ᐅ Choosing a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery System Manufacturer – How to Approach?
Created on: 5 Oct 2020 22:38
T
ts-mc
Hello, I’m Matthias,
I am currently in the final stages of planning (hopefully soon submitting the building permit).
I want to build to the KfW55 standard, which requires a controlled residential ventilation system. But primarily for comfort reasons!
At first, I quickly considered Helios, then Zehnder... shortly after that Komfovent. And so it went on from brand to brand. Since this is a major cost factor, I want to do everything right and take some more time to consider your experiences as well.
What is the best way to proceed? How do I decide on a manufacturer? Where should I start?
Which criteria should I consider besides the following?:
- Operating noise (I am very sensitive)
- KNX integration
- Intelligent, room- and demand-based control (VOC & humidity)
- Cooling/air dehumidification in summer (via earth tubes around the house/basement + heat exchanger in the supply air)
- Good accessibility for cleaning
//Key data\\
160m² (1722 ft²)
2.5 floors
3 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + 1 toilet
Open plan living-dining-kitchen area
Basement
Underfloor heating (gas)
That’s a lot of questions... I didn’t want to scatter this piece by piece. Any constructive advice is welcome.
I am currently in the final stages of planning (hopefully soon submitting the building permit).
I want to build to the KfW55 standard, which requires a controlled residential ventilation system. But primarily for comfort reasons!
At first, I quickly considered Helios, then Zehnder... shortly after that Komfovent. And so it went on from brand to brand. Since this is a major cost factor, I want to do everything right and take some more time to consider your experiences as well.
What is the best way to proceed? How do I decide on a manufacturer? Where should I start?
Which criteria should I consider besides the following?:
- Operating noise (I am very sensitive)
- KNX integration
- Intelligent, room- and demand-based control (VOC & humidity)
- Cooling/air dehumidification in summer (via earth tubes around the house/basement + heat exchanger in the supply air)
- Good accessibility for cleaning
//Key data\\
160m² (1722 ft²)
2.5 floors
3 bedrooms + 1 bathroom + 1 toilet
Open plan living-dining-kitchen area
Basement
Underfloor heating (gas)
That’s a lot of questions... I didn’t want to scatter this piece by piece. Any constructive advice is welcome.
I find your contributions very helpful. Thank you for the feedback and the alternative suggestion regarding valve placement. On that topic, I believe the principle applies that the maximum distance from the valve to the overflow area should be kept.
Isn’t it uncomfortable if I’m working at my desk and air flows out from the valve above me? This thought led me to position the supply air valve in the room so that people rarely spend time directly underneath it.
I want and will have a plan created for my project. Before that, I would like to gain some knowledge with your help in order to be able to assess the planning properly. Of course, I will also share the plan here afterwards.
Finally, the only remaining question is about the manufacturer. Zehnder is currently my top choice, although it is not the most affordable option, if I may say that in general terms.
Isn’t it uncomfortable if I’m working at my desk and air flows out from the valve above me? This thought led me to position the supply air valve in the room so that people rarely spend time directly underneath it.
I want and will have a plan created for my project. Before that, I would like to gain some knowledge with your help in order to be able to assess the planning properly. Of course, I will also share the plan here afterwards.
Finally, the only remaining question is about the manufacturer. Zehnder is currently my top choice, although it is not the most affordable option, if I may say that in general terms.
I’m almost done selecting the manufacturer...
a) Viessmann (because my installer promotes it)
b) Helios (because the installer would also install this as an alternative)
c) Zehnder (my favorite)
I think the price will be the deciding factor now.
Another topic: duct routing and distribution. (Should I start a new thread for this?)
Supply air on the ground floor (DINING and LIVING ROOM) is routed on the basement ceiling / under the screed. -> floor outlet.
Supply air on the upper floor (CHILD 1 & 2 and bedroom) is routed in the ground floor ceiling / on a precast concrete slab -> floor outlet.
// There is also a floor outlet planned in the attic (not visible in the plan excerpt).
Can I pass this on to my structural engineer like this?
Is 47 m³/h (28 CFM) at one valve (kitchen) okay? Or should this be split to two valves?
a) Viessmann (because my installer promotes it)
b) Helios (because the installer would also install this as an alternative)
c) Zehnder (my favorite)
I think the price will be the deciding factor now.
Another topic: duct routing and distribution. (Should I start a new thread for this?)
Supply air on the ground floor (DINING and LIVING ROOM) is routed on the basement ceiling / under the screed. -> floor outlet.
Supply air on the upper floor (CHILD 1 & 2 and bedroom) is routed in the ground floor ceiling / on a precast concrete slab -> floor outlet.
// There is also a floor outlet planned in the attic (not visible in the plan excerpt).
Can I pass this on to my structural engineer like this?
Is 47 m³/h (28 CFM) at one valve (kitchen) okay? Or should this be split to two valves?
In hallways, no exhaust ventilation is needed because these are overflow areas. If you do plan to include exhaust vents, the current setup is sufficient, and you won’t need to install an additional vent in the kitchen. However, the planned vents will need to be slightly larger or adjusted to match the required airflow volume. But that is already understood.
In the basement, there is no supply air planned, even though exhaust ventilation is planned there.
In the basement, there is no supply air planned, even though exhaust ventilation is planned there.
Mycraft schrieb:
In hallways, exhaust air is not necessary because these are overflow areas. If you still plan to include them, the current setup is sufficient, and you do not need to install an additional vent in the kitchen. However, the planned ventilation needs to be slightly larger or adjusted to deliver the appropriate airflow. But that is obvious anyway.
In the basement, there is no supply air, even though you have planned exhaust air there.Can someone show me pictures of the supply and exhaust air ducts in the floor? It looks kind of strange (I recently saw it on Instagram from a homeowner). Are there different coverings or sizes depending on the manufacturer, similar to air-to-water heat pumps?
Could these also be hidden behind furniture, or do they need to remain “open” to ensure proper air circulation?
As long as there is an air gap, you can place anything you want—sofa, bed, etc.—no problem at all. However, this may increase noise levels.
For example, I have a Wolf system with Helios piping and Torx valves.
exto1791 schrieb:There are definitely several approaches, multiple manufacturers, and various options. Everyone has their own system, and on top of that, you can usually combine everything in some way.
Are there different covers or sizes, depending on the manufacturer,
For example, I have a Wolf system with Helios piping and Torx valves.
Mycraft schrieb:
As long as there is an air gap, you can place whatever you want. Sofa, bed, etc.—no problem at all. However, this may of course increase noise levels.
There are certainly several approaches here, as well as multiple manufacturers and options. Everyone has their own system, and on top of that, you can combine everything in some way.
For example, I have a Wolf system with Helios ducting and Torx valves.Are there specific systems that produce VERY low noise levels? Also, if possible, could you recommend models that are known for this on the market? My partner is very sensitive to noise, so we should pick a system with a low decibel rating.
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