HRV - pulling smoke into house

Quack13

At the weekend there was someone burning some sticks/twigs in the field next to our house. We headed out for a few hours and when we got back into the house I notice a smell of smoke/burning throughout the house.

When I went upstairs the smell was even worse. More so in rooms with the doors locked.
Our walk in wardrobe was the worst effected (smallest room and door closed), with our clothes all stinking of smoke!

My major concern is the fact we have 2 young children in the house (3yr old and 2 month old) - and its not a good scenario for them from a health point of view.

Has anyone any idea how to curtail this?
I know the HRV intake has filters but Im assuming its not meant to stop smoke?

Are we just to turn off the HRV system if there is smoke in the air around the house again?

Let me add the house is an airtight build, and we do require the HRV for ventilation.

I know it seems silly, buts its an issue I never thought of discussing with HRV manufacturer before purchase. The issue of taking in harmful gases if in the external air, and pumping them directly into my kids bedrooms.

Anyone have any similar experiences here or any suggestions?

Jumpy

Its the same as if you were standing outside.

I am not seeing the problem here.

You can switch off the fans the same way you could close the windows (yes I know they are automatic, but there is a main switch)

The filters I have seen wont stop smoke, unless there is a special one you can get, but it needs high throughput so anything that filters particulates to that level would cause problems.

Quack13

Jumpy wrote: »

Its the same as if you were standing outside.

I am not seeing the problem here.

Are you serious??

You cannot see a problem with fumes being pumped into a sealed room with a child asleep in there?

sydthebeat

i believe the problem here is the guy burning the sticks... its illegal for a start.
its also very inconsiderate of him to send smoke in the wind direction to your home.

regarding the HRV, i dont believe you would be doing any harm by switching it off for the few hours needed.

even with no hrv, you would have wall vents which would allow this smoky air in....

Quack13

Yeah I understand the issue with the illegal fire alright and will address that.

Just got me thinking if we were asleep at night and there happened to be a large fire nearby and the smoke blew towards our house - or a similar scenario.

sydthebeat

i wonder do you need to get the pressure differentials checked to see if it is extracting at the correct rate?

Quack13

Can you expand on this slightly?

You mean check the flow of the air that is being drawn out of the rooms?

sinnerboy

I argue the HRV installations must be linked to the smoke detectors or fire alarm to power down in the event of a fire in the house as a standard provision. If you have not done so please seek to retro fit.

In the meantime did your smoke detectors not sound when the HRV pulled the neighbors smoke in ?

Jumpy

Quack13 wrote: »

Are you serious??

You cannot see a problem with fumes being pumped into a sealed room with a child asleep in there?

Its not fumes. Its 99.999% air with a smoky smell. Very minor particulates.

Its also not pumped into a sealed room. Its pulled via your vents on its way to the HRV unit.

Again, same as an open window with a breeze. Simply turn off the device or close your vents.

tred

sinnerboy wrote: »

I argue the HRV installations must be linked to the smoke detectors or fire alarm to power down in the event of a fire in the house as a standard provision. If you have not done so please seek to retro fit.

In the meantime did your smoke detectors not sound when the HRV pulled the neighbors smoke in ?

I agree with this. What would stop some messer lighing a big fire at the back of the house to smoke people out!!!

sinnerboy

A bit extreme that though many poor souls in England face just that over these few days. More to worry about than HRV in such a case !

A neighbor of mine in a Dublin suburb ( well to the rear and about 10 houses to the left ) once lit a nasty foul smelling fire and someone called the fire brigade
( not me , didn't think of it ) I heard they put the fire out and billed the culprit.

Mellor

Quack13 wrote: »

Are you serious??

You cannot see a problem with fumes being pumped into a sealed room with a child asleep in there?

I think he meant he didn't see the problem with turning off the fans when required