ᐅ Central or Decentralized Ventilation System – Who Has Experience?

Created on: 26 Feb 2018 10:48
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Gerd&Jolanthe
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Gerd&Jolanthe
26 Feb 2018 10:48
Hello everyone,

We are going to build a single-family house to KfW55 standard. It will have a basement, ground floor, and upper floor. The living area is approximately 170m² (1830 sq ft) and the usable area 108m² (1163 sq ft) including stairs and basement – that’s the basic information.

Now we are wondering which ventilation system to choose, since new builds are very airtight due to the windows and insulation.

We were recommended a decentralized system, as it would be fully sufficient and requires less frequent maintenance and cleaning. Additionally, cleaning is easier and less problematic compared to a central ventilation system.

Could you share your views or experiences on which ventilation system would be most suitable?

Thank you very much.
andimann26 Feb 2018 11:14
Hello,
For new construction, I would always recommend a central system.
The idea that it requires more frequent maintenance is nonsense.
With a central system, you only need to change some filters every 6 months, and that’s it. There’s nothing more to do. This also prevents pipes from getting dirty. Changing filters every 6 months is also necessary with a decentralized system.
With decentralized systems, you’ll have to deal with significant noise issues (not just the ventilation sound itself, but even worse are the holes in the walls, which let outdoor noise into the house much more clearly) and the problem of how to handle condensate disposal.

Best regards,

Andreas
Mycraft26 Feb 2018 11:19
Since the filters of a decentralized system are generally smaller, they usually need to be replaced more often than twice a year.
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Gerd&Jolanthe
26 Feb 2018 13:12
Thanks first of all for the responses.

Does anyone know which decentralized ventilation systems are the quietest in terms of noise levels?
andimann26 Feb 2018 13:13
It seems to be Zehnder at the moment
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readytorumble
26 Feb 2018 13:17
He is asking about the quietest decentralized de system.
I am not familiar with this and would not want to have it in a new build.

If the provider insists on a decentralized system using the arguments described, I would consider looking for a different home builder.