mico1411

Thanks everyone for the comments, plenty to think about. Iceverge - the unit is very old, it has a metal grease filter that's built into the case but no removeable filters. A new unit is needed but just working out if we can justify the more expensive MVHR or just go for a cheaper MEV to extract only. We've not had an MVHR before.

Thanks for your reply mike2016. The house was built in 1986. It was built for an architect's family so I think the system could be that old - very much ahead of its time! You're probably right, I need to spend more time assessing humidity levels etc before making a decision. There are tickle window vents on every window. I'm guessing the house could potentially be quite airtight but I've never tested it and I can't see us relying on MVHR for ventilation - windows and doors will be left open! How do people generally clean the ducts in a residential installation? Does it involve getting in a specialist cleaning company that typically services commercial ducting or can you do it yourself?

Hi, we've just bought a house that has a very old MVHR installed which needs the main unit replacing and the ducts cleaned and balanced. We are not planning on having an airtight house and will keep windows open during warmer months. We cannot decide if the benefits of running an MVHR in a non-airtight house warrant the cost to upgrade/service. We cannot find anyone in the local area (North East) that can assess our installation and make recommendations so would be grateful for your opinions. The installation is very old, the main unit is branded "Flow Engineering" and I've attached some photos. I can hear the fans are working but I cannot feel any air movement through the vents. There is galvanised metal ducting to every room and it extracts from kitchen, utility and bathrooms. The unit is mounted in the loft and there is no loft insulation at all. Is it worth upgrading and servicing the MVHR system or would it make more sense to install an MEV with the existing extraction ducting and remove the rest of the ducting in favour of loft insulation?