In addition to good insulation it is vital for homes to be well ventilated. This
prevents excess moisture from building up. Showers, cooking and even breathing create moisture and dampness.
The Kiwi climate makes it impractical to open doors and windows all year long. This is where a residential ventilation system can help! Home ventilation systems use fans to move air into the house, providing continuous ventilation regardless of the weather. This helps to maintain air quality and remove moisture from everyday living activities.
Keeping your home warm during the chilly NZ winters can feel like an ongoing battle. Since dry air is easier to heat, the first step is to reduce any sources of dampness and ensure you have good insulation in place. Still noticing issues with condensation and ventilation? Then it might be time to install a SmartVent. Without proper ventilation, the damp air can lead to condensation, mould, hazardous airborne particles and health complications for your family.
There are two types of residential ventilation system to consider:
Positive pressure ventilation systems
These systems (which are most commonly used in New Zealand) draw fresher,
drier air into the home from either the roof cavity or outside. This air is then
passed through a high efficiency filter and introduced into the home. This
introduced air forces out the moist, stale air that causes condensation, mould and
mildew.
Balanced pressure heat/energy exchanger ventilation systems
These systems use the energy the household has paid for, say to heat from the
lounge, and pass it through an advanced heat or energy recovery converter. It
then tempers the fresh, dry air from outside before moving it to rooms that need
it most. Balanced pressure systems (also known as heat recovery systems) are
especially suited to modern airtight homes or those homes in the colder parts of
New Zealand, assuming the property already has adequate heating, insulation
and is built to modern building standards. Since this system works via an air-to-air heat exchanger that transfers heat from the inside air to the air coming in from outside, it is most effective for airtight homes, as more of the heat can be recovered and utilised.
You can learn more about SmartVent here: https://www.smartvent.co.nz/why-smartvent/
