Ventilation Question (2018)

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#1949837 1-Feb-2018 08:56

networkn:

MikeAqua:

We have a two story house (in Nelson), with an open stairwell between the two levels. We were told that a ventilation system that circulated between the two levels would be very-difficult (expensive) to retrofit in our house.

They suggested a ceiling fan in the stairwell to push warn air down in winter or reversed pull cool air up in summer.

Years ago, one of the ventilation companies was selling individual room ventilation units that incorporated heat recovery. They were installed in the wall close to ceiling height. I was looking at them for a house I moved out of in 2007.

Sounds like our house.

I've got an appointment with SmartVent, they seem to cover a lot of the options we are considering, hopefully they aren't pushy and revolting like HRV

We used Smartvent in our previous house in Nelson. We were very happy with the service, product and performance.

Mike

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#1949890 1-Feb-2018 09:54

We have a Smartvent here too. Balanced pressure Synergy 250S model with core bypass. Single storey house but quite long. I did it as a self install.

We've been happy with it for the last 5+ years and am now considering the ducted heatpump upgrade for it.

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#1966828 2-Mar-2018 06:22

networkn:

Sounds like our house.

I've got an appointment with SmartVent, they seem to cover a lot of the options we are considering, hopefully they aren't pushy and revolting like HRV

Sorry to resurrect the thread, but how did it go? From everyone here recommending SmartVent I've also just requested a consultation.

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#1966934 2-Mar-2018 10:21

Apparently Penjerex window film works nearly as well as double glazing

http://www.thermafilm.co.nz/

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networkn

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#1967879 4-Mar-2018 13:27

So I tried to find out who sells the film that goes on windows which acts like double glazing but not really having much luck.

I am surprised that it's not possible to have a heat pump in a room and somehow get the cooling/heating effect of that into a room that shares a common wall.

I'd have thought it would be a case of an extractor fan, some conduit and a fan into the second room?

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#1968066 5-Mar-2018 02:38

networkn:

I am surprised that it's not possible to have a heat pump in a room and somehow get the cooling/heating effect of that into a room that shares a common wall.

I'd have thought it would be a case of an extractor fan, some conduit and a fan into the second room?

And a return duct.

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#2083206 3-Sep-2018 13:23

I am back to checking out systems. We didn't get very far before I got too busy.

Moisture Master gets horrible reviews for after sales service/faults resolution, but the system seems ok. Seems like finding a decent installer may be an issue.

Smart Vent will come and have a chat with us tomorrow night.

Cleanaire quotes are like pulling teeth. Initial quote for 2 Levels in a 250m2 home was $8K which seems crazy money. Have asked them to pare back to a single level and remove some of the fancier options to see what it looks like.

@tdgeek I see you mention you know about Cleanaire, do you have any insight?

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#2083207 3-Sep-2018 13:28

Just a note to consider.

Heatpumps don't effectively remove moisture in heat mode. They really only perform well at dehumidifying in cool mode.

networkn

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#2083217 3-Sep-2018 13:34

Suckerpunch:

Just a note to consider.

Heatpumps don't effectively remove moisture in heat mode. They really only perform well at dehumidifying in cool mode.

There's the rub since you don't want cooling mode on in Winter, when we have the majority of our moisture issues.

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#2083222 3-Sep-2018 13:44

networkn:

I am back to checking out systems. We didn't get very far before I got too busy.

Moisture Master gets horrible reviews for after sales service/faults resolution, but the system seems ok. Seems like finding a decent installer may be an issue.

Smart Vent will come and have a chat with us tomorrow night.

Cleanaire quotes are like pulling teeth. Initial quote for 2 Levels in a 250m2 home was $8K which seems crazy money. Have asked them to pare back to a single level and remove some of the fancier options to see what it looks like.

@tdgeek I see you mention you know about Cleanaire, do you have any insight?

I knew the company very well, but that's going back many years. Colin Campbell if he is still there, is the owner, he knows all there is to know about heat exchangers.

networkn

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#2083814 4-Sep-2018 13:08

My FIL has suggested Skylights in 3 of the rooms, with a rain sensor so they close when it rains. He thinks a ventilation system is not required and the cost (nearly 8K!!!! For our 5 Bedroom home) is stupidly overkill.

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#2083821 4-Sep-2018 13:20

networkn:

My FIL has suggested Skylights in 3 of the rooms, with a rain sensor so they close when it rains. He thinks a ventilation system is not required and the cost (nearly 8K!!!! For our 5 Bedroom home) is stupidly overkill.

Skylights won't come cheap either, especially ones with rain sensors. Both the skylight and the install can be spendy. Especially if access is a pain. Having re-read your initial post, skylights probably would be more effective for letting the excess heat out though.

But agree, $8k for ventilation seems ridiculous. For not much more than double that you'd be within the ballpark for a centrally ducted home ventilation/central heating system. Is it a difficult installation?

networkn

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#2083851 4-Sep-2018 14:34

mdf:

networkn:

My FIL has suggested Skylights in 3 of the rooms, with a rain sensor so they close when it rains. He thinks a ventilation system is not required and the cost (nearly 8K!!!! For our 5 Bedroom home) is stupidly overkill.

Skylights won't come cheap either, especially ones with rain sensors. Both the skylight and the install can be spendy. Especially if access is a pain. Having re-read your initial post, skylights probably would be more effective for letting the excess heat out though.

But agree, $8k for ventilation seems ridiculous. For not much more than double that you'd be within the ballpark for a centrally ducted home ventilation/central heating system. Is it a difficult installation?

It's a 12 year old modern 5 bedroom home. 4 Bedrooms and 2 bathrooms are on the top level accessible via ceiling space, so no, I don't really think it's a difficult installation.

I am going to query cleanaire on it.

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#2083869 4-Sep-2018 15:25

networkn:

wellygary:

networkn:

We are very busy and I'd say that we don't get a huge amount of time to have windows open.

Moisture is 95% on Window Sills and curtains.

We really need a house layout to see what is possible

The first question to solve is where is the moisture coming from, is it only in the rooms without heatpumps,- are they being used or are they vacant,

What venting is there in the kitchen/bathroom?

All rooms have the moisture, if anything I'd say it's worse in the rooms with heatpumps.

We have a vent in the bathroom, over the shower, plus windows are opened (more regularly than in the bedrooms I'd say).

4 of the bedrooms are on the top level, with 3 bunched together in 1 area and the other down the end of the hallway.

Moisture is normal because your house is so darn airtight and unfortunately everything you do lets out water.

mdf

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#2083875 4-Sep-2018 15:38

networkn:
It's a 12 year old modern 5 bedroom home. 4 Bedrooms and 2 bathrooms are on the top level accessible via ceiling space, so no, I don't really think it's a difficult installation.

I am going to query cleanaire on it.

Upstairs sounds straightforward then. Is the difficulty getting it downstairs?

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