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Noisy ventilation duct - what to do?


Garald

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I returned from travel to be greeted by a strange trac-trac-trac ventilation noise (even though I had set the PIV to a minimum). It seems to come not from the main PIV unit as such, but from this duct going next to it:

 

 

 

(Yes, both the PIV unit and this are above a kitchenette‘s false ceiling.)


What is this? Whom to call? What is the issue likely to be?

IMG_1784.jpeg

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12 minutes ago, ProDave said:

That's an in line fan.  You need to oncouple the ducts both ends and work out if it is the fan itself that has failed or something in duct catching on the fab blades.

Is this something I can do myself, or should I call a technician?

 

Also, I take this is connected to the kitchen extractor (which I barely ever turn on) rather than to the PIV?

Edited by Garald
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23 hours ago, dpmiller said:

is that duct attached with masking tape?


The renovation was done by jacks-of-all-trades who did a decent job. Now, little by little, I am getting to know specialised tradesmen who do a good job for fair prices. Haven’t found an electrician or ventilation guy who fits that description yet. (The people who did the renovation have just told me they‘ll confer tomorrow and give me some sort of answer, though.)

Edited by Garald
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32 minutes ago, Mike said:

It's an extractor fan (with a 2-year warranty): http://www.panol.fr/product.php?productid=17793

Right, but what would it ever be a part of? It wouldn't be a part of the PIV system, and I don't think it would be part of the smell extractor in the kitchen, would it? Perhaps that tube goes all the way to the laundry room, where there is an unnecessary extractor fan that is on all the time?

 

>And that tape is not good.

 

Shoddy workmanship I take? What should they have used instead?

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On 23/09/2024 at 01:16, Garald said:

Right, but what would it ever be a part of? It wouldn't be a part of the PIV system, and I don't think it would be part of the smell extractor in the kitchen, would it? Perhaps that tube goes all the way to the laundry room, where there is an unnecessary extractor fan that is on all the time?

More commonly kitchen or bathroom, but could be utility. You'll need to trace the duct or thread something along it if you want to know. Or test the airflow at the grille - that is, see if a piece of tissue paper 'sticks' to the grille when the fan is on, and falls off if you turn it off.

 

On 23/09/2024 at 01:16, Garald said:

Shoddy workmanship I take? What should they have used instead?

Poor choice of material, in particular. Provided the duct & fan fit together then use either an aluminium foil HVAC tape or, since it won't be running at a high temperature, an airtightness tape such as Pro Clima Tescon Vana.

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In the end, it turns out to be a duct for an extractor fan in my vestibule/laundry room. It’s unclear that I actually need an extractor fan there; the dryer is one of those new models that condense humidity and store it in a receptacle that then needs to be emptied, rather than release it in the surrounding air. What do you think?

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Very well. Should I just figure out how to turn off both the extractor in the picture and the fan in my entryway/laundry for good? Or do I need to pay someone to actually remove that duct and both fans and close the fan outlet? (That is, can a duct that just sits there make trouble in the long run?)

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In France a laundry room does normally have mechanical extract fitted - I think the regs (DTU 68.3) require that - so I'd disable it and probably block the exit from the house in a reversible way, rather than strip everything out and seal it off permanently.

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6 hours ago, Mike said:

In France a laundry room does normally have mechanical extract fitted - I think the regs (DTU 68.3) require that - so I'd disable it and probably block the exit from the house in a reversible way, rather than strip everything out and seal it off permanently.


Ah, so the important thing is to block the *exit* from the house?

 

It’s a pity if one can’t remove the bit of pipe photographed here - one could then shift the VMI, which is now fitted in an extremely cramped way (one needs to twist the filter to change it).

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7 hours ago, Mike said:

In France a laundry room does normally have mechanical extract fitted - I think the regs (DTU 68.3) require that - so I'd disable it and probably block the exit from the house in a reversible way, rather than strip everything out and seal it off permanently.

I've found the regulations, but I am not getting any hits for "laundry" (buanderie):

 

https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/items/dtu-237-www.-engcopilot.-com-nf-dtu-59.1-p-1-1/DTU_292_WWW.ENGCOPILOT.COM-NF DTU 68.3 P1-1-2.pdf

 

It's the only mechanical extract in the house (and a very noisy one it is). Otherwise I have PIV ("VMI"). The entryway/laundry closet opens on both sides (being an entryway) and should be adequately ventilated (to the extent that PIV ventilates adequately), no?

 

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5 hours ago, Garald said:

Ah, so the important thing is to block the *exit* from the house?

The perimeter of the heated envelope is the best place, in terms of minimising heat loss. Blocking it at both ends could lead to greater condensation (than otherwise) between the blockages.

 

4 hours ago, Garald said:

Buanderie wouldn't necessarily be mentioned - utility rooms (with a water supply) fall under the definition of salle d'eau - https://www.batiment-ventilation.fr/outils/faq/dans-larrete-de-mars-1982-quelle-est-la-difference-entre-une-salle-deau-et-une-salle-de-bains-105 (a room other than the kitchen or WC, equipped with a water supply, but without a bath or shower)

 

I'm not an expert on the text (and don't have time to read it!), however it could be because you only tracked down part 1-1-2, or because my memory is wrong (since I have a VMC double-flux). For a more definitive view, polish off your French and ask at the forumconstruire (which comes up with this, and others: https://www.forumconstruire.com/construire/topic-395665-bouche-extraction-buanderie.php)

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