SmartVent "Synergy" Single Room True Heat Recovery

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › SmartVent "Synergy" Single Room True Heat Recovery - Info & Opinions Please

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Ti

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#1306691 17-May-2015 16:27

Scepticism is healthy

Niel

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#1306871 17-May-2015 21:56

The single fan model requires 2 units (sold in pairs, thus the price) so when the one absorbs heat the other releases heat (controlled to run in opposite directions). Problem I'd have with that model is that even though in theory there is zero pressure differential, you will still be suckong/blowing uncontrolled air through other opening like the rangehood, door and window cracks, floor boards, wherever there is a gap. The twin fan model should be lots better in that the blowing and sucking occurs at the same point and just directed to circulate through the room.

You can never have enough Volvos!

Ti

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#1306880 17-May-2015 22:23

Yes, I agree and it's the dual fan eGo one I prefer. Not only is it slightly less expensive than having to have 2 units but it also appears to service a bigger volume. I've emailed them for a consultation and hopefully will have a better understanding in a few days.

Ti

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#1309747 22-May-2015 11:01

I gave up!

Couldn't get any reliable data from the local SmartVent agent and the LUNOS agent never bothered to follow up on my request for a consultation. Way to do business . . . . . NOT! Have invested in a couple of 22l/d Mitsubishi Oasis dehumidifiers instead for this winter and will maybe revisit the issue in summer when I can lift some roof tiles to run ducting.

Thanks for all the input and advice though guys - much appreciated.

Cheers

richms

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#1309850 22-May-2015 12:47

That's usual for nz businesses. And when you have them up about it they will have a lame excuse like they must have lost your details.

Richard rich.ms

Niel

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#1310014 22-May-2015 17:08

I agree with Richms, and I ignore moaning from companies that consumers buy from overseas instead of local. Would happily pay GST on imports too.

You can never have enough Volvos!

bfginger

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#1310212 22-May-2015 23:06

Ti: I am very dubious about certain vendor claims positive pressure ventilation systems can draw any meaningful amount of usable warm, dry air just from the roof tiles surrounding the proposed intake.

The air inside the roof comes from outside and won't have a lower dew point. The air will only be warm up there if the roof is dark coloured and the sun is shining or the insulation is leaking alot of heat from below.

Our house was built in 1998 and is fairly well sealed, double-glazed and fitted with both heatpumps and a log burner but in the three upstairs bedrooms we do experience a lot of window condensation and resultant mold problems.

Under normal circumstances you will have very little to no condensation on double glazed window glass. Being that age they may be secondary glazed instead of having an insulated glazing unit or perhaps their IGUs have failed. Most thermally unbroken aluminium window frames are going to have condensation on them. Quality double glazing is still uncommon in new builds.

If you don't have a rangehood and bathroom/shower extractor fan those factors will be major contributors to dampness. Mould and dust mite can only grow with relative humidity is above a certain level.

Heat recovery ventilation systems are designed with cold climates in mind where there's air tight construction and it's too cold to ventilate by opening windows. That's a very different task from trying to use the system to lower indoor humidity so some systems won't be suitable for our climate.

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Niel

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#1310300 23-May-2015 08:45

I'm considering heat recovery from my clothes dryer, to heat up the air in my circulation system (which circulated air-conditioned air through the bedrooms). We use the dryer 1-2 hours per day, and can bypass the heat recovery unit in summer. Just trying to find a cheap unit, might have to DIY.

You can never have enough Volvos!

540trickzter

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#1310380 23-May-2015 12:27

We are in the process of building a new home and we've been thinking about the heating. We are considering getting a Daikin Ducted Heat Pump and also the SmarVent Integra system.

Jase2985

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#1310384 23-May-2015 13:32

Have you considered Mitsubishi Electric, they do both a ducted heatpump and a Lossnay Fresh Air Energy Recovery, and can be controlled from a single unit.

540trickzter

160 posts

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#1310426 23-May-2015 15:13

Jase2985: Have you considered Mitsubishi Electric, they do both a ducted heatpump and a Lossnay Fresh Air Energy Recovery, and can be controlled from a single unit.

Haven't considered Mitsubishi as I've always preferred Daikin, but after looking up the Lossnay Ventilation with Ducted Heat Pump Solution, it looks like it would be a better and cheaper solution rather than going with the Daikin ducted heatpump + SmartVent Integra system I would assume.

Thanks Jase

Jase2985

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#1310438 23-May-2015 15:28

just out of interest how much did you think the Daikin ducted heatpump + SmartVent Integra system was going to cost?

this is what i found out when looking a month or so ago

retail on a 14kw Mitsubishi Electric Ducted heat pump is $8500, then add some for instillation, and a losnay system can be had installed from $3000 installed

i would say you could have it all installed for around the 15k mark and certainly not more than 20k depending on options and amount of ducts/outlets

if you are putting it in a new build i would think it would be a bit cheaper

540trickzter

160 posts

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#1310444 23-May-2015 15:38

TBH, I've got no idea how much the Daikin + SmartVent would cost.

We are building a single storey, 276m2 home with 4 bedrooms, 1 study, 2 living rooms.

I assumed the Mitsu solution would be cheaper as I would guess it would be like a package deal rather than needing to go through 2 different brands and installers if we were to go with the Daikin + SmartVent.

MikeAqua

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#1316268 2-Jun-2015 15:08

Can't comment on single room units but, we got Synergy installed in our last house and were very very pleased with the system and the local (Nelson) franchisee.

BTW in our current house (no ventilation system) we have thermally broken DG aluminum-framed windows and still get condensation on the frames in the bathrooms and in the master bedroom during winter.

Mike

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