Nowadays everything is possible in the field of ventilation. Smart systems that also recover the heat from the old air to save energy. Yet you sometimes hear sounds that those systems are not healthy. How important is ventilation really? And what forms of ventilation are there and what are the differences? How do you ensure that you have and maintain a healthy indoor climate?
Why ventilate your house?
Ventilating your home is simply refreshing the air in your home. Something that has become more topical in recent years, due to the increasingly better insulation that is being applied. Insulation means saving money, because you prevent heat from escaping from your home. The downside is that the air stays in your house longer, which increases the chance that this air is no longer as fresh.
And it’s not just about air being less fresh or a little stale. Poor ventilation can even lead to physical complaints or even become ill. The air in your home becomes more and more polluted if it is not removed and refreshed. In recent years, the term ‘sick building’ syndrome (translated: sick building syndrome) has emerged. This term refers to the complaints that are the result of an unhealthy climate in a building.
Moisture or mold problems
Good ventilation also helps prevent moisture problems. There is a risk of moisture problems, especially in the rooms where a lot of water is used. So the bathroom, kitchen and toilet. Especially in these areas it is necessary to have good ventilation. The annoying thing about moisture problems is that they often show themselves after a long time. But by then it’s a real problem with potential damage. Moreover, it also takes the necessary energy and measures to get rid of it.
Natural ventilation with grilles
In many somewhat older existing homes, ventilation is controlled by grilles in windows and facades. You can easily open or close these grids completely or something in between. This system is still a very suitable form of ventilation. No other active parts are required, there is nothing to break and the purchase costs are low.
The biggest disadvantage of the grille ventilation is the heat that is lost by the heated air that leaks out. In addition, the setting options are limited. If it is cold outside, there is a good chance of a draft. And in summer the degree of ventilation is often too low. In addition, you have to arrange per schedule and you cannot easily arrange the air exchange for an entire room or even your entire house.
Active ventilation with mechanical ventilation
In recent years, mechanical ventilation has been increasingly used. This system is much more than a few schedules. Now you need ventilation ducts from the rooms that want to ventilate to a central ventilation system.
This system contains a fan that controls the degree of air exchange. There are systems that bring in fresh air as well as systems that remove existing air. In the first case, the polluted air is discharged to the outside via special exhaust channels. In the second case, fresh air enters through the window grilles that we already know from natural ventilation.
The first generations of these systems ran continuously, but nowadays they are often more intelligent. Now the speed at which the fan rotates is controlled according to the need. This is done by sensors that measure the CO2 concentration. If this value is above a certain level, the system will start operating.
The development continues
Since the year 2000, the so-called balance ventilation has become popular. With this system, air is actively supplied and extracted. This is done by a ventilation box placed somewhere in the house, for example in the attic. The polluted air is discharged through grids in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet, while at the same time fresh air is supplied from outside. This fresh air is introduced into living rooms and bedrooms.
Energy efficient thanks to heat recovery
Because both the warm, polluted air and the cold, fresh air are controlled by the system, energy can be saved. Thanks to a heat recovery appliance (heat recovery appliance), the warm air can be used to heat up the new clean air. Of course, the two air currents do not come into direct contact with each other. But the channels through which the air is led are. Using a smart system, up to 90% of the heat can be recovered from the old air in this way.
Is the ventilation balance healthy?
There has been a lot of complaint about the balanced ventilation system by residents who lived in houses where these systems have been installed. An investigation also revealed that the air quality was below par. Still, the system can work properly. However, it is important that it is well designed and calculated for the house in question. And it is extremely important that the system is well maintained and cleaned regularly.
Maintenance of the ventilation box
The different parts of the system all need to be cleaned. Think of the ventilation box itself and the HRV appliance. This should be done at least every year and a half. With a HRV appliance you also have to take into account the regular replacement of the filters. You can have a company come for this maintenance, but you can also do a lot yourself. It is not very difficult, but you have to do it with the necessary care. And of course leave the system in good working order.
In addition to the ventilation box itself, the ducts must also be cleaned. For regular cleaning, it is often sufficient to clean only the first part of the channels. This is because the most dirt collects there. But at some point all channels will have to be cleaned once. For the complete cleaning of the channels, it is best to have a specialized company come. This should be done every four to eight years.
How often and how thoroughly cleaning should be done depends on the home, the living habits, the system and the environment. But if you regularly check and clean the system yourself, you will be sure that your indoor climate is as optimal as possible. Moreover, you limit the mess in your channels and thus how often you need an external company.