Central ventilation system extremely expensive.

Hello!

We currently have a general contractor in the running who we really like and who also has a good reputation in our area.

But when I asked about a controlled residential ventilation system, I was shocked. I would have to expect around €14,000! For 133 sqm, I find that almost outrageous. A decentralized solution with 4 fans is supposed to cost €8,000.

My plan was actually to have the ventilation system planned by a company (e.g. manufacturer or ventilation network) and to handle the installation myself with a heating engineer friend. Even if a stronger ceiling and one or two shafts in the wall are needed, €14,000 is not comprehensible to me as a layperson.

But the general contractor says that if the ventilation system is removed, the entire heating/plumbing trade must be removed. I don't understand the connection, but I actually don't want that.

What do you think of this statement?

Best regards,
Daniel

What exactly will be installed?
What type of heating will be installed in the case of the central system?
In the case of decentralization, the coupling of the trades is not clear to me.
For us, the general contractor handles the decentralized ventilation, and we contract the heating/plumbing trade ourselves. It is unclear whether there is any technology that makes this impossible....
Always remember that even with self-awarding, the electrical trade also plays a role here (power and control of ventilation and thermostats, distributors) – so clarify this beforehand as well.
Is the contract already signed?

Good morning Daniel,

do you perhaps know the manufacturer of the controlled residential ventilation? Maybe this will help a few experts from the forum to better classify the whole thing. Unfortunately, I can't help you with the price or whether it is expensive or not. But as mentioned, there are certainly some users who can do that.

Regarding the trade, I understand it this way: if you decide to do something yourself, everything related to it is automatically excluded. As in your case, probably the ventilation system in connection with the heating/plumbing trade. With a central system, the connection with the trades makes sense to me, but not with a decentralized system. Because who would be liable in case of a possibly improper ventilation system? Maybe you will find some information under the term retroactive self-performance.

Hello Daniel,

Only with the request for a controlled residential ventilation did my jaw drop. I have to calculate around 14k€!
For 133sqm I really find that almost outrageous.

Could it maybe be that you were offered a combined unit - air-water heat pump + ventilation?

A decentralized solution with 4 fans should cost 8k€.

With a breakthrough in every room? It also works floor by floor and then you would end up at a good 9.5k€.

But the general contractor thinks that if the ventilation system is removed, the entire heating/plumbing trade must be removed. I don’t understand the connection, but I actually don’t want that.

What do you think about that statement?

I can understand it because you would directly interfere with the plumbing trade; even more so if you would answer my initial question with "yes."

Saving through an electrician is only sensible if the provider has fulfilled his contract. Everything else only causes problems that anyone with reasonable sense wants to avoid. At least in the situation of client + general contractor.

Rhenish regards

First of all, thanks for the numerous responses!

We had an initial conversation, and soon we expect an offer. The standard heating is gas/solar, air-water heat pump with underfloor heating in the ground floor, upper floor, and basement hallway should cost about 9k€, which I considered fair.

The additional controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery is supposed to cost 14k€. I can only specify the exact technology once the offer is available.

The decentralized devices also have heat recovery, so I suspect individual units.

Hello Daniel,

Standard heating is gas/solar, air-water heat pump with underfloor heating on the ground floor, upper floor and basement hallway should cost about 9k€, I considered that fair.

Wow - if the surcharge for the air-water heat pump compared to the standard already requires this additional cost (it should be almost price-neutral; even in Bavaria) then the following paragraph

The additional controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery should cost 14k€.

really means the pure controlled residential ventilation costs and are therefore, in my opinion, out of the question; even in Bavaria!

My opinion: find another provider

Rhenish regards