Hello,
it’s me again with a question.
We spoke with the energy consultant, and they strongly recommended installing a central ventilation system for our house (which will only be built in early spring next year) to prevent mold. Our potential architect, however, thinks that this isn’t necessarily needed, and that ventilation in the bathroom and kitchen would be enough. A central ventilation system is not only expensive but also somewhat complicated to install and difficult to clean. Over the years, it might get very dirty and start to smell. Now I’m looking for good advice—who is right? The house will have about 180 square meters (1,940 square feet) of living space, no basement, and two full floors.
Best regards,
Katha28
it’s me again with a question.
We spoke with the energy consultant, and they strongly recommended installing a central ventilation system for our house (which will only be built in early spring next year) to prevent mold. Our potential architect, however, thinks that this isn’t necessarily needed, and that ventilation in the bathroom and kitchen would be enough. A central ventilation system is not only expensive but also somewhat complicated to install and difficult to clean. Over the years, it might get very dirty and start to smell. Now I’m looking for good advice—who is right? The house will have about 180 square meters (1,940 square feet) of living space, no basement, and two full floors.
Best regards,
Katha28
EinMarc schrieb:
Wait, what? Clean the filters at the exhaust vents once a week? All of them? Seriously?
That means I’d be constantly running around? Why is that?Dust, and more dust. It was better in winter, but now people vent at night or leave the patio door open.
Main road, agricultural traffic, everything dry and dusty, a construction site in the garden, a construction site across the street,
and a construction site behind the house.
Ask me how my windows look. I’ve never had this many dirty windows before, and I’ve never cleaned so many windows either.
It’s not due to the ventilation system itself, but simply the surrounding environment.
Cleaning the filters doesn’t take much time or effort. I can clean them all in 10 minutes.
The supply air filter in the ventilation unit is fairly dirty, but the system is barely running these days—at most during the night and early morning.
Oh, that explains it. I was just wondering where all the dirt was coming from when the fresh air intake is filtered^^
If you use the system as intended (meaning not leaving the windows open, etc.), this problem isn’t as severe. That’s good, because otherwise it would be an issue here (allergy sufferers, house cats, warmer outside than inside, etc.).
Thanks!
If you use the system as intended (meaning not leaving the windows open, etc.), this problem isn’t as severe. That’s good, because otherwise it would be an issue here (allergy sufferers, house cats, warmer outside than inside, etc.).
Thanks!
We are already using the system as intended.
A ventilation system doesn’t mean you have to seal yourself off to use it “correctly.” It automatically switches on and off in summer mode.
With children, the balcony door is rarely fully closed, and I sometimes leave the door open if I need to step outside quickly.
Whether you need to ventilate at night is debatable. My daughter and I prefer cooler temperatures, and mechanical ventilation at night cools faster and better.
Especially the patio door at the back of the house, where there is a vegetated north-facing slope, still brings in cool air around 11 pm, while the system otherwise pulls in warm air.
For you as an allergy sufferer:
There was surprisingly little pollen in the house during spring, even when ignoring the supply air filter.
A ventilation system doesn’t mean you have to seal yourself off to use it “correctly.” It automatically switches on and off in summer mode.
With children, the balcony door is rarely fully closed, and I sometimes leave the door open if I need to step outside quickly.
Whether you need to ventilate at night is debatable. My daughter and I prefer cooler temperatures, and mechanical ventilation at night cools faster and better.
Especially the patio door at the back of the house, where there is a vegetated north-facing slope, still brings in cool air around 11 pm, while the system otherwise pulls in warm air.
For you as an allergy sufferer:
There was surprisingly little pollen in the house during spring, even when ignoring the supply air filter.
Mottenhausen
How high is the residual heat that remains?
In our case, cold air is coming out with about 90 or 95% (can’t remember exactly) heat recovery.
It’s also a question whether this is allowed. I hope there isn’t a regulation that states exhaust air cannot be released in enclosed spaces.
How high is the residual heat that remains?
In our case, cold air is coming out with about 90 or 95% (can’t remember exactly) heat recovery.
It’s also a question whether this is allowed. I hope there isn’t a regulation that states exhaust air cannot be released in enclosed spaces.
EinMarc schrieb:
If you use the system as intended (so, not leaving the windows open, etc.), the problem isn’t that bad. Good, because otherwise it would be like here (allergies, house cats, warmer outside than inside, etc.).
Thanks! Even with a summer bypass, such a system doesn’t have a very high air exchange rate. If you want it cooler, it obviously helps much more to open the windows.
The argument from opponents of controlled ventilation systems that you are not allowed to open windows is outdated—you can open them anytime, but you just don’t have to when it’s cold outside.
We don’t clean the filters weekly either; I vacuum them every 2–3 weeks when I’m vacuuming anyway, and replace them every 3–4 months.
@haydee
Sorry, that might have come across the wrong way. We actually meant the same thing and it wasn’t meant as a criticism.
In our case, the house will stay closed and the air conditioning will come on when heating is needed.
That way, my cats won’t run off, the bugs stay outside, and the humid, pollen-filled air stays out as well. If the filters also stay fresh longer because only self-introduced dust gets inside, that’s a win-win for me, and I definitely want something like that!
Regarding cleaning:
I found an Austrian study that examines this topic in great detail. It recommends using round spiral ducting with a diameter of at least 125mm (5 inches) and sufficient access points for inspection and cleaning.
Is that still current? I would feel more comfortable if this could be inspected and cleaned personally, as I have mild asthma and you never know if there will be a change in floors later on (moving floors → worsening symptoms).
But can such large ducts realistically be installed with cleaning access points?
Sorry, that might have come across the wrong way. We actually meant the same thing and it wasn’t meant as a criticism.
In our case, the house will stay closed and the air conditioning will come on when heating is needed.
That way, my cats won’t run off, the bugs stay outside, and the humid, pollen-filled air stays out as well. If the filters also stay fresh longer because only self-introduced dust gets inside, that’s a win-win for me, and I definitely want something like that!
Regarding cleaning:
I found an Austrian study that examines this topic in great detail. It recommends using round spiral ducting with a diameter of at least 125mm (5 inches) and sufficient access points for inspection and cleaning.
Is that still current? I would feel more comfortable if this could be inspected and cleaned personally, as I have mild asthma and you never know if there will be a change in floors later on (moving floors → worsening symptoms).
But can such large ducts realistically be installed with cleaning access points?
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