iansr Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Based on your experience what features would the panel recommend a buyer look for when choosing a MVHR unit? Eg: Pre-heater? G4 filter? F7 filter? Humidistat? Summer bypass? Low db levels? Manual boost control ? Anything else? Comments invited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceverge Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Factor in the cost + availability of filters. Ours at €42 + €10 postage twice a year is expensive. Being tight I discovered that cabin pollen filters from a Corsa at €8 each can be made to fit with a supporting MDF frame. We didn't bother with any boost switch, or humidistat, or summer bypass or pre heater. Can't say I miss them but then I've never know any different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyshouse Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 I like top filters on supply, extract can have more basic filters, summer bypass is useful, I take my heat exchanger out and replace it with a dummy box. 0 to 100% speed control for each fan is good , programmable is nice and I use mine which has four preset speeds including boost, lots of time slots. noise attenuation, I have EAHP but very low power 60W input, no humidistat and zero humidity problems, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansr Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 16 minutes ago, Iceverge said: Factor in the cost + availability of filters. Ours at €42 + €10 postage twice a year is expensive. Being tight I discovered that cabin pollen filters from a Corsa at €8 each can be made to fit with a supporting MDF frame. We didn't bother with any boost switch, or humidistat, or summer bypass or pre heater. Can't say I miss them but then I've never know any different. With no humidistat and no boost switch does that mean yours just runs at the normal rate when the hob is being used or someone is having a shower? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceverge Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 We have a normal through the wall kitchen extractor hood fitted with 2 x magnetic anti draft shutters. It works but in hindsight a good recirculating fan with a carbon filter might have been fine too. For the shower we just leave the MVHR run on normal and it seems to clear quickly enough anyway. Much quicker than previous houses with a dedicated bathroom fan. After 8 months the bathrooms are as dry as the rest of the house. If clearing steam is urgent we just open the window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMo Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Unless you go for "rate of change' humidity sensor I would stick with manual switches at each wet room. We have managed for 2 months without kitchen extractor. But resisted frying. Put filters on each extract point, to keep ducts clean. We didn't fit cold weather pre heater's we have g4 filters, but would have been better going f7. We also installed a combined directional inlet outlet on the outside wall as other stuff got in the way of pipe runs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 16 hours ago, Iceverge said: Being tight I discovered that cabin pollen filters from a Corsa at €8 each can be made to fit with a supporting MDF frame. Did that with a load of clearance carbon pollen filters from a Ford Transit..! £2 each on eBay .. 16 hours ago, iansr said: Pre-heater? Some of these are counter productive as they can heat the air past the outgoing temperature and the heat exchanger can start to cool the incoming air rather than warm it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMo Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Cabin filters there's a good idea - will have to do some research Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpmiller Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 I've a big roll of spray booth fleece filter ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roundtuit Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Proportional humidity sensor is great - identifies a running shower pdq. Summer bypass never seems to do much, but to be fair, I haven't experimented without it. Our boost switches never get used. Filters get changed twice a year at £15 a set plus delivery (regular subscription with Filtermate - saves me remembering) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 1 hour ago, JohnMo said: Cabin filters there's a good idea - will have to do some research just used a standard filter box from Blauberg and then adjusted the support grille to allow a standard cabin filter to fit across the corners - keeps all the fine stuff out of the main HeX filters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansr Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 41 minutes ago, Roundtuit said: Proportional humidity sensor is great - identifies a running shower pdq. Summer bypass never seems to do much, but to be fair, I haven't experimented without it. Our boost switches never get used. Filters get changed twice a year at £15 a set plus delivery (regular subscription with Filtermate - saves me remembering) I like the sound of £15 a set - which MVHR unit do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roundtuit Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 6 minutes ago, iansr said: I like the sound of £15 a set - which MVHR unit do you have? Sorry, think it might be £18 a set having checked: Vent Axia Sentinel Kinetic B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJNewton Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 (edited) Out Titon unit uses plastic framed filters that they sell direct for £12.75/pr: However they can be easily refilled with other filter media so I bought 1 sqm of 10mm G3 media for £8 which should do me for about 10 swaps. Not only will it save a lot of money but at 80p/service I figured it might make me less stingy about how often I do it too! Edited November 22, 2021 by MJNewton 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceverge Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 3 hours ago, JohnMo said: Cabin filters there's a good idea - will have to do some research https://catalog.mann-filter.com/EU/eng/dimensions This tool will allow you to input dimensions and find something close. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 @Iceverge that’s how I found the filter I wanted ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansr Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 I’m considering 2 Nuaire units which going at a good price. Anybody any experience of the brand? They don’t seem to be programmable and I’m just wondering if most people set their MVHRs to run at a lower fan speed at night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMo Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Once set up, apart from boosting when required for steam or smells, it runs 24/7 at the same setting. If you unit has a setback setting, you could use that when away from the house or on holiday. As the mvhr is the only ventilation in a house if you reduce at night, unless you have the window open your CO2 levels in bedroom may be too high. But if you run two units one for bedrooms the other for the rest of the house, then you could run at setback for bedrooms in the day and normal speed at night, the other way round downstairs. Set back is normally controlled by a volt free contact, so a simple timer could be used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJNewton Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 I'm not sure of the motivation for nighttime setback as the power consumption is relatively low anyway and with a well designed/installed system there should be no issues with noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansr Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 Thanks that’s helpful. Any thoughts on Nuaire anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 1 hour ago, iansr said: Any thoughts on Nuaire anyone? Stick to one of the models independently tested for the Passivhaus Institute: https://database.passivehouse.com/en/components/list/ventilation_small Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpmiller Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 2 hours ago, Mike said: Stick to one of the models independently tested for the Passivhaus Institute: https://database.passivehouse.com/en/components/list/ventilation_small Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Because 1) You can make a proper comparison - they're independently tested using identical criteria that model 'real usage', rather than relying on the manufacturer's claims. 2) It's the go-to resource for choosing high-performing MVHR units. if a manufacturer has chosen to avoid assessment, why might that be? 3) Your energy bill will depend on your choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansr Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 21 minutes ago, dpmiller said: Why? I had the same thought. No doubt a Zehnder would be better built and have more functionality, but the price difference is HUGE vs what I can get these 2 units for . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansr Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 I’m guessing that PH org charge manufacturers a pretty penny for testing a unit . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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