ᐅ Question about the Helios ventilation system and whether it requires regular maintenance

Hello, I’m new here and have the following question:

I have been living in a house for 7 years, which has been standing for 10 years. It is equipped with a Helios ventilation system with three air vents in the living room and one in the bedroom, as well as an intake grille and an exhaust grille on the outside.

However, this system has never been used. There is dust from 10 years inside the ducts, and probably some construction debris as well. It has also never been serviced. Now the landlord wants to have it serviced. I have a dust allergy and am very worried about this, so I have refused.

Therefore, my question to the forum: Can anyone tell me if servicing such a system is necessary if it has never been used? Also, does anyone know if servicing can be done without running the system and covering the interior of my home completely in dust?

I would be very grateful for any advice, including reading recommendations.

Best regards

Lüftikus schrieb:

It was never serviced either.

You meant to say it was never put into operation.

Lüftikus schrieb:

There is dust from 10 years in the ducts and probably construction debris as well.

Have you checked?

Lüftikus schrieb:

Now the landlord wants it to be used. However, I am allergic to dust, very afraid of it, and therefore refused.

Then let the landlord start up the system. Maintenance on a ventilation system means changing the filters in the unit and possibly cleaning the unit.

Lüftikus schrieb:

I am allergic to dust,

Then you have made a huge mistake for seven years. Seriously. You have a ventilation system that filters incoming air, ideally down to pollen, while also extracting stale indoor air. It has many benefits – among them, there is less dust in the air inside the house. It’s roughly like having a medication for your dust allergy and just leaving it on the living room table for seven years, only looking at it. So – sorry – it was simply not a smart decision.

Lüftikus schrieb:

Can someone tell me if maintenance is necessary when the system is not in use?

No, it is not.

Lüftikus schrieb:

And does anyone know if maintenance can be done without running the system?

Yes, of course – as mentioned, only the filters are changed.

Lüftikus schrieb:

to cover the inside of my apartment completely with dust?

Have it done professionally (by the landlord) and have the system put into operation. That way, there will be no dust in the apartment at start-up. Use this "medication" and enjoy less dust in your home = fewer health issues and less dusting/vacuuming needed. Not to mention the other advantages of the ventilation system (saving heating costs, reducing the need to open windows).

Thank you, Nordannay. Yes, the system has never been put into operation or maintained. I personally feel uncomfortable when I feel the airflow. I always have to keep all the windows closed, and then I ventilate several times. That is my preference.

I was pleased to hear that the system apparently does not REQUIRE maintenance. Do you happen to have a source for this?

During a maintenance attempt earlier this year, the technician said that if I can’t stand the dust, I should just go outside. But that means a lot of dust is stirred up. How is it even possible to remove all the dust from the ducts before turning it on? Is that even feasible?

I’m afraid the landlord might evict me if I refuse maintenance. Do you have any advice on this?

Many thanks in advance.

Lüftikus

I need to clarify: there were previous "maintenance" visits where only the filter was checked, and it looked unused. That was the end of it.

This time, however, the ventilation technician came with a large machine, maybe a vacuum? He announced that he would run the system for about 20 minutes. That’s when I said no.

Are there valid reasons to terminate my contract or issue a warning if I refuse to run a system that is not in use? That is my main question. Of course, I still pay the maintenance costs through the operating cost statement.

Lüftikus schrieb:

For me, it’s a subjective discomfort when I feel the air draft.

What discomfort from which draft? The ventilation system was never turned on.

Lüftikus schrieb:

I was glad to hear that the system apparently does NOT NEED to be maintained. Do you happen to have a source for that?

No source. But also no source confirming that maintenance is required. It’s like a pair of jeans that has never been worn. No need to wash it.

Lüftikus schrieb:

When maintenance was attempted at the beginning of the year, the technician said that if I can’t handle the dust, I should just leave. But doesn’t that mean a lot of dust is being stirred up?

You can vacuum the vents. It will cost you money.

Lüftikus schrieb:

Are there legitimate reasons to terminate my tenancy or issue a warning if I don’t want to run a system that is not in use? That is MY BIG QUESTION. Although, of course, I still pay maintenance costs through the service charge statement.

So the landlord thinks the system is in use and regularly checks (and replaces, if dirty) the filters. Now they simply don’t want to bother with cleaning the ducts. This is a very different situation than initially described.

Toughen up, get the ducts cleaned, and most importantly, run the system.
Honestly, as a landlord, I would also consider terminating the tenancy if you refuse to allow maintenance of the building’s technical systems. The landlord cannot judge whether the system is used or not. It doesn’t matter. They want the building to remain functional. Without maintenance, you could be letting the equipment suffer damage.
As a landlord, I’d also be very upset if you don’t use the system. If mold appears anywhere, it would be considered gross negligence on your part.

Why don’t you try having a direct conversation with the landlord? Why not invest a few euros yourself and install filters in the supply and exhaust vents?

I have supply and exhaust openings all over the concrete ceiling, and I use funnel-shaped filter bags in them. The ducts look like new from the inside—no dust at all! This also protects the heat exchanger and the fan itself. After 12 months, I removed the exhaust fan as a test and checked the turbine blades; they looked brand new. The manufacturer recommends cleaning them every 2 years. I prefer to keep the exhaust air clean from the start, so cleaning is only necessary every 5 years, and the heat exchanger stays dust-free, maintaining maximum efficiency for a long time.

The filters cost €50-70 per year. That’s about the price of a restaurant visit. Surely good air quality in the house for 365 days is worth that, isn’t it?

If I had problems with dust, I would be most interested in a well-functioning and properly maintained ventilation system. So I don’t quite understand your attitude. I personally don’t see the argument regarding drafts; just reduce the air volume to 20% and you won’t notice the circulation at all.