We are planning our 40+ single-family house with a ground source heat pump and a ventilation system with heat recovery.
Some time ago, we visited a show home from a company that starts with "Finger" and ends with "Haus" (I'm not sure if the name can be mentioned). This show home also had a ground source heat pump with a ventilation system equipped. The air ducts for it were located on the floor, both on the ground floor and the upper floor. We already noticed the relatively loud noise from the ventilation downstairs, but when we were upstairs in a closed meeting room, it was really disturbingly loud.
I can’t quite describe it properly; it sounded like metal blowing air. Really hard to explain, but it was definitely noticeable and unpleasant.
On another occasion, we visited a show home by a company with "Streif Haus" in the name, but no extra suffix at the end. Here, however, there was a ground source heat pump with integrated ventilation. We absolutely couldn’t hear anything, not even with the door closed and my head (almost) right at the air outlet on the wall.
Actually, we have never heard the air in any of the houses; it was only noticeable in the first house mentioned.
Since we are considering the same system principle, albeit with different brands, I’m now a bit worried that it might be the same with us, and then this system would be turned off 100%, permanently! That’s simply not an option, not only when sleeping but in general.
Are there general things to consider in advance to reduce the "noise"?
Is the brand decisive?
Are the ducts included with the brand of the ventilation system, or do they generally come from somewhere else, so that one can be lucky or unlucky depending on what the builder installs?
I would appreciate your answers…
Best regards Dany250
Some time ago, we visited a show home from a company that starts with "Finger" and ends with "Haus" (I'm not sure if the name can be mentioned). This show home also had a ground source heat pump with a ventilation system equipped. The air ducts for it were located on the floor, both on the ground floor and the upper floor. We already noticed the relatively loud noise from the ventilation downstairs, but when we were upstairs in a closed meeting room, it was really disturbingly loud.
I can’t quite describe it properly; it sounded like metal blowing air. Really hard to explain, but it was definitely noticeable and unpleasant.
On another occasion, we visited a show home by a company with "Streif Haus" in the name, but no extra suffix at the end. Here, however, there was a ground source heat pump with integrated ventilation. We absolutely couldn’t hear anything, not even with the door closed and my head (almost) right at the air outlet on the wall.
Actually, we have never heard the air in any of the houses; it was only noticeable in the first house mentioned.
Since we are considering the same system principle, albeit with different brands, I’m now a bit worried that it might be the same with us, and then this system would be turned off 100%, permanently! That’s simply not an option, not only when sleeping but in general.
Are there general things to consider in advance to reduce the "noise"?
Is the brand decisive?
Are the ducts included with the brand of the ventilation system, or do they generally come from somewhere else, so that one can be lucky or unlucky depending on what the builder installs?
I would appreciate your answers…
Best regards Dany250
Mycraft schrieb:
... there are fans in there. Even the geometry of the blades alone determines how loud it will be afterwards.or put differently:
better slow-turning large fans than
fast-turning (too) small propellers
First of all, thank you very much for all your responses! They are really very professional, but I still hope I understood everything to some extent.
First of all, the question is: who actually plans such a ventilation system? Does the manufacturer specify everything, and the homeowner just has to install the ducts and everything else according to their instructions? As a customer and, unfortunately, a layperson, can I influence this in any way at all?
A few of you mentioned that it should be a high-quality ventilation unit, preferably a centralized one. I’m sharing the text from the offer here, so maybe you can tell me whether these are high-quality models or not. I believe it is centralized since two ducts were planned in the basement for supply and exhaust air.
Thanks again for your answers!
First of all, the question is: who actually plans such a ventilation system? Does the manufacturer specify everything, and the homeowner just has to install the ducts and everything else according to their instructions? As a customer and, unfortunately, a layperson, can I influence this in any way at all?
A few of you mentioned that it should be a high-quality ventilation unit, preferably a centralized one. I’m sharing the text from the offer here, so maybe you can tell me whether these are high-quality models or not. I believe it is centralized since two ducts were planned in the basement for supply and exhaust air.
- Controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery via cross-counterflow heat exchanger Viessmann Vitovent 300W or Vaillant recoVair VAR260/4
Thanks again for your answers!
Dany250 schrieb:
Since there isn’t much feedback here, I hope that means the problems only rarely occur, which is somewhat reassuring 🙂. Hmm… yes, you can hear it. Not always.
The system operates at different levels: 1 is low/minimal, 4 is high/maximum flow. In addition, there are valves that can be adjusted (at least that’s how it works in our case). This can sometimes make the airflow sound restricted.
You adjust this depending on how the house is being used. For example, it should be more active when a lot of air is “consumed,” such as during the night or while cooking.
Another factor is the device itself.
Okay, so you have to do it manually, that wasn’t clear to me either... In the mentioned (loud) house, despite active ventilation, all the windows were wide open. I thought maybe that’s why the system was running at full power, but that seems to be ruled out.
You also write: "the device itself." Can you (or anyone else) assess the devices I am considering?
Viessmann Vitovent 300W or Vaillant recoVair VAR260/4
Could someone also comment on my question?
First of all, who actually plans such a ventilation system? Does the manufacturer specify everything, and the homeowner just has to install the ducts and the rest according to those instructions?
As a customer and, unfortunately, a layperson, is it even possible for me to influence the process in any way?
Thanks in advance...
You also write: "the device itself." Can you (or anyone else) assess the devices I am considering?
Viessmann Vitovent 300W or Vaillant recoVair VAR260/4
Could someone also comment on my question?
First of all, who actually plans such a ventilation system? Does the manufacturer specify everything, and the homeowner just has to install the ducts and the rest according to those instructions?
As a customer and, unfortunately, a layperson, is it even possible for me to influence the process in any way?
Thanks in advance...
Dany250 schrieb:
First of all, who usually plans a ventilation system like this? This is done by the heating technician/plumber or whoever is knowledgeable in this area.
Dany250 schrieb:
As a customer, and unfortunately a layperson, can I influence this in any way at all? You should discuss that with the plumber. Why would you want to influence it as a layperson?
For your current questions, you will definitely find more information by searching the forum for “controlled residential ventilation.”
Hello Dany250,
we have been running a Vitovent 300W continuously on setting 3 for over 3 years. Due to the valves in each room, you cannot hear any noise at all. Only the unit itself is audible in the utility room and very quietly in the garden, where the duct for the exhaust air is located.
The system was designed by the manufacturer for us. We have a 9-page document listing all the details. The system was then installed by the contracted company according to this plan.
Another document provides important instructions for installation. Here is an excerpt related to your question:
we have been running a Vitovent 300W continuously on setting 3 for over 3 years. Due to the valves in each room, you cannot hear any noise at all. Only the unit itself is audible in the utility room and very quietly in the garden, where the duct for the exhaust air is located.
The system was designed by the manufacturer for us. We have a 9-page document listing all the details. The system was then installed by the contracted company according to this plan.
Another document provides important instructions for installation. Here is an excerpt related to your question:
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