Question about the ventilation system from Helios and whether it absolutely needs to be maintained

Hello, I am new here and have the following question:

I have been living in a house for 7 years, which has been standing for 10 years. It has a Helios ventilation system with three ventilation slots in the living room and one in the bedroom. Also outside, there is an intake grille and one for exhaust.

However, this system has never been used. There is dust from 10 years in the pipes and probably also construction debris. It has never been maintained either. Now the landlord wants to have it done. However, I am allergic to dust, am very afraid of it, and therefore have refused.

Question to the forum: Can someone tell me if such maintenance is necessary when the system is not in use? And does anyone know if maintenance can be done without running the system and completely covering my apartment interior in dust?

I would be very grateful for any advice, including reading recommendations.

Best regards

It has also never been serviced.

You wanted to say it has never been put into operation.

There is dust from 10 years in the pipes and probably construction debris as well.

Checked?

Now the landlord wants that, however. But I am allergic to dust, am very afraid of it and therefore refused.

Then let the landlord put the system into operation. Servicing a ventilation system means that the filters in the device are changed and the device is cleaned if necessary.

But I am allergic to dust,

Then you have done a huge mistake for seven years. Seriously. You have a ventilation system that ensures that air from outside is filtered, ideally even pollen. At the same time, the stale air from inside is sucked out. It has so many advantages – among others, there is less dust in the air inside the house. It’s roughly like having medicine for your dust allergy and leaving this medicine on the living room table for seven years just looking at it. That was – sorry – simply stupid of you.

Can anyone tell me if such servicing is necessary when not in use?

No, it is not.

And does anyone know if servicing can also be done without running the system?

Yes, of course – as mentioned, only filters are changed.

completely covering my apartment interior in dust?

Have it done professionally (by the landlord) and put the system into operation. Then there will also be no dust in the house (during commissioning). Use the "medicine" and enjoy less dust in the apartment = fewer health issues and less dusting/vacuuming needed. Not to mention the other advantages of the ventilation system (saving heating costs, saving airing).

Thank you very much Nordannay. Yes, the system has never been put into operation and never maintained. I have a subjective discomfort when I feel the airflow. For me, all windows must always be closed. And then I ventilate several times. That is my preference.

I was pleased to hear that the system apparently does not HAVE to be maintained. Do you happen to have a source for that?

During a maintenance attempt earlier this year, the man from the maintenance company said that if I can't stand dust, I should just go outside. But that means a lot of dust is stirred up. How is it supposed to get out of all the pipes before switching it on? Is that possible?

I am afraid the landlord will terminate my lease if I resist the maintenance. Do you have anything on that?

Many thanks in advance.

Lüftikus

I need to clarify: there were "maintenances" before, where only the filter was checked and it looked unused. That was the end of it.

This time, however, the ventilation guy came with a huge device, maybe a vacuum? And he announced that he would run the system for about 20 minutes. And I said no.

Are there valid reasons to fire or warn me if I do not want to run a system that is not being used? That is my big question. Although I still pay the maintenance costs through the operating cost statement.

For me, it is a subjective discomfort when I feel the breeze.

What discomfort with which airflow? The accusation was never on.

I was pleased to hear that the system apparently does NOT HAVE to be maintained. Do you happen to have a source for that?

No source. But also no source because maintenance must be performed. It is like a pair of jeans that has never been worn. Doesn’t have to go in the wash either.

During a maintenance attempt at the beginning of the year, the man from the maintenance company said if I can’t stand dust, I should just go outside. But that means a lot of dust is being stirred up.

You can vacuum at the openings. That will cost you money.

Are there valid reasons to terminate my contract or issue a warning if I don’t want to run a system that is not being used? That is MY BIG QUESTION. Although of course I still pay the maintenance costs via the operating cost statement.

So the landlord thinks it is being used and regularly has the filters checked (and replaced if dirty). So now he simply doesn’t feel like having the ducts cleaned for the first time. That is a completely different situation from what was described at the beginning.

Clench your buttocks, have the pipes cleaned, and above all let the system run.
Actually, as a landlord, I would also terminate you for that if you refuse to have the building’s technical installations maintained. The landlord cannot assess whether the system is used or not. It does not matter. He wants the building to keep functioning. And due to lack of maintenance, you could be expected to allow the device to develop faults.
As a landlord, I’d also be really angry if you don’t use the system. As soon as mold appears somewhere, it would be more than gross negligence on your part.

Why don't you actively talk to the landlord? Why don't you invest a few euros yourself and put filters in the outlet/inlet openings?

I have inlet and outlet openings everywhere in the concrete ceiling and have funnel filter bags inside. The pipes look like new from the inside. No dust! Incidentally, this also protects the heat exchanger and the blower itself. After 12 months, I once testwise removed the exhaust motor and looked at the turbine blades. They were like new. The manufacturer says they need to be cleaned every 2 years. I prefer to keep the exhaust air clean right away, then cleaning every 5 years is enough and the heat exchanger remains dust-free and works for a very long time with the highest possible efficiency. The filters cost 50-70€ per year. That's a restaurant visit. That should be worth the good air in the house for 365 days, shouldn't it?

If I had problems with dust, I would be most interested in a well-functioning and maintained ventilation system. That's why I don't quite understand your attitude. I personally cannot understand the argument about the draft; then throttle the air output to 20% and you won't notice the circulation at all.