ᐅ Quiet decentralized ventilation system for new single-family home construction
Created on: 1 Mar 2015 12:48
L
Legurit
Hello everyone,
During our first consultation with a building professional for a quote, we were asked to choose a ventilation system ourselves, as we are still somewhat skeptical about the "SEVi 160" model proposed by them. Our planner recommended a Halmburger ventilation system – we definitely want to see and listen to it in person. He also mentioned BluMartin, which personally seems a bit bulky to me – and once additional rooms are connected, it starts to feel more like a “central” system again. I also find the cassette filters quite expensive at 50 € (about $55) per unit per year.
We found the videos on the Bayernlüfter website quite appealing, but we are somewhat skeptical about the maximum airflow of 20 m³ (about 710 cubic feet) per hour. We also couldn’t find any information about noise levels at different ventilation rates (which is also missing for the SEVi – but the building professional mentioned that it can be heard).
We are looking for a ventilation system that can achieve an air exchange rate of 40 m³ (about 1,400 cubic feet) per hour (approximately 1 air change per hour for our bedroom) without being audible. Does such a system exist, or does anyone have experience with the mentioned brands? Is an air exchange rate of 1 per hour even necessary for a bedroom with two occupants?
Thank you and best regards.
P.S.: I have the impression that the decentralized ventilation industry is very fragmented with many small players.
During our first consultation with a building professional for a quote, we were asked to choose a ventilation system ourselves, as we are still somewhat skeptical about the "SEVi 160" model proposed by them. Our planner recommended a Halmburger ventilation system – we definitely want to see and listen to it in person. He also mentioned BluMartin, which personally seems a bit bulky to me – and once additional rooms are connected, it starts to feel more like a “central” system again. I also find the cassette filters quite expensive at 50 € (about $55) per unit per year.
We found the videos on the Bayernlüfter website quite appealing, but we are somewhat skeptical about the maximum airflow of 20 m³ (about 710 cubic feet) per hour. We also couldn’t find any information about noise levels at different ventilation rates (which is also missing for the SEVi – but the building professional mentioned that it can be heard).
We are looking for a ventilation system that can achieve an air exchange rate of 40 m³ (about 1,400 cubic feet) per hour (approximately 1 air change per hour for our bedroom) without being audible. Does such a system exist, or does anyone have experience with the mentioned brands? Is an air exchange rate of 1 per hour even necessary for a bedroom with two occupants?
Thank you and best regards.
P.S.: I have the impression that the decentralized ventilation industry is very fragmented with many small players.
Lebensprojekt schrieb:
Which company makes this system? What is it called?The calculation refers to a system with an InVENTer unit.
However, the new system is not from InVENTer. It comes from the company EKML and is called pendulum ventilation. EKML wanted to market it together with InVENTer, but they declined.
The core component is the controller. Combined with the right motors, it works great. Recently, I installed it in an old vaulted cellar that was soaking wet. Two fans running at full capacity provide 120 m³/h (about 70.6 cubic feet per hour). This means approximately 4 grams of water per m³/h (4 grams per 35.3 cubic feet per hour). Although the cellar will never become a living room, it is the first time that you can actually see the cellar drying out.
Hello BeHaEIJa,
How many square meters do the ventilators cover per hour at the lowest setting? A general statement like "Building protection is probably ensured at level 1" would not personally satisfy me. I would first have it calculated whether that is sufficient and, above all, carefully plan where a ventilator should or must be placed.
BeHaElJa schrieb:
Building protection is probably ensured even at level 1.
How many square meters do the ventilators cover per hour at the lowest setting? A general statement like "Building protection is probably ensured at level 1" would not personally satisfy me. I would first have it calculated whether that is sufficient and, above all, carefully plan where a ventilator should or must be placed.
I just took a look...
According to the manufacturer, the Sevi160 should provide about 16 sqm/h (between 0.2 and 0.25 W per sqm) at level 1 and operate at around 16.5 dB (for comparison: normal breathing is noticeably louder). If that’s accurate, these are very quiet. There are hardly any other values available from Inventer.
However, when I calculate the annual electricity consumption, it no longer seems that efficient. For a pair of fans, you would expect electricity costs of around 16 € per year (and that’s at level 1).
According to the manufacturer, the Sevi160 should provide about 16 sqm/h (between 0.2 and 0.25 W per sqm) at level 1 and operate at around 16.5 dB (for comparison: normal breathing is noticeably louder). If that’s accurate, these are very quiet. There are hardly any other values available from Inventer.
However, when I calculate the annual electricity consumption, it no longer seems that efficient. For a pair of fans, you would expect electricity costs of around 16 € per year (and that’s at level 1).
A ventilation concept was developed by a Sevi sales partner, which concluded that 8 single units and one double unit are necessary. Bathrooms are ventilated separately with humidity-controlled exhaust fans.
Basically, each room has a reversible fan as a single unit, the "fitness room" has a double fan, and the utility room on the upper floor has an air distributor that just blows air into the hallway without exchanging it. I asked if this setup would also cover a sleeping couple since I consider 8 m³/h (cubic meters per hour) too low (I had read in a study that about 50 m³/h per two people should be aimed for). They said everything was fine... what else could I do? I could probably request more double units — do you think that would make sense?
Regarding the whole house, the air exchange rate is adequate—about 80 m³/h (cubic meters per hour) for four people—plus whatever natural ventilation the house has.
Basically, each room has a reversible fan as a single unit, the "fitness room" has a double fan, and the utility room on the upper floor has an air distributor that just blows air into the hallway without exchanging it. I asked if this setup would also cover a sleeping couple since I consider 8 m³/h (cubic meters per hour) too low (I had read in a study that about 50 m³/h per two people should be aimed for). They said everything was fine... what else could I do? I could probably request more double units — do you think that would make sense?
Regarding the whole house, the air exchange rate is adequate—about 80 m³/h (cubic meters per hour) for four people—plus whatever natural ventilation the house has.
Many thanks for your assessment! That reassures us a bit.
The overflow solution is for the utility room on the upper floor (where ironing and possibly sewing will take place), which otherwise faces a wall under the eaves (1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) knee wall). How much gap does a door usually have? In our apartment, it’s about 1 cm (0.4 inches), but there metal thresholds are always screwed in.
The overflow solution is for the utility room on the upper floor (where ironing and possibly sewing will take place), which otherwise faces a wall under the eaves (1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) knee wall). How much gap does a door usually have? In our apartment, it’s about 1 cm (0.4 inches), but there metal thresholds are always screwed in.
No problem,
you just need to know what you’re doing. Decentralized ventilation systems are really quite good and a very good alternative to centralized systems. However, as mentioned in other threads, serious defects can occur if they are installed incorrectly. Then people tend to say that decentralized systems are rubbish, although that shouldn’t be taken at face value.
The question is simply how tightly the metal thresholds fit against the doors and seal them. I can’t really say much about that from a distance. But maybe try this:
In the dark, turn on the light and check how much light shines through. You should see a clear amount of light, not just a narrow strip. The more light visible, the better.
Otherwise, it’s difficult to assess in general terms.
you just need to know what you’re doing. Decentralized ventilation systems are really quite good and a very good alternative to centralized systems. However, as mentioned in other threads, serious defects can occur if they are installed incorrectly. Then people tend to say that decentralized systems are rubbish, although that shouldn’t be taken at face value.
The question is simply how tightly the metal thresholds fit against the doors and seal them. I can’t really say much about that from a distance. But maybe try this:
In the dark, turn on the light and check how much light shines through. You should see a clear amount of light, not just a narrow strip. The more light visible, the better.
Otherwise, it’s difficult to assess in general terms.
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