ᐅ Decommissioned chimney for mechanical ventilation system in an older building
Created on: 24 Oct 2017 22:16
T
Tobias87Hello everyone,
Since my explanation got a bit long, I’ll start with the actual question. Is it generally feasible to run a central residential ventilation system using an unused chimney flue for supply air and an exhaust flue for extract air? Or is that not possible, and would new ductwork need to be installed to distribute the air across the four inhabited floors?
My fiancée and I bought a partially renovated terrace house from 1928 last summer.
At that time, we hadn’t given much thought to ventilation, but since we are about to renew the electrical wiring and will have to open up walls anyway, now might be the right time to consider it.
We would probably leave the planning to a professional, but before that, I’d like to roughly estimate how such a system could be implemented and how extensive the work would actually be. The manufacturers’ diagrams mostly refer to new builds, and certainly not to a 4-story terrace house. If anyone has experience with a competent company in the Bremen area, I would also be grateful for recommendations—assuming this doesn’t violate the forum rules (I haven’t found anything quickly).
There is already an exhaust duct installed by one of the previous owners that runs through all floors and might be suitable for continuing to use as extract air. In the basement, it already serves the kitchen (actively via range hood), laundry room, and WC (passive), on the ground floor the guest WC (passive), on the first floor the bathroom (actively via fan), and in the attic the guest bathroom (passive). The ventilation pipe in the attic looks to me like a 120mm (5 inch) HT pipe. So ultimately, all typical exhaust rooms are already connected to it.
In the basement, there aren’t really typical supply air rooms, but air exchange with the other floors would be possible via the open stairwell. On the ground floor this would be the living room, on the first floor the bedrooms and TV room, and in the attic the guest room. Each of these rooms has two chimney shafts that are not used and might be suitable for distributing supply air.
Both flues could be tapped on the attic floor, which is insulated with 120mm (5 inch) mineral wool.
If you need any further information, I’m happy to provide it, but as mentioned, the primary question is just about the basic feasibility.
Best regards and many thanks in advance,
Tobias
Since my explanation got a bit long, I’ll start with the actual question. Is it generally feasible to run a central residential ventilation system using an unused chimney flue for supply air and an exhaust flue for extract air? Or is that not possible, and would new ductwork need to be installed to distribute the air across the four inhabited floors?
My fiancée and I bought a partially renovated terrace house from 1928 last summer.
At that time, we hadn’t given much thought to ventilation, but since we are about to renew the electrical wiring and will have to open up walls anyway, now might be the right time to consider it.
We would probably leave the planning to a professional, but before that, I’d like to roughly estimate how such a system could be implemented and how extensive the work would actually be. The manufacturers’ diagrams mostly refer to new builds, and certainly not to a 4-story terrace house. If anyone has experience with a competent company in the Bremen area, I would also be grateful for recommendations—assuming this doesn’t violate the forum rules (I haven’t found anything quickly).
There is already an exhaust duct installed by one of the previous owners that runs through all floors and might be suitable for continuing to use as extract air. In the basement, it already serves the kitchen (actively via range hood), laundry room, and WC (passive), on the ground floor the guest WC (passive), on the first floor the bathroom (actively via fan), and in the attic the guest bathroom (passive). The ventilation pipe in the attic looks to me like a 120mm (5 inch) HT pipe. So ultimately, all typical exhaust rooms are already connected to it.
In the basement, there aren’t really typical supply air rooms, but air exchange with the other floors would be possible via the open stairwell. On the ground floor this would be the living room, on the first floor the bedrooms and TV room, and in the attic the guest room. Each of these rooms has two chimney shafts that are not used and might be suitable for distributing supply air.
Both flues could be tapped on the attic floor, which is insulated with 120mm (5 inch) mineral wool.
If you need any further information, I’m happy to provide it, but as mentioned, the primary question is just about the basic feasibility.
Best regards and many thanks in advance,
Tobias
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