Today’s properties are so efficient at keeping warm air inside that ventilation can become a problem. Stale, damp air can become trapped in your home, meaning the only way to freshen the air is to open the windows, causing you to lose heat.
Whole house ventilation provides air circulation for the entire property rather than a single room. A Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) unit draws fresh and filtered air into your property while displacing damp and stale air from the inside.
Without an effective ventilation system in the newer airtight properties, stale, damp and polluted air will fill the house, creating the right environment for condensation and the growth of mould.
What Is Positive Input Ventilation (PIV)?
Positive input ventilation is usually a loft-mounted home ventilation system that consists of a ventilation unit that blows freshly filtered air throughout a property via a ceiling-mounted air valve or diffuser. This creates a slight positive pressure the house. For Flats or Apartments, a wall-mounted PIV unit is used.
Given that a large family can release in excess of 16 litres of water a day just by breathing, cooking, washing laundry and showering, the positive input ventilation system ensures that the air within a property is maintained with a level of moisture that does not risk the formation of condensation and mould growth.
Damp air and condensation provide the perfect environment for mould and dust mites to grow and thrive. By eliminating excess moisture from the air, a home ventilation system helps to prevent damp and the onset of related damp issues by creating a consistent flow of fresh air from outside into your property.
There are several benefits for you and your property from the positive input ventilation system, including lower air moisture content. Pollutants from fuels you burn in your home linger in the air, but a home ventilation system pushes these pollutants out of the property. In addition, these ventilation systems are known to reduce the population of dust mites, meaning they are hugely beneficial for anyone suffering with respiratory issues such as asthma.
The positive input ventilation unit is energy efficient, quiet and helps to remove odours. By redistributing hot air, it can reduce heating costs and prevent the need for you to open windows to reduce a room’s humidity. If you are wondering if the PIV unit draws cold air, note that it has a built-in heater that will preheat the air before it enters your home.
Home ventilation systems, in particular positive input ventilation units, are not dependant on the type of property you own. Whether you live in a flat, bungalow or house, we can install a positive input ventilation system in your home.
There are two different types of units to help accommodate every need. The loft mounted unit is the most common. The positive input ventilation unit is mounted in the loft and can take advantage of heat in your loft from solar temperature gain. It is hidden out of site and is installed with a preheater for use during periods of low external temperatures.
The wall-mounted unit is used for Flats and Apartments as they may not have a loft space directly above the property.
Air pollutants, stale and damp air are just some of the factors creating poor air quality in your home. A positive input ventilation system helps to freshen the air and help prevent condensation and mould.
Here at Richardson & Starling we can help reduce the moisture content of the air in your property with a whole house ventilation system. Contact your local branch today and our PCA accredited specialist team will organise a survey to assess which ventilation unit is most beneficial for your property.
