ALLEVIATES ALLERGIES & ASTHMA
As the incoming fresh air is filtered, allergy and asthma symptoms are reduced. This will not only help asthma sufferers but also those with bronchitis, rhinitis, hay fever and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
CONTROLS CONDENSATION
Concerned condensation might take over your home? An MVHR system will control moisture and condensation in your property and not only put a stop to condensation on windows but also the development of damp and mould growth to ultimately improve indoor air quality
TACKLES UNPLEASANT ODOURS
The fresh air from the MVHR system will tackle everyday strong odours in your property typically emanating from cooking and pets that would ordinarily linger for days!
A heat recovery system works (also called HRV or MHRV) via a heat recovery ventilation unit which is usually located in the attic, roof space or plant room of a building. Rather than just extracting air and replacing it with the air from outside, a heat recovery system draws the heat from the extracted air and passes it to the air which is being filtered in from outside. The extract and supply air do not flow within the same pipes and there would be no cross contamination of the different air flows. The heat recovery unit is connected to room air valves via a network of ducting throughout the building.
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With a heat recovery system, you make use of what already exists as well as reduce our collective impact on the environment, and that includes the amount of heat we lose to the environment daily. Heat recovery systems work by using the valuable warm air or water in a property and use it in a positive way.
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A heat recovery system works independently of your normal heating system, in each room there are ventilation valves with filters that supply air in and out of each room which all leads to the heat recovery unit. The unit works by moving the stale air through the pipes whilst drawing in cold air from the outside via other ducts.
The two airflows pass one another within the heat recovery unit without mixing physically, the heat from the extracted air is then transferred to the new fresh air brought from outside and supplied through the pipework and into each room. Once the stale air’s heat has been extracted and it is then extracted out and into the atmosphere.
How Heat Recovery Ventilation Works
By maintaining your ventilation system you are maintaining your indoor air quality.
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Installing a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) ventilation system is a lifetime investment which will provide you with improved indoor air quality by extracting mould, damp and stale air while supplying fresh, filters air into living areas in your home.
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The Purpose of Heat Recovery Maintenance
By regularly maintaining your ventilation system you will increase its lifespan and improve the effectiveness of your ventilation system and by checking your system regularly you will avoid bigger complications further down the line.
Most maintenance jobs can also easily be done by an owner, (electric work must be carried out by a trained electrician)
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Maintaining your Heat Recovery System
If you have noticed more than normal condensation, a stuffy environment of at worst dust around the air valves it is now time to service your system.
It is not complicated, and most regular maintenance tasks are suitable for any competent DIY person to do.
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Your systems should be commissioned and set up so that a user will have little to no alteration to their MVHR system but we would recommend that if you adjust or replace the room air valves that you have the system recommissioned.
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As maintaining your system will ensure that no problems can arise from having poor ventilation, problems will be noticed earlier if there is anything needing fixed and check regularly is preventing problems from greatly worsening.
To help with future maintenance it is recommended that when installing the system that the following areas are easily accessed:
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The MVHR unit can be easily worked on, removed, or replaced
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The controller is in a convenient location to check performance
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Access to filters are unrestricted
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Condensate drain is easy to check
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If installed in attic that the area is floored with good lighting
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If accessed through a loft ladder that the opening is large enough
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Maintenance Checklist
We recommend thorough checks are done at the time of installation but also to be done frequently to ensure that your system is working to full capacity.
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Check and clean filters every 6 months*.
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Change filters every 12 months*.
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Ensure all connections are well sealed and that there are no air leaks, repair any seals that may seem loose.
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If your unit has a condensation drain, check this to ensure it is not blocked as this can cause a build-up of bacteria.
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Check that controls are working properly.
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Clean air valves and grilles (both inside and out) as dust and dirt can begin to settle on these surfaces.
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After 5 years some units will require the heat exchanger to be cleaned, please refer to owner’s manual or contact our team to find out more on how to do this as units may differ.
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Any electric work must be taken out by a trained electrician.
*We recommend that you change/clean your filters at least once a year, and more in often in areas with high pollution.
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Please remember that if you are replacing or adjusting the air valves that your system may need rebalanced so that your airflows are correct.
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Everything You Need to Know MVHR Filters
A good way to think of your MVHR filters is like a vacuum bag, when they get full of whatever they may be collecting, it is time to change! You would not vacuum your home will a full vacuum bag, why ventilate you air with unclean filters?
Filters ensure that air is cleaned before entering your home, but over time these filters will become dirty with the dust and particles that they are filtering. Filters will ensure that dust, dirt, and pollen will not enter your home from the outside air being brought in. They are amazingly simple to check and change, most units will have service doors to the MVHR filters. Filters will start off perfectly white, turn grey with build-up and can eventually go black if not changed.
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Not changing filters frequently enough can make your system noisier as the system then has to work harder to push air through dirty and blocked up filters.
MHRV Maintenance
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