ᐅ But should you install a controlled residential ventilation system?
Created on: 25 May 2015 00:14
U
Uwe82
Hello everyone,
We are in the final stages of planning our house; the floor plan is set, and the detailed construction planning will take place soon. It is a prefabricated house built with a timber frame construction and a prefabricated basement on a slope, meaning the front part of the basement is fully exposed above the slope.
So far, we have excluded the topic of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, partly due to planning concerns (we are doing everything ourselves from the rough plumbing and electrical installation stages) and partly for cost reasons. However, in recent weeks, we have started to reconsider this, mainly for comfort reasons.
Long story short: Our question mainly concerns the routing of the ductwork, which would partially be installed within the floor structure. So far, we have planned for a floor buildup of 15cm (6 inches) on the ground floor. However, if we were to increase this to 18cm (7 inches) as our house manufacturer suggests, the clear floor height would decrease from 245cm (8 ft) to 242cm (7 ft 11 in) on the ground floor. This would bother me a bit. We cannot change the floor-to-ceiling height due to the zoning plan restrictions (maximum eave height fully utilized).
Now the question is: Is it really necessary to plan for 18cm (7 inches) because of duct crossings, or are there alternatives? For a suitable floor plan (here is our current one: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/efh-in-Hanglage.12265/page-3#post-90366), could the ducts be routed only within the walls? And which mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery would you recommend for a living area of 180m² (1,938 sq ft)?
Thanks in advance for all the information!
Uwe
We are in the final stages of planning our house; the floor plan is set, and the detailed construction planning will take place soon. It is a prefabricated house built with a timber frame construction and a prefabricated basement on a slope, meaning the front part of the basement is fully exposed above the slope.
So far, we have excluded the topic of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, partly due to planning concerns (we are doing everything ourselves from the rough plumbing and electrical installation stages) and partly for cost reasons. However, in recent weeks, we have started to reconsider this, mainly for comfort reasons.
Long story short: Our question mainly concerns the routing of the ductwork, which would partially be installed within the floor structure. So far, we have planned for a floor buildup of 15cm (6 inches) on the ground floor. However, if we were to increase this to 18cm (7 inches) as our house manufacturer suggests, the clear floor height would decrease from 245cm (8 ft) to 242cm (7 ft 11 in) on the ground floor. This would bother me a bit. We cannot change the floor-to-ceiling height due to the zoning plan restrictions (maximum eave height fully utilized).
Now the question is: Is it really necessary to plan for 18cm (7 inches) because of duct crossings, or are there alternatives? For a suitable floor plan (here is our current one: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/efh-in-Hanglage.12265/page-3#post-90366), could the ducts be routed only within the walls? And which mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery would you recommend for a living area of 180m² (1,938 sq ft)?
Thanks in advance for all the information!
Uwe
@Häusle77: The problem is that the ceiling needs to be thicker; the planned 18cm (7 inches) is not sufficient according to the structural engineer. Since we are doing the entire interior work ourselves, we can afford a higher floor buildup more cheaply. In addition, we have a prefabricated timber frame house with an open wooden beam ceiling and exposed rafters in the attic without a roof peak (under the ridge we even have 4m (13 feet)), so significantly more planning is required before construction.
D
Doc.Schnaggls11 Jun 2015 08:35Häusle77 schrieb:
I don’t want the air outlet directly above the head in the bedroom, and in the kitchen, you could probably connect the range hood to it...
Especially with our open-plan kitchen, that would be great for the smells!Hello,
I hardly think it’s a good idea to connect the range hood to the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system.
All the grease particles and similar substances from the cooking exhaust don’t belong there, in my opinion, not to mention that a range hood operates with completely different airflow volumes than a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system...
If you have a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system in the house anyway, it’s usually recommended to switch to a good recirculating hood for the kitchen.
Regards,
Dirk
S
Sebastian7911 Jun 2015 09:04We are opting for exhaust ventilation – no more recirculation and changing the activated carbon filters. It is often said that you only need a "good recirculation hood," but I have yet to find a good one. I have had three so far – the last one cost 600 euros. I was still not satisfied with it, so this time we are going with exhaust ventilation.
I also don’t see why this should interfere with a controlled ventilation system – after all, the window has to be opened for that.
I also don’t see why this should interfere with a controlled ventilation system – after all, the window has to be opened for that.
D
Doc.Schnaggls11 Jun 2015 09:14@Lexmaul79: Our recirculating cooker hood does not require replacing the activated carbon filter. We have installed a catalyst within the filter that periodically activates itself and reactivates the activated carbon.
We are completely satisfied with our recirculating cooker hood from "Berbel."
Personally, I find it somewhat contradictory to insulate the building as much as possible and even recover most of the heat from the exhaust air of the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, while at the same time exhausting 200 m³ (7,062 ft³) to 600 m³ (21,190 ft³) of heated air per hour through the exhaust hood.
If you are also considering installing a wood-burning stove, the exhaust hood introduces additional factors to consider, depending on the stove and the local chimney inspector or authority.
Regards,
Dirk
We are completely satisfied with our recirculating cooker hood from "Berbel."
Personally, I find it somewhat contradictory to insulate the building as much as possible and even recover most of the heat from the exhaust air of the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, while at the same time exhausting 200 m³ (7,062 ft³) to 600 m³ (21,190 ft³) of heated air per hour through the exhaust hood.
If you are also considering installing a wood-burning stove, the exhaust hood introduces additional factors to consider, depending on the stove and the local chimney inspector or authority.
Regards,
Dirk
S
Sebastian7911 Jun 2015 09:19The hood is running at such a low level that I simply don’t care.
There is a chimney, and for that, there is an integrated window contact.
But your Berbel sounds interesting – I wanted to get that kind of exhaust duct.
I’m not 100% decided yet, but I’m reluctant to waste money on something useless again.
There is a chimney, and for that, there is an integrated window contact.
But your Berbel sounds interesting – I wanted to get that kind of exhaust duct.
I’m not 100% decided yet, but I’m reluctant to waste money on something useless again.
We will also install one from Berbel; I have seen it in action and am really impressed. Above all, it is very easy to clean. Plus, I didn’t want an exhaust air system because of the extra effort—another hole in the exterior wall that would then have to be carefully sealed again with technical measures.
Unfortunately, those units aren’t available for 600€.
Unfortunately, those units aren’t available for 600€.
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