SmartVent "Synergy" Single Room True Heat Recovery

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

Ti

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#173248 16-May-2015 14:24

Hi,
Anyone had any experience with these single room True Heat Recovery systems please?
Our house has no attic and 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. That doubt lead me to investigate the possibility of using passive ventilation and ultimately, balanced pressure heat recovery options (Cleanaire and Smartvent).
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. Based on my understanding, the "ideal" solution would be SmartVent Synergy 190 system but as we have no ceilings, finding somewhere to put the hardware and run ducting is difficult and expensive.

So, now I am looking at installing stand-alone single room units (http://shop.harbourheatpumps.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=60_105&product_id=62) in each room. The blurb says they handle 9l/s of air which gives me around 1 air change per hour (not great but surely better than zero?) and if run in conjunction with the heatpumps I'm thinking (hoping) they should make a difference.

Thoughts anyone????

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#1306361 16-May-2015 17:16

Can they do under floor? We were investigating getting a smartvent underfloor ventilation with real HRV but had to do a bathroom reno instead.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

Ti

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#1306363 16-May-2015 17:28

Sadly, not an option but thanks

Aredwood

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#1306444 16-May-2015 22:23

Since you have Window condensation. The best solution will be double glazing.

Ti

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#1306448 16-May-2015 22:33

As mentioned in the original post - the house is double glazed from new. Sadly the technology then was not so good . . . .

timmmay

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#1306473 17-May-2015 08:35

Heat pumps may make condensation worse - they allow the air to absorb more water. Though probably little difference in practice.

I read about those things a while back, but I've never tried them. You might look at ebay or similar, somewhere in the UK, they seem overpriced here. I would expect they work ok.

Bugger to have a new house that wasn't really thought through properly.

Jase2985

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#1306479 17-May-2015 09:00

how often do you air the house out? ie open the windows

if you are getting a heap of condensation you need to look at minimising water/humidity that is generated in the house, you cant minimise that that is generated by people but you can with things like showers. dryers and cooking. this all helps with condensation over night.

Ti

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#1306486 17-May-2015 09:21

The house is aired regularly (daily for several hours if not TOO cold!) but that is what lead me to considering passive ventilation.

Thanks for the idea of looking overseas - I checked eBay but unfortunately they don't seem to have these self contained thru-wall units.

Seems there aren't too many of the Synergy units in use which makes me a bit nervous so I'll have to do some more due diligence but would still appreciate input from anyone with experience of them please.

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richms

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#1306487 17-May-2015 09:22

You can run a dehumidifier for a long time for what one of those ventelation systems costs.

Richard rich.ms

Disrespective

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#1306587 17-May-2015 12:54

I think you're on the right track.

There are a number of the heat recovery systems available. We were shown, and impressed with, the Lunos system. https://www.theheatingcompany.co.nz/lunos-decentralised-ventilation.html

Watch the video and it explains the system very well and how it works best as a multi unit system.

Ti

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#1306626 17-May-2015 13:55

@ Disrespective

That is EXACTLY what we need THANKS! I will be calling them tomorrow.

timmmay

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#1306651 17-May-2015 14:57

I'm surprised at the claimed 85% efficiency. It's heating up a block of something with the outgoing air, then using that heat to warm the incoming air. Interested how much it costs.

Ti

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#1306656 17-May-2015 15:15

I'll get a unit cost locally but they work out around NZ$1200 landed +GST ex Germany. That is a LOT compared to Smartvent ($550 incl)!

Niel

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#1306663 17-May-2015 15:36

With the original model the heat is stored in a block of ceramic and the air direction alternated. Witht he new single unit the 2 fans are combined and it works like a traditional heat exchanger. The air direction probably changes so that one side of the room is not stale compared to the other side.

Price in US$ for the single unit which doeas both inlet and exhaust in one: http://foursevenfive.com/product/lunos-e-go-room-ventilation/

You can never have enough Volvos!

Ti

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#1306670 17-May-2015 15:54

@ Niel - US$ price a lot more realistic and as they are 12VDC no problems with using those. I was looking at the eGo single fan per install as they apparently handle bigger volumes.

Thanks for the input. I'll get the local company to propose and price up a solution and take it from there.

richms

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#1306688 17-May-2015 16:08

If it has a single fan won't it have a problem of dragging in cold air when exhausting and pushing out hot air from the room when pulling air back thru the exchanger? Can't see how a reversing one can recover stuff all when it's also exchanging room air thru all the other gaps when operating.

Richard rich.ms

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