What to look for when choosing a ventilation system?
Ventilation systems play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and comfortable indoor climate throughout the home. Not only do they ensure a continuous improvement in air quality by reliably removing stale air and pollutants, but they also contribute significantly to energy savings. Thanks to automatic air exchange, it is no longer necessary to open the windows regularly. This keeps the heat generated by the heating system in the room, leading to a noticeable reduction in heating costs, especially during the cold months. At the same time, you benefit from a constant supply of fresh air without having to sacrifice your comfort temperature. To make the most of the numerous advantages of modern ventilation technology, various factors should be considered when selecting the right system.
The right ventilation solution for your specific living situation
Stale air, unpleasant odours and the formation of mould due to excessive humidity: there are enough reasons for regular ventilation. Especially in winter, however, constant ventilation has its proverbial price: the expensively generated heat gets back outside through the open windows.
In addition, buildings today are built as airtight as possible to prevent heat loss. Classic window ventilation is hardly sufficient to create the desired indoor air quality. An individual ventilation concept with a ventilation system adapted to the building situation and the usage habits of the rooms is needed.
Central vs. decentralised ventilation
When choosing a ventilation system, you can decide between centralised and decentralised ventilation. The biggest difference between the two systems is their function. While decentralised ventilation is installed in each room and works individually and across rooms, central ventilation is more suitable for large areas.
Advantages of decentralised ventilation:
- High energy efficiency
- Implementation of individual ventilation concepts
- Simple installation without additional piping
- Flexible installation location
- Individual control options
When installing a decentralised ventilation system, it is also possible to install it in individual rooms only. This brings decisive price advantages compared to central ventilation systems.
With or without heat recovery
There are different types of systems, either with or without heat recovery. Pure exhaust air systems are ideal for functional rooms such as the WC or utility rooms. Exhaust air is transported outside via air ducts and fresh air is returned to the room through special external wall diffusers.
Ventilation systems with heat recovery are highly efficient. Rooms are equipped with fans that have a heat recovery function. Fresh air flows into the rooms through special fans without causing high energy losses.
⇒ Note on hybrid systems
LUNOS also offers hybrid systems for demand-oriented living space ventilation. In this case, functional rooms are ventilated cost-efficiently via pure extract air systems, while living rooms and bedrooms are equipped with a ventilation system with integrated heat recovery.
Retrofitting
When deciding to retrofit a ventilation system, it is particularly important to ensure that the chosen system is designed for retrofitting. Especially in existing buildings, such as older structures or even historic buildings, conventional central ventilation systems often pose a major challenge because they require extensive structural modifications. In such cases, decentralized ventilation systems offer an ideal solution for meeting the extensive requirements of historic preservation. These systems can be integrated into individual rooms with minimal structural work and do not require complex air ducts, making them particularly flexible and adaptable.
We demonstrate what this can look like in a historic building and how the retrofit was implemented in the example of the “Kaiservilla in Potsdam”.
Energy-efficient
The EnEV now places strict requirements on the energy efficiency of new buildings. Even in the context of refurbishment projects, building owners must ensure that the building is equipped with an appropriate energy level. If you decide to install a ventilation system, make sure that it is energy-efficient. You can read about the ventilation requirements in the EnEV/GEG here.
Government subsidies
If a ventilation system can significantly improve the energy-saving potential of a house, then the state rewards its installation with appropriate subsidies. To ensure that the investment in your ventilation system is also financially worthwhile, pay attention to the eligibility for subsidies when purchasing. So it's good to know that ventilation systems from LUNOS are eligible for subsidies due to their high efficiency.