Improving the air quality in your home has a lot of positive effects:
Good ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens will reduce condensation and prevent damp and mould from developing on walls and ceilings.
Improving the flow of air into and out of the building will help to prevent the build up of allergens such as pollen and volatile organic compounds, and is highly important if a member of your household is a smoker, or you live in a part of the country which is susceptible to high levels of Radon gas.
Choosing the right ventilation system for your property can be complicated and the best thing to do is to speak to a professional who can visit your home and carry out a survey. By measuring the size of different rooms, checking the layout of your home, and assessing moisture levels, they will be able to specify a ventilation system that will fully meet your needs and keep your home safe.
There are different types of ventilation system, and the right one for your needs will depend on your home, however in this guide, we have provided an overview of the different types of solution available to help you understand which might be best for you.
The simplest form of active home ventilation is an extractor fan.
Extractor fans are mounted on walls and ceilings in the rooms of your home with the highest levels of moisture. You should have extractor fans in bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms.
Extractor fans work by drawing moist air from the room where they are placed and releasing it outside. The fan creates an inward airflow to the room where it is installed and prevents moist air escaping into the rest of your home.
A wide variety of extractor fans are available with a range of power levels making them suitable for use in different rooms – for example, an extractor fan in a kitchen needs to extract between 30 and 60 litres of air per second depending on where it is installed whereas a fan in a bathroom needs to be able to extract 15 litres of air per second.
Depending on your needs, you might consider automatic extractor fans and have them mounted on a ceiling or window. There are building regulations about how and where fans should be installed, and a ventilation specialist will be aware of these when discussing your needs.
Find out more about Extractor Fans >
Positive Input ventilation is a whole house system that has a central unit mounted in your loft. They work by drawing in air from outside the building, filtering it to remove pollutants, and then gently distribute the air throughout different rooms.
PIV systems need to be professionally installed, and are ideal in properties, suffering from condensation issues and in areas with high levels of radon or other pollution, but will improve the quality of air in any home.
PIV systems draw air into the house at roof level – well above the areas where you would normally find high levels of particulate pollution or radon emissions. They create a gentle airflow throughout all rooms that pushes the stale or humid air outward. In conjunction with extractor fans in wet rooms, they are highly effective at preventing mould and damp from developing and can help to make temperatures throughout the house more consistent helping you to reduce your heating bills.
Find out more about Positive Input Ventilation >
Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) systems are effectively a whole house extractor fan. Like PIV systems they have a central unit which connects to different rooms around your property and draw air out from them to be released outdoors.
Like PIV Systems, Mechanical Extract Ventilation systems need to be professionally installed, and they are usually installed as part of a bigger renovation project or during the initial construction of a building.
Find out more about Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) >
Mechanical Ventilation Systems with Heat Recovery (MVHR) use the warm air being extracted from the house to heat the incoming air with a highly efficient heat exchanger. This recovers up to 85% of the energy used in heating the air, so can reduce waste and keep energy bills under control.
Find out more about Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) >
Our local ventilation specialists can visit your home to carry out a free home survey. They will identify any causes of condensation, damp, and mould, and advise you about the best way of dealing with the problems. Contact us today to book your survey. You can also use our helpful product information tool to find out what kind of system might be suited to your home in minutes.
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