from the bedroom, we don’t notice it being a problem in any other room. Enthalpy exchangers are supposed to increase humidity by a maximum of 5%, right?!
Thanks for your feedback and best regards
S
Stefan0013 Mar 2023 22:50Since I am no longer allowed to edit:
On the first page, you specifically ask about incorrect settings in the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system. What air exchange rates/volume flows are currently set?
Perhaps the levels are set too high.
On the first page, you specifically ask about incorrect settings in the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system. What air exchange rates/volume flows are currently set?
Perhaps the levels are set too high.
Y
Ypsi aus NI3 Mar 2023 22:56The controlled residential ventilation system is set to automatic. What that exactly means: I don’t know.
Due to the recent move and a bad cold, we haven’t had the time, energy, or inclination to deal with adjusting the controlled residential ventilation settings. We thought: automatic should be fine.
Due to the recent move and a bad cold, we haven’t had the time, energy, or inclination to deal with adjusting the controlled residential ventilation settings. We thought: automatic should be fine.
schubert794 Mar 2023 06:37Are you sure that your measuring device is working correctly?
Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
The controlled residential ventilation system is set to automatic. What exactly that means: I don’t know.. Automatic usually just means that a time schedule for operating time or stages is active. The rest (temperature, possibly air volume) always runs automatically. So, if you switched to manual, usually only the operating time or the fan speed changes (if these are supposed to change at different times).
KingJulien4 Mar 2023 14:20Without a earth-to-air heat exchanger (EWT), you won’t really be able to increase the indoor humidity during winter. Any moisture is removed again through air exchange. On the other hand, an EWT can only retain what moisture is already present inside.
My suggestion:
- Bite the bullet and invest in a German piece of engineering (EWT) at pharmacy prices. There are often no-name copies available, which are somewhat cheaper, though still close to being overpriced.
- Get a CO2 meter. For example, I have one from Netatmo. Use it to adjust the airflow so the ventilation runs only as much as necessary. I have mine set so that 1000 ppm is never exceeded.
- Produce moisture indoors. Hang laundry inside, ventilate the house after showering, cook, use plants, and so on.
My suggestion:
- Bite the bullet and invest in a German piece of engineering (EWT) at pharmacy prices. There are often no-name copies available, which are somewhat cheaper, though still close to being overpriced.
- Get a CO2 meter. For example, I have one from Netatmo. Use it to adjust the airflow so the ventilation runs only as much as necessary. I have mine set so that 1000 ppm is never exceeded.
- Produce moisture indoors. Hang laundry inside, ventilate the house after showering, cook, use plants, and so on.
Y
Ypsi aus NI4 Mar 2023 15:51We received a lot of diverse advice and tips—thank you very much for that :-)
It makes sense to me that a house, especially a passive house, needs to be lived in while warm first – this is what our heating engineer also said. The same probably applies to the air. Many new pieces of furniture have been brought into the house, as well as new blankets, pillows, towels, etc. It might take some time for everything inside the house to acclimate.
We actually only have one hygrometer and cannot perform a second reference measurement. But regardless of whether the 30% humidity figure is accurate or not, it doesn’t feel comfortable. So action is needed, at least in the bedroom. Today the humidifier has been running all day there, and we have already reached over 50%.
Eventually, an earth-to-air heat exchanger (EWT) will have to be installed in the house. We were discouraged by the information we overheard that it only provides a maximum 5% improvement. However, I think this ‘info’ is simply wrong. We will still have discussions with Zehnder and/or our plumber about this.
We will certainly use plants as well, but with the aim to enhance the living atmosphere, not to save the air quality. Honestly, all the watering would annoy us too much.
Running the mechanical ventilation system at a minimum level, just to maintain an acceptable CO2 level, is something we personally want to avoid. We had really looked forward to the mechanical ventilation providing continuous fresh air.
To sum it up: The humidifier in the bedroom will remain our friend for a long time, and we will wait a year and probably buy an EWT next spring.
Thanks again to everyone, this really turned into a very constructive thread :-)
It makes sense to me that a house, especially a passive house, needs to be lived in while warm first – this is what our heating engineer also said. The same probably applies to the air. Many new pieces of furniture have been brought into the house, as well as new blankets, pillows, towels, etc. It might take some time for everything inside the house to acclimate.
We actually only have one hygrometer and cannot perform a second reference measurement. But regardless of whether the 30% humidity figure is accurate or not, it doesn’t feel comfortable. So action is needed, at least in the bedroom. Today the humidifier has been running all day there, and we have already reached over 50%.
Eventually, an earth-to-air heat exchanger (EWT) will have to be installed in the house. We were discouraged by the information we overheard that it only provides a maximum 5% improvement. However, I think this ‘info’ is simply wrong. We will still have discussions with Zehnder and/or our plumber about this.
We will certainly use plants as well, but with the aim to enhance the living atmosphere, not to save the air quality. Honestly, all the watering would annoy us too much.
Running the mechanical ventilation system at a minimum level, just to maintain an acceptable CO2 level, is something we personally want to avoid. We had really looked forward to the mechanical ventilation providing continuous fresh air.
To sum it up: The humidifier in the bedroom will remain our friend for a long time, and we will wait a year and probably buy an EWT next spring.
Thanks again to everyone, this really turned into a very constructive thread :-)
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