Decentralized Ventilation Experiences

Hello,

perhaps some of you have experience with this and can share it with me. It’s about the consideration of installing ventilation units with heat recovery (WRG). For example, the Ambientika Advanced model from Südwind, or from another manufacturer.

Is there anything you need to pay attention to? Where should such a device be placed?

And another question in this context: in the guest WC or bathroom, there is the consideration to install an exhaust fan. What do you need to pay attention to there? There are devices under €50 and of course much more expensive ones. Do the inexpensive ones also do their job?

Thank you for your feedback!

Ventilation always requires a concept. Simply installing a few fans here and there is wasted money.

Before doing nothing, such parts in the bathroom and kitchen are better than nothing. A properly planned central controlled residential ventilation system is still more sensible. Properly planned decentralized is also not cheaper.

Well... we ventilate moderately without a clear concept using decentralized devices in bedrooms, partly in living rooms and bathrooms. And we are very satisfied. Devices in the bathroom cost about 100,- each. Other devices about 1000,- each. There are many providers; I cannot say anything explicit about the mentioned devices.

For devices in living rooms, but especially bedrooms, and also for bathroom ventilators when the bathroom is next to a bedroom, you must urgently pay attention to the noise, so choose the quietest device you can find; during installation, there may be options to minimize the noise. One must distinguish between the noises the device itself makes and the noises that enter the room through the wall opening from outside. Usually, only the first component is important. The second component is important if there is a lot of noise around the apartment/house.

We have devices that can easily be completely turned off -- that is great! However, you must not do this for too long, because the moving air during device operation is important to prevent contamination (fungi, bacteria, etc. are very sensitive to wind).

PS: Fans that only expel air outside, like many bathroom fans, can of course remain turned off indefinitely. Only with fans that also blow supply air into the room is it important that this supply air is clean. And this should also be warmed by a heat exchanger (here, one can pay attention to the efficiency). These devices have replaceable filters that collect dust, etc., and regular airflow minimizes the risk of mold/bacteria.