Home ventilation solutions

Good ventilation in the home is becoming increasingly important, not only for the health of your home but also for the people in it. Pollution and airborne pathogens are ever-present and it’s important there’s adequate ventilation to reduce this.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at a range of home ventilation solutions that can help to reduce air pollution in the home.

Home ventilation solutions

A well-ventilated living space is a good living space. It’s essential for your building to be well-aired to maintain its value, structural integrity and maintain a healthy environment.

Whether you’re facing problems of condensation, damp, mould or simply want to improve your indoor air quality, there are a number of home ventilation systems to choose from, starting from the most basic vent right up to mechanical ventilation and heat recovery.

Here are some of your options:

1. Extractor fan: The most common of ventilation systems and you probably already have one in your bathroom or kitchen. An extractor fan will suck out damp air, creating low pressure that draws in dry, fresh air.
2. Trickle vents: These are the slit-like vents found at the top of double glazed windows. When open they enable ventilation of a room and it’s good to have them open around the house to create an airflow. They do, however, rely on wind and air pressure to work, as they have no electrically-powered fan.
3. Positive input ventilators (PIV): If you have condensation in your home, then the professional installation of this type of ventilation system could be a good solution. Typically, the unit will sit in your loft and draw in fresh air from the outside using a powered fan, this air is then sent via ducting into your rooms, pushing internal stale or damp air out through vents or the gaps in your walls, floors and doors.
4. Heat exchanger: Also known as Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR), this system is again typically located in a loft space, pulling warm stale air out of your home and extracting the heat before sending it outside. It then uses this heat to warm up the fresh cold air being pulled in, therefore ‘exchanging the heat’.

The best way to know which ventilation system is right for your home is to speak to an expert. Enter your postcode below to find home ventilation specialists that have been recommended by your neighbours.

Home ventilation kits

You can buy entire home ventilation kits for your property to either install yourself if you’re competent in this area of specialism, or by a tradesperson. Expert installation is always advisable, as kits are not cheap and they need to be run through the structural fabric of your home.

The benefit of a home ventilation kit is you can get everything you need for property and ventilation requirements in an off-the-shelf system. They can be retrofitted to existing properties of all kinds, or installed during the construction of a new building.

Here are some considerations when researching the right kit for your home:

• Make sure you buy a complete kit so all of the parts will match.
• Check its suitability for the size of your home and the number of rooms.
• Get a full breakdown of parts included for your chosen installer to check.
• Be sure to buy from a manufacturer that provides a support line.
• Remember to factor in the additional cost of ducting and check size requirements when ordering your kit.

Cost of home ventilation systems

As you now know, there’s a range of home ventilation systems to choose from depending on the types of indoor air pollution you’re attempting to control. As you’d expect the cost of these systems varies, too. Here’s a rundown of the most common:

Extractor fan installation cost

For installation of a basic extractor fan, you can expect to pay on average £175 for a replacement and £300 for a new fan.

Roof vent installation cost

If you’re looking to install roof vents to improve airflow in your loft, the cost of 20 circular/eaves vents installed on the front and back of your terraced or semi-detached house will start at around £250.

MVHR installation cost

If you need comprehensive air ventilation and removal of indoor pollution, expect to pay on average between £2,000 – £4,000 for domestic MVHR installation. Your exact price will depend on whether you’re retrofitting and be influenced by the following factors:

• The complexities of your property
• Your energy needs
• Your property size
• Pipework access

Ways to reduce indoor air pollution

As well as all of the ways mentioned above, there are other ways to reduce indoor air pollution. These include stand-alone, plug-in HEPA air filter units, as well as using vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter installed.

Alternatively, for the most basic of solutions, you can adopt a regime of opening your windows periodically throughout the day, such as every morning when you get up and in the evening when you return from work.

Opening windows on opposite sides of your home (and keeping doors open between them) will ventilate that part of your home. Just be aware that you won’t be able to control the quality of the air you’re letting in.

FAQs

How can I measure air pollution at home?

You can purchase an indoor air quality monitor to constantly keep an eye on the quality of the air in your home. Each unit will vary in what it detects and displays, such as levels of humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and chemical pollutants.

What are indoor air pollution sources?

Typical indoor air pollutants include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), mould, vehicle fumes and water vapour.

What is the difference between indoor and outdoor air pollution?

Outdoor pollution is any pollutant found in the air outside a property, such as vehicle fumes, industrial pollution and light pollution. Indoor pollution is simply the gathering of various types of pollution inside your property.

This can include pollution coming in from outside, but also internal pollution sources, such as mould, humidity and carbon monoxide.

What are the effects of indoor air pollution on human health?

Effects will vary depending on the type of pollution being experienced. Humidity and mould issues may cause difficulty breathing or chest infections, whereas carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are more serious and can have serious implications.

Hiring a professional

Reducing pollution in the home is so important for both the health of the people in it and the health and structure of the building. We would always recommend hiring an expert to assess your levels of indoor pollution and professionally install an appropriate ventilation solution.

To speak to a local ventilation specialist, simply enter your postcode in the free search tool below to find experts recommended by your neighbours.