Decentralised Heat Recovery

allinthehead

Was looking at adding one of these to test in living room in place of a passive vent.

Anyone have any experience with them or other brands?

https://www.bpcventilation.ie/bsk-zephyr-single-room-heat-recovery-unit

MicktheMan

Is your house reasonably airtight? Otherwise the HR bit is not really worth the bother.

I also understand these decentralised units work best in pairs such that when one is extracting the other is supplying but I have no practical experience of them.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121691528#Comment_121691528

House isn't airtight no. My thinking here is that the passive vent lets cold air in straight down on top of us on our couch. I'm thinking one of these units would give us the ventilation required without the cold draught.

MicktheMan

I see, seems logical enough.

If you do go ahead with it, would you mind posting how you get on.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121691738#Comment_121691738

Will do.

wimpybeaver

Would also love to know how you get on as I was considering similar for the same reasons and are you planning on chasing walls for the power supply to where your vent is?

If anyone knows would something like this be taken into consideration for a BER rating that would be useful too. I only care about the BER for getting a cheaper mortgage rate.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121692366#Comment_121692366

Timber frame so hopefully I can run a cable from a nearby socket without doing too much damage🤠

MicktheMan

@allinthehead .... timber frame and not air tight ... have you had or would you consider having the house tested for air leakage? ... there might be some easy wins depending which could make a big difference to your comfort.

Eleusis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121691607#Comment_121691607

I disagree that HRV only works or is even worthwhile in airtight houses. This is a misconception IMO. They can only be an improvement no matter the air tightness. Especially in place of a vent. I had a centralised one on my old house 150 old cottage with roof built in 70's with 50mm polystyrene so it was a leaky as any house could be. It improved air quality, removed mold and made the house easier to heat.

Can't speak on a non centralised one, but can only be an improvement over a vent.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121692797#Comment_121692797

Never considered it tbh. I have a thermal imaging camera which I've used to identify cold areas.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121693285#Comment_121693285

I think it should help in theory. Worth a try anyway.

allinthehead

This is why I want to do something with it.

martyc5674

Any updates?- anyone fit one?

Exiled Rebel

Not on the unit itself but the supplier in question has left a bitter taste in my mouth after buying an mvhr kit off them. Basically told to eff off when I went back to them regarding a warranty issue. Redirected me to the manufacturer saying they no longer had a relationship with them. As consumer law goes not sure where I stand with them being in a different jurisdiction.

graememk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122621733#Comment_122621733

Generally warranty is normally with the manufacturer, not the retailer. But I dont know where that sits in consumer law either.