MVHR systems (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) are growing in popularity around the country, and it’s easy to see why when considering all their benefits. Most homeowners have them installed so they can reduce energy consumption and costs. Some do it out of a sense of duty for the environment, while others are looking for better, cleaner air. MVHR systems can accomplish all of those things, but many factors have to be considered first before you decide to go through with an installation. Here are some of them.
The Age and Airtightness of the House
The very first thing you have to do is make sure that the house is a good candidate in the first place. If the house is not air-tight enough, these systems will not be able to work properly. The age of the house will usually be a factor as well, as older homes were not always made with airtightness in mind.
Not only that, but these systems require a lot of complex ductwork and your home’s architecture might not allow it. This is something you’ll need to look over with an expert, who’ll be able to tell you if it’s possible and what will need to be done if it isn’t.
Choose the Right Unit Size
This is one of the most important factors when picking an MVHR system for your home. Some homeowners may think that a small unit will be able to do the work, but they’d be wrong. You could have the best unit in the world, but if it’s not strong enough and installed properly, you’ll have issues.
This is again something only an expert will be able to help you with. Reputable companies like BPCventilation.ie, for instance, will be able to come over, look at your property, and look at different suitable units with you. This will make sure that you not only pick a unit that will be strong enough for your property but will last longer as well.
Another thing you have to be careful of is to not pick a unit that will work too hard, even if it’s not at full capacity. A unit that is constantly working near its full capacity is more likely to break down and won’t last as long. Ideally, you want a unit that can fulfill your house’s ventilation needs running at around 50% to 60%.
You Might Need More Filtration
The quality of the air where you live could affect how you configure your MVHR system. Since these systems will be constantly pulling air from the outside and filtering the air in the property, you might need to increase ventilation. If you want to know exactly how good the air quality is where you are, we suggest you check out this air pollution map.
These are all things that you will need to look at before installing an MVHR system in your property. Make sure that you understand the technology before opting for it, and work with the right supplier.
