Replacing an old ventilation unit in a 1990s house

The old ventilation unit in a detached house built in the 1990s in Tampere, Finland was replaced with the Vallox 125 MV ventilation unit last autumn as part of a renovation project. Supervisor Lassi Saarikko from the Kangasalan Putkilämpö company recommends thinking ahead as regards the purchase of a new ventilation unit: it is better that it is you, not the broken unit, who determines the time of the replacement.

“The service life of technical equipment is about 20–25 years. With respect to energy efficiency, it is advisable to replace the old unit with a modern one if a lot of heat is lost through ventilation. Old ventilation units have a heat recovery rate of approximately 40 per cent, while the newest units may even achieve 80 per cent.”

Installation in a couple of days

The ventilation renovation project, from dismantling the old unit to installing the new one, took a couple of days. Vallox 125 MV is designed to fit to the duct outlets of the old units. Therefore, there is very little need to adjust the ducts when installing the new unit. Saarikko says that this makes the installation faster and the result is very tidy. After the installation, the resident just has to change the filters a couple of times a year and clean the HR cell once a year. The cell is easy to remove for cleaning. When more demanding maintenance measures are needed, you should consult a professional.

New ventilation units are modern

A new ventilation unit is more energy efficient than the old one. It recovers more heat from the extract air, but it also consumes less electricity. In houses with direct electric heating, it is possible to directly influence energy consumption with ventilation. According to Saarikko, it may even save more energy than an air-to-air heat pump.

Modern ventilation units are easier to use than old ones. The integrated automation detects the humidity and carbon dioxide content of indoor air and automatically adjusts ventilation accordingly. The control panel of the new unit is also easy to use, although there is not much need for it.

Kangasalan Putkilämpö Oy is the oldest HVAC company in the Finnish Pirkanmaa province. It has already provided homes with heat and water for over 70 years. Kangasalan Putkilämpö Oy is part of the Hanakat chain.

Read the full original text at www.hanakat.fi