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Our advice to homeowners across New Zealand
If you are currently buying or building a house, we know how exciting (and stressful) this time is for you!
There are so many things to consider …kitchen bench surfaces, appliances, wall colours, tile, carpet … the list goes on. Chances are though, your top priority is creating a healthy environment for your family.
Recently, there has been an increased focus on homes, old and new, being well insulated and airtight in order to increase energy savings and – more importantly – protect against asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
But are well-insulated, airtight homes enough to satisfy today’s discerning homebuyer?
In addition to good insulation it is vital for homes to be well ventilated. This prevents excess moisture from building up. Showers, unflued gas heaters, cooking and even breathing create moisture and dampness. Condensation is the visible symptom of unhealthy air in homes.
The Kiwi climate, often cold and wet in winter, makes it impractical to open doors and windows all year long. This is where a residential ventilation system can help!
So… what does a home ventilation system actually do?
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. Well designed and installed residential ventilation systems deliver required air replacement continuously and independently of weather conditions, while taking temperature and humidity into account.
Massey University research shows that residential ventilation systems reduce fungal spores, moisture and carbon dioxide, making a home drier and healthier. Occupants experience fewer headaches, sneezing and eye irritations. Drier homes can also be heated more effectively and are more durable.
Why include ventilation in your new build?
Aside from the benefits listed above, there are plenty of reasons to include ventilation in a new-build. You would be surprised by the amount of moisture a new home can produce even before occupants commence creating moisture by cooking, showering and breathing! Concrete slabs contain several thousand litres of water and can take an average of one month per 25mm of slab thickness to dry completely. That’s a lot of moisture to combat.
The other reason to include ventilation in a new-build is because of increasing airtightness. More airtight homes are much more efficient to heat, but tend to trap moisture inside, leading to some big mould problems. Proper ventilation is essential avoid this issue.
There are two types of residential ventilation system to consider:
Positive Pressure 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 fresh introduced air forces out the moist, stale air that causes condensation, mould and mildew. The added air movement can also help keep a home cooler over summer.
Balanced Pressure Heat Recovery 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 crore. It then tempers the fresh, dry air from outside using the outgoing warm moist air before distributing it around the home. Heat recovery systems are especially suited to modern airtight homes or those in the colder parts of New Zealand, assuming the property already has adequate heating and insulation.
Which system is best for your home?
The short answer is that it depends, and the best way to find out is to get one of our contractors to take a look. The best system can depend on factors such as the layout, floor area, type of roof and the local climate. Each house is different so send us your plans to request a design, or Book a Free Home Assessment to discover what system suits you most.