MVHR Maintenance & Installation Services
What is an MVHR?
A Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery system (MVHR) can be installed into any type of property but is often found in blocks of flats where windows are not able to be opened due to heights.
The system consists of a main power unit with ducts going into and out of the top of the unit. The ducts should be insulated and connected to extract fans within the kitchen and bathroom areas and supply fans located within living and sleeping areas. The system is designed to run constantly at flow rates determined by design and size of the property. The purpose of the system is to extract heat from the kitchen and bathroom, filter the air and provide new atmospheric air combined with the heat from the extracts, back into the living and sleeping areas of the property.
Interior ventilation is crucial to the occupants’ health and comfort by ridding the building of pollutants, moisture, and unwanted odours from the kitchen or bathroom. When a property is ventilated via an MVHR system, occupants have access to fresh, filtered air all year long.
Excessive moisture can severely damage homes and trigger allergic reactions and respiratory issues. An MVHR system helps control the level of moisture in properties, keeping condensation and dampness at bay.
Why install an MVHR System?
The system is designed to reduce heating bills, provide a fresh flow of air and reduce the build up of mould. Flow rates can be adjusted from the controller or manually by adjusting the ceiling vents or fans. Filters within the main unit should be cleaned to manufacturers recommendations (often 3 or 6 monthly depending on the area, 3 monthly for towns and cities, 6 monthly for less polluted areas). The filters should be fully replaced annually as part of the planned service regime.
The MVHR technology is designed to provide the best quality air for your tenants whilst saving money on heating bills with the redistribution of heat. The main problem we come across is tenants using the system as if it is air conditioning and switching it off during the cooler months of the year. This causes mould to build up in the system causing operational issues, significant parts needing to be replaced and if switched back on again, potentially health issues to the tenants, who are now breathing in mould polluted air.
Besides producing good indoor air quality, a Vent Axia MVHR house ventilation system also plays an important role in the necessary shift toward more energy-efficient technologies. It is estimated that the average homeowner can save as much as 25% - 50% on their heating bill by installing this type of system. When you consider that there are upward of 25 million homes in the UK, you begin to understand how big a difference adoption of this simple heat recovery unit technology can make in creating a better world for our children and their children.
Did you know?
Exposure to high levels of air pollution can lead to adverse health risks including lung cancer, respiratory infections, and heart disease. In fact, recent research shows that surprising air pollution has been linked to cases of type two diabetes. It is believed that in 2016, air pollution was the cause of 3.2 million new cases of diabetes worldwide, this takes up a significant 14% total of all global cases of diabetes worldwide.
We often think of air pollution as an outdoor dilemma, but indoor air is also prone to contamination and is even far more concentrated with toxins than outdoor air.
Common sources of indoor air pollution include:
Asbestos – Used in floor tiles, insulation, and cement.
Formaldehyde – Often used as a preservative and adhesive in drapes, carpets, furniture, and plywood panelling. Inhaling formaldehyde fumes can trigger rashes, dizziness, coughing, headaches, and irritation of the nose, eyes, and throat.
Household products – Personal care, household cleaners, pesticides, solvents, and other chemicals which can produce poisonous fumes. Exposure to these products can lead to nausea, dizziness, cancer, allergies, and irritated lungs.
Particulates – Dust and pollen.
Remodelling hazards – Paint or new carpeting can release fumes that irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
Indoor air pollution is a very real and dangerous problem. Using an HMVR will hinder the growth of pollutants and condensation, ensuring building and occupant protection.
Why Maintain an MVHR system?
A better question is “Why would anyone avoid proper servicing and maintenance of their MVHR system?” An MVHR is, after all, a lifetime investment for your health and comfort. You purchased it for a reason. Performing routine maintenance on your mechanical ventilation system will extend its lifespan and improve its performance. Failing to do so will have exactly the opposite effect. By servicing your system regularly, you will avoid bigger and more expensive complications down the line. It’s a classic case of “spend a little now, save a lot later.”
Over time, fungi and bacteria may build up in the filters and ducts of your system. When the MHVR is clogged with dust and dirt, airflow performance is reduced. Not only that, but the air that is emitted from the system is carrying dirt, dust, bacteria, mould spores and other pollutants that can aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis and cause allergies. Cause allergies? That’s right. Most allergies can be traced to the home and pollutants being circulated by dirty ductwork.
And there is one more important thing to consider. In discussing ways the coronavirus can be spread the US CDC states on its website that “particles can also linger in the air after a person has left the room – they can remain airborne for hours in some cases.” They go on to stress the importance of regular cleaning of all indoor ventilation systems as a way to prevent the spread of infectious particles. Regular servicing and cleaning of your MVHR system, then, is just a common-sense way to prevent one possible route of transmission of this vexing and dangerous microbe.
What is Covered by MVHR Servicing
Regular maintenance of the mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system does more than keep dangerous airborne particles out of your lungs. During an MVHR routine maintenance, a specialist engineer will check for:
Air leaks and loose seals
Blocked condensation drains which can lead to bacteria build-up
Faulty controls
Dirty air valves and grilles (both inside and out)
Polluted heat exchanger
Mechanical ventilation systems must undergo planned maintenance annually to ensure all components are at peak efficiency. A poorly maintained system will have to work harder, which will negatively impact its energy efficiency thereby undermining one of the most important reasons for having the system installed in the first place. Repairing energy-efficient technologies is also vital to maintaining warranties.
To learn more about mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems, to schedule mechanical ventilation heat recovery repairs, or to discuss other types of energy-efficient ventilation such as mechanical extract ventilation (MEV), give us a call on 0330 324 7777 during normal business hours. Or write to us at enquiries@ecolutiongroup.com.