With energy prices soaring and the windows firmly shut to save energy this winter, most people have probably never been so aware of condensation. Worse than that, you’ve probably also noticed a few horrible, black splodges of mould.
Trying to avoid using gas or electric heating, many of us will have improved household insulation or spent time plugging draughts, unaware of the potentially dangerous consequences which must be considered.
Because, the more you insulate a house and prevent draughts, the more you need to ventilate.
Mould and mildew develop within just 24-48 hours of water exposure and it will continue to grow until the moisture is eliminated. It can grow on just about any surface and it spreads through microscopic spores which float through the air and can cause serious health problems.
As soon as it’s spotted, it’s important that mould is cleaned away and that you prevent moisture from building in future - and this generally requires ventilation.
Ventilation, in its most basic sense, is easy; you just open a window or switch on an extractor fan. The problem is that this can make your home much colder in an instant.
So how can you ensure good ventilation without undoing all the good work you’ve done insulating or making your home more energy efficient?
Mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) ventilation is a relatively new technology that’s more commonly used throughout continental Europe.
Whereas a basic extractor fan uses a fan to propel air from a room to the outside, an MVHR system replaces the extracted air with filtered fresh air which gets warmed by the air that’s being removed.
Using no more power than a typical extractor fan at just 40-60W (about the same as a non-LED lightbulb), this can save you a fortune on keeping your home warm while also keeping the air in your home fresh, clean and well-ventilated because 90% of the heat is retained.
It also has the added benefit of preventing the build-up of airborne germs so that viruses are less likely to spread within a household, and it can also remove airborne dust and other particles. Better still, it also prevents pollutants and allergens such as pollen from entering the home because the air is filtered as it comes in.
MVHR ventilation can be fitted to any kind of property. Typically, we install an inlet and an outlet into separate rooms so the air can flow through a home efficiently.
Outlets are normally installed in either the kitchen or bathroom, where the air is most likely to be humid, and inlets might be fitted in the bedroom or living room, while the MCHR unit itself is best installed in the loft or on an exterior wall.
With the main unit tucked away outside of the living areas, this means that the system is, to all intents and purposes, silent so the only indication that it’s on is the quality of the air and improved heat retention.
As a family-owned team that’s been supplying MVHR systems for ten years, we know ventilation inside out.
We offer cost-effective, high-performing systems that can make the air in any home safer, cleaner and more comfortable while also improving energy efficiency.
To find out more, please contact us today.
