Ventilation renovation – aiming at the easy of use
The ventilation renovation of the detached house built in the 2000s was completed smoothly without any changes having to be made to the duct network.
Updating the house and technology
Built in 2001, the home of Anne-Mari and Jesse is a typical detached house built in the early 2000s: one floor, 140 m2, direct electric heating, and ventilation equipped with a heat recovery cell implemented by using MUH Ilmava OK, the most popular ventilation unit of the era. After nearly 20 years of operation, the technology and structures were, however, due for an update.
The sporty family was to grow with a second son, increasing the appreciation of functional bathroom and utility premises. For this reason, the utility room, sauna, bathroom, and toilet were fully renovated. To ensure that the newly renovated premises would remain pleasant, the family decided to update the ventilation system. New ventilation units are naturally significantly more energy-efficient than older models, but the family was mainly looking for the easy of use.
The ventilation unit is located in warm storage premises that can be accessed from outdoors. The location of the ventilation unit on the other side of the bathroom wall is ideal but the operating switches of the old unit were fixed. For this reason, the switches located close to the ceiling of the storage premises were rarely used, and the standard efficiency and temperature settings of the ventilation unit were used almost constantly.
New unit, new features
Vallox 121 SE was a natural choice, as the duct network of the old MUH Ilmava could be used without any changes to install the new ventilation unit. The controlling of the new unit is very different from the old unit installed twenty years ago. The most significant change in the controlling of the unit is adjusting the fan speed based on humidity. A humidity sensor connected to the ventilation unit was installed in the bathroom. The sensor adjusts the ventilation based on the need. The control panel was installed in the light switch group of the utility room together with the controls of the sauna stove, as this way it was always visible.
Vallox 125 MV can replace dozens of old ventilation unit models, including Vallox MUH Ilmava and Vallox 121
In this example from 2017, an old ventilation unit was replaced by the Vallox 121 SE. The Vallox 125 MV has since replaced the mentioned unit, offering a more modern alternative for replacing an old ventilation machine.
Learn more: Vallox 125 MV
In a sporty family with small children, the bathroom is in constant use. Also the washing machine is used almost daily. Now the ventilation is boosted based on the need when the humidity level increases. The drying of clothes, for example, boosts the ventilation only slightly, whilst the use of the sauna, which generates plenty of humidity, usually causes the ventilation to be boosted to the maximum level. The ventilation is reduced automatically when the premises become dry without the user having to remember to operate the controls manually. The automated heat recovery cell by-pass of Vallox 121 also helps keep the house suitably warm. As ventilation is not necessarily the main priority of the busy family at all times, it is handy that the maintenance reminder notifies them of the need to replace the filters.
Ventilation renovation is not only about replacing the ventilation unit
As always, also this renovation started with demolition work. The ventilation unit was removed and the ducts were swept. The replaceable summer cell of the old unit was sent to recycling together with the main body of the unit. The original sound dampening was implemented well and did not require any improvement. The new system is still quieter than the old one. The only significant change in the duct network is the outdoor grille, with was replaced with a larger one. The thermal insulation of the ventilation ducts was found to be appropriate but the fire insulation of the cooker hood duct was upgraded to comply with modern standards.
The new ventilation unit was mounted on the wall in the same place as the old one so that the duct outlets matched exactly. Closed cell insulation sock was installed around the outdoor and exhaust air duct as condensate insulation. Thanks to its high efficiency rate, the exhaust air of Vallox 121 is very cold, meaning that an uninsulated exhaust air duct can produce condensing water even in dry storage premises.
The new ventilation unit is plugged in the same power socket than the old one but wires were led for the control panel and the humidity sensor into the utility room and the bathroom. Condensing water was led to the door drain underneath the boiler. Finally, the airflows were adjusted. DC fans that can be adjusted separately and steplessly make adjusting the Vallox 121 ventilation unit easier and contribute to silent and inconspicuous ventilation.
Next stops shower and bed
Anne-Mari and Jesse are especially pleased with the ease and quietness of the ventilation. In the old unit, the cell was replaced with a summer cell in the summer month to prevent the house from becoming too hot. If the residents forgot to replace the cell in the autumn, a lot of heating energy was wasted. The automated Vallox 121 never forgets. On cold spring days, the heat recovery cell heats the supply air pleasingly warm, but when the outdoor temperature increases, the heat recovery cell is bypassed and the building is cooled down by using the outdoor air at night. The airflow in the bedroom was boosted in connection to the renovation, contributing to a good night’s sleep.
Should the lifestyle of the active family slow down at some point, the ventilation unit includes the option to programme the times when the family is at home and when it is away. The maintenance reminder reminds when the filters need to be changed. Fresh indoor air is important to everyone. The draft of the fireplace has usually been good, but the fireplace mode that is a standard feature of Vallox 121 SE is still an additional bonus. The mode can be used for creating a temporary underpressure in the house if the draft is affected by weather conditions.
The humidity sensor located on the bathroom wall is, however, the best feature of the system according to the entire family. There is no need to operate the ventilation switches constantly despite the active lifestyle of the family, as the automated humidity control keeps ventilation at an appropriate level and ensure that the wetroom premises dry quickly after use. Valtteri, 5, and Verneri, 6 months, are still indifferent to these finesses. For them, being able to play with water is the best feature.
Basic information:
Building: detached house
Year of construction: 2001
Renovated: 2016-2017
Surface area: 140 m2
Ventilation unit: Vallox 121 SE