ᐅ Ventilation System in a Single-Family Home Not Working – Planning Mistake?
Created on: 1 Feb 2021 19:35
J
jeti79Hello everyone,
We have now been living for 2 years (since November 2018) in our detached house with a pitched roof, built according to the 2016 energy saving regulations, equipped with a central ventilation system (Wolf CWL300). Unfortunately, we have not been satisfied with the "performance" of the ventilation system from the start. We repeatedly called our installer in the beginning, but after about the eighth visit, he gave up and simply said, "The building is full of moisture at the beginning, so it’s normal for the air quality to be poor for two years." We consider this a poor excuse.
Our dissatisfaction mainly comes from the fact that we have had the chance to compare with neighboring houses (all in the same development with similar new build standards), where the air quality is usually significantly better than in our house. This means: despite the ventilation system running continuously (on occupancy mode at about 190 m³/h [190 cubic meters per hour]), the air in our house is almost always stuffy, whether we are home or not. Although the installer advised against it, we have actually been leaving the windows open every night lately because the air in the bedroom feels used up after 3-4 hours. It’s the same situation in the children's rooms.
Even when we come to the ground floor in the morning (where nobody has been all night), the air quality is anything but good. So, as we did before, we immediately open the windows in the morning.
Of course, I assume that we might be making some mistakes ourselves, but I would like to find out if there might also be (major?) planning errors in our system? Is it even possible to determine that remotely? What information would you need from us?
I have attached a layout showing how the supply and exhaust valves are installed on the upper and ground floors. The system is installed in the attic. I change the filters regularly every month (because it’s a new development), and the chimneys on the roof are the required >2.5 m (over 8 feet) apart from each other.
We have now been living for 2 years (since November 2018) in our detached house with a pitched roof, built according to the 2016 energy saving regulations, equipped with a central ventilation system (Wolf CWL300). Unfortunately, we have not been satisfied with the "performance" of the ventilation system from the start. We repeatedly called our installer in the beginning, but after about the eighth visit, he gave up and simply said, "The building is full of moisture at the beginning, so it’s normal for the air quality to be poor for two years." We consider this a poor excuse.
Our dissatisfaction mainly comes from the fact that we have had the chance to compare with neighboring houses (all in the same development with similar new build standards), where the air quality is usually significantly better than in our house. This means: despite the ventilation system running continuously (on occupancy mode at about 190 m³/h [190 cubic meters per hour]), the air in our house is almost always stuffy, whether we are home or not. Although the installer advised against it, we have actually been leaving the windows open every night lately because the air in the bedroom feels used up after 3-4 hours. It’s the same situation in the children's rooms.
Even when we come to the ground floor in the morning (where nobody has been all night), the air quality is anything but good. So, as we did before, we immediately open the windows in the morning.
Of course, I assume that we might be making some mistakes ourselves, but I would like to find out if there might also be (major?) planning errors in our system? Is it even possible to determine that remotely? What information would you need from us?
I have attached a layout showing how the supply and exhaust valves are installed on the upper and ground floors. The system is installed in the attic. I change the filters regularly every month (because it’s a new development), and the chimneys on the roof are the required >2.5 m (over 8 feet) apart from each other.
The problem lies in the positioning of the valves.
How is a room supposed to have proper airflow if the valve is located right next to the door?
Whoever designed this should probably not call themselves a ventilation planner.
Due to the positive pressure in the rooms and the negative pressure in the exhaust areas, the air flows directly from the valve to the door and into the hallway.
That’s why the usual approach is to place the valve as far away from the door as possible to ensure proper airflow.
How is a room supposed to have proper airflow if the valve is located right next to the door?
Whoever designed this should probably not call themselves a ventilation planner.
Due to the positive pressure in the rooms and the negative pressure in the exhaust areas, the air flows directly from the valve to the door and into the hallway.
That’s why the usual approach is to place the valve as far away from the door as possible to ensure proper airflow.
Snowy36 schrieb:
Have you ever measured the ppm rate with a CO2 meter?
With the measurement results, I would then go and demand my money back for the system 😳Good tip! Such a device costs around 60 euros and lets you quickly see how the ppm develops. It should start at 450 ppm and rise to a maximum of 1000 ppm when the ventilation is running. Ideally, you stay around 700 ppm the whole time.How is your ceiling above the upper floor constructed? Is it a wooden ceiling with drywall? If so, you could simply move the outlets on the upper floor.
Anything else won’t achieve the desired effect.
It works fine on the ground floor – although I would never place an exhaust outlet directly above the stove.
Anything else won’t achieve the desired effect.
It works fine on the ground floor – although I would never place an exhaust outlet directly above the stove.
Similar topics