Ventilate your home, it’s good for you!
Regularly changing the air in your home will keep you in good health, as it will:
- Remove condensation, moisture, odours, and pollutants that build up in your home
- Help prevent mould growth - remember to tell us as soon as possible if you're concerned about damp, mould or condensation in your home
- Create a better, fresher living environment
- Reduce damage to your belongings and the structure of your home caused by the effects of condensation
Without good ventilation, there will be more substances in the air that can cause harm to you and your family. These include pollutants from cooking, cleaning products, hygiene products, and fabric furnishings.
Tips for achieving the right ventilation in your home
- Always leave trickle vents open and unblocked, even in winter. You will use a little more energy to heat your home, but you'll have fresh air to help prevent illnesses
- Where possible leave doors between rooms open (not during or after bathing/showering or whilst cooking), to ensure cross-ventilation. This will further improve the amount of fresh air drawn into and around your home. Remember though not to prop open fire doors
- Regularly clean any extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens and ensure these are used on the correct settings and switched on when needed - even better if your fan has a humidistat that automatically turns itself on and off as moisture increases and falls
- Check the manufacturer's instructions for any whole house mechanical ventilation system you have and ensure the filters are replaced in line with those instructions, usually this will be annually
FAQs
We suggest you open the windows for at least five minutes each day, but ideally for 15-20 minutes daily. This amount of ventilation significantly improves indoor air quality. For a strong ventilation, open the front and back door, along with any windows in between.
You need to be aware of security issues, so don’t leave windows open when the home is unoccupied.
If you open the windows for 15 minutes just before you go to work or go out in the morning, and again in the evening or before putting the heating on, you will be getting the ventilation/heat loss balance about right.
Remember, when moisture vapour is at high levels - such as when showering/bathing or cooking - open the windows.
Water has more thermal mass than air - in other words, it can store more heat. This same concept applies to heating air – it takes more energy to heat moisture than dry air, so get rid of the moist air by opening windows and then heat the fresh air.
Remember:
- High levels of humidity are damaging to your health - and your pocket
- High humidity makes a space feel cooler
- Ventilating your home will help to keep you healthy.
Positive Input Ventilation systems
Have you been recommended a Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) system?
A Positive Input Ventilation, or PIV, system is a ventilation unit that eliminates condensation by introducing fresh, filtered air into your home that replaces humid, moist air. PIV units are usually installed in a loft and draw external air in through a filtration system at a continuous rate. This steady flow of fresh air is moved around the home and creates pressure that forces the stale air out of the home before it can form condensation on windows and other cold surfaces.
Although PIV systems are traditionally installed in the loft, there are units available that can be installed in external walls so that flats and homes without a loft can still benefit from its effects.
Does Positive Input Ventilation make your house cold?
PIV works by drawing in fresh air, usually from your loft. When the outside temperature is very cold and if your roof isn’t well insulated, the air being brought in will be cold too. However, the effects of this shouldn’t be severe.
Positive Input Ventilation vs dehumidifiers
Like PIV, dehumidifiers also work to reduce condensation. They do this by drawing in air, passing it across a cooled surface and collecting the moisture that condenses. Essentially, they trap moisture-laden air and capture the water in a collection tray.
Dehumidifier units are freestanding plug-in devices that only work in one room at a time. They are generally manually operated and require upkeep to maintain as their collection trays need to be emptied, and they need to be cleaned. They can cost a significant amount to operate if they’re constantly on in large rooms or hallways.
The continuous running cost of PIV systems depends on the type of unit but an unheated unit can cost as little as 1-2p per day, or just a few pounds a year.
Are PIV units noisy?
PIV units should be almost inaudible. The system uses a fan to encourage the flow of air, but at such a low level that you shouldn’t be able to hear it operating, particularly when installed in a loft.