Hello everyone,
We are currently planning the construction of our single-family home and are considering whether to install a decentralized or centralized ventilation system. According to a preliminary quote from a general contractor, there is a cost difference of about 8,500 euros (cost for decentralized) versus about 13,000 euros (cost for centralized), which I had expected to be higher. We are currently living in an apartment with a decentralized ventilation system and are dissatisfied with it. Mainly, we are bothered by the noise of the fans themselves and the external noises that come through because of that.
Therefore, I wanted to ask you which option you chose. Are you satisfied with it? Would you choose the same again?
We are currently planning the construction of our single-family home and are considering whether to install a decentralized or centralized ventilation system. According to a preliminary quote from a general contractor, there is a cost difference of about 8,500 euros (cost for decentralized) versus about 13,000 euros (cost for centralized), which I had expected to be higher. We are currently living in an apartment with a decentralized ventilation system and are dissatisfied with it. Mainly, we are bothered by the noise of the fans themselves and the external noises that come through because of that.
Therefore, I wanted to ask you which option you chose. Are you satisfied with it? Would you choose the same again?
H
HeimatBauer4 Aug 2023 07:55I’m at a loss as to why anyone still feeds the forum troll here. There is an ignore function, and it was made for xMisterDx.
Swiffers14 schrieb:
That's why I wanted to ask you, which version did you choose? Are you satisfied with it? Would you choose the same again?We have a central system – for the second time – and were very satisfied with the first one. I only find the noise noticeable (maybe disturbing, depending on the person) near the ventilation unit itself, which in our case is located in the basement / utility room. In the other rooms, it is barely noticeable. At the highest setting, it might be a bit louder, but you usually only use that when guests are over, so the sound is then generally masked.
We also had the added benefit that, thanks to the air exchange, our laundry hanging in the utility room (which had an exhaust vent) dried extremely quickly. For that reason alone, I always found it very practical.
So far, I also know several people with decentralized systems who have been unhappy with either the performance and/or the noise level.
H
HeimatBauer4 Aug 2023 08:26Swiffers14 schrieb:
That's why I wanted to ask you, which version did you choose? Are you satisfied with it? Would you make the same choice again? Central ventilation system with heat recovery. Saying I’m satisfied doesn’t even cover it – I never want to live in a house without one of these systems again.
In our previous apartment, we had a decentralized system. Horrible, we only used it once and never again. In my opinion, it’s just a token measure to comply with energy-saving regulations (building permit / planning permission).
xMisterDx schrieb:
With a decentralized ventilation system, I can control each room separately if I want, or at least the upper floor and ground floor independently.
For example, at night I set the downstairs to 2 or 3. Nobody is disturbed. In the morning and evening, when everyone is in the living room, I set the upstairs to 3. Nobody is disturbed. Why would you do that? The system should regulate itself and not disturb anyone. That works just as well with a centralized system as with a decentralized one. Central units are usually significantly quieter despite higher airflow volumes.
xMisterDx schrieb:
And I can simply replace a broken fan. Costs 500 euros including the heat exchanger. What does the central fan for controlled mechanical ventilation cost? 😉 It depends on the fans used. But most use the common models from Papst. They cost exactly €438.27 as a complete assembly. Installing it is manageable for someone who can change a bicycle inner tube.
xMisterDx schrieb:
The ducts, which you never get access to again, can become a massive problem. Misconception.
xMisterDx schrieb:
Think about it. If you have mold in one room... where does it spread to? And how do you completely remove it from the ducts again? Believe it or not, ducts can actually be cleaned. Although mold in a house with controlled mechanical ventilation is already an exception. That means more than just one thing has gone wrong.
@Swiffers14
Choose the central system if you have the option.
Overall, it is significantly more comfortable, quieter, easier to maintain, and so on... your exterior walls will thank you as well.
R
RotorMotor4 Aug 2023 09:38@xMisterDx
How long have you been living in a house with decentralized ventilation?
That sounds like a very practical feature.
So, you turn off the ventilation where people are because it’s annoying.
But wait, isn’t that exactly where fresh air is needed?
Because such a feature is as useful as a third wheel.
Even for heating systems, individual room controls are no longer recommended by experts.
For ventilation, it makes even less sense, especially when it’s manually controlled with switches.
About the same. With the advantage that I only have one or two fans, not one in every room that can fail.
Yes, here we come to the only real point. “You save...” but unfortunately at the wrong end.
My ducts are still spotless, thanks to a great invention: filters.
Ah, and what’s also great about central systems is that supply and exhaust air are strictly separated, so it wouldn’t even matter if the exhaust ducts get dirty over time since, by design, there’s no mixing with fresh air.
It’s been mentioned already — what’s really annoying about these units is the constant switching of airflow directions, which can be really wearing.
See above, in central systems the airflow paths are strictly separated.
I suspect the concept might not be entirely clear to you yet, otherwise your questions would be different.
Looking at the decentralized stale-air blowers of the neighbors, which vent humid air from the bathroom or grease fumes from the kitchen only to push a mixture of dust, dirt, grease, and mold back into the living space as “fresh” air...
...well, that’s really not something I want at all.
How long have you been living in a house with decentralized ventilation?
xMisterDx schrieb:
With decentralized ventilation, I can control each room individually if I want to, or at least separate the upper and ground floors.
At night, I set the lower floor to 2 or 3. It doesn’t bother anyone. In the mornings and evenings, when everyone is in the living room, I set the upper floor to 3. It doesn’t bother anyone.
That sounds like a very practical feature.
So, you turn off the ventilation where people are because it’s annoying.
But wait, isn’t that exactly where fresh air is needed?
xMisterDx schrieb:
A central mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery usually doesn’t offer individual room control — at least not at the price usually expected for a single-family home.
Because such a feature is as useful as a third wheel.
Even for heating systems, individual room controls are no longer recommended by experts.
For ventilation, it makes even less sense, especially when it’s manually controlled with switches.
xMisterDx schrieb:
And I simply replace a defective fan. It costs around 500 EUR (about $530) including the heat exchanger. How much does the central fan in a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery cost? 😉
About the same. With the advantage that I only have one or two fans, not one in every room that can fail.
xMisterDx schrieb:
Oh, and you save on ventilation ducts running throughout the entire home. Those don’t stay clean forever either...
Yes, here we come to the only real point. “You save...” but unfortunately at the wrong end.
xMisterDx schrieb:
They don’t stay clean forever either...
My ducts are still spotless, thanks to a great invention: filters.
Ah, and what’s also great about central systems is that supply and exhaust air are strictly separated, so it wouldn’t even matter if the exhaust ducts get dirty over time since, by design, there’s no mixing with fresh air.
xMisterDx schrieb:
Yes. Some sensitive people might have issues with that. We ran the fans at 100% in the first few weeks after moving in, and everyone slept fine.
It’s been mentioned already — what’s really annoying about these units is the constant switching of airflow directions, which can be really wearing.
xMisterDx schrieb:
The ducts, which you never access again, can become a massive problem.
Just think about it. If you have mold in a room… where does it go? And how do you completely remove it from the ducts?
See above, in central systems the airflow paths are strictly separated.
I suspect the concept might not be entirely clear to you yet, otherwise your questions would be different.
Looking at the decentralized stale-air blowers of the neighbors, which vent humid air from the bathroom or grease fumes from the kitchen only to push a mixture of dust, dirt, grease, and mold back into the living space as “fresh” air...
...well, that’s really not something I want at all.
We currently have decentralized ventilation systems in both bathrooms of our apartment. One of the bathrooms is directly connected to the bedroom. Every time I lie down in bed after showering while the ventilation is still running at high speed to remove the humid air, it really bothers me. I don’t know any houses with a central system, but if those are much quieter, then definitely go for that option.
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