The principle of MVHR is to recover heat that would otherwise be lost through natural ventilation of the home and recycle it. You will still need a conventional heating system however, with efficiencies of over 90% heat recovery the MVHR systems Fervo supply, it will cost less to run because you will require less heat input.
It is possible to add an in-line heater to some MVHR systems however this will not be sufficient to heat a home.
Yes, it is possible however there are practical and efficiency matters to consider.
Concealing the necessary ductwork may be an issue if accessible voids are not available.
An MVHR system needs to be “balanced” with the amount of supply air to living rooms equalling the amount extracted from wet rooms. If the property is not relatively airtight this can be problematic when commissioning the system and during its life causing it to not be as effective or efficient as it should be.
MVHR is an alternative means to natural ventilation which reduces your heating costs and brings health benefits by reducing condensation and filtering out pollen and allergens making it ideal for asthma suffers. Whilst there should be no specific need to open windows for ventilation purposes, it does not preclude you from doing this but will result in a small reduction in the efficiency of the MVHR system.
Even though an MVHR system should be left on all the time the fans are powered by low energy motors. Depending on the size of property the annual cost will be around £30 to £40 a year which will be significantly outweighed by the savings made in heating costs for the home.
The MVHR design will mitigate any chance of noise being an issue with ducting appropriately sized to allow reduced fan speeds. Attenuators and silencers will be included in the design to prevent cross talk arising between rooms.
It will be necessary to change filters in the MVHR unit which should be done from time to time, the frequency will depend on your environment but as a guide two to three times a year. Some MVHR systems have washable filters though these should still be replaced at regular intervals. On new build projects, it is advisable to keep ducts sealed until commissioning and clean/ change the filters at this point due to the likelihood of dust accumulation.
Yes, but not as part of an MVHR system. Ideally, a recirculating cooker hood should be used in parallel with an MVHR system to maintain airtightness. As the extraction rate for a cooker hood is well above that required for an MVHR system, one that expels fumes to the exterior of the house will unbalance the MVHR system.
There is also potential for grease and steam to damage the filters and MVHR unit. It is always advisable to locate the kitchen extract vent away from the cooker.
These are not necessary for properties in England and Wales if an MVHR system is to be installed.
Rooms with indoor swimming pools require a carefully controlled environment to ensure there is minimal evaporation from the pool and humidity levels are maintained. It is advisable that a separate ventilation system is installed that is directly linked to the heating of the pool and the pool room. There is further potential for pool chemicals to damage the MVHR unit.