Mechanical ventilation, 7 reasons to install it in your home

Mechanical ventilation is a reality in the Spanish residential sector. Although it is still quite unknown to many, mechanical air renewal systems are one of the best solutions to face the necessary energy change and also to ensure the health of all of us indoors.

Currently, in the constructions that are starting to be carried out of a public nature, compliance with the Nearly Zero Energy Building regulations must be respected, which will be mandatory for all works in 2020. And to do this, it is essential to have solutions for mechanical ventilation indoors.

We explain in 7 sections why installing a mechanical ventilation system in your home is one of the best decisions you can make for your health and sustainability.

1. Mechanical ventilation helps us avoid diseases

The main argument in favor of mechanical ventilation is that it is necessary for health. Modern constructions are much more airtight, so air is not necessarily filtered. This is why we need a ventilation system to introduce air and also to eliminate it.

Only hybrid systems depend under certain conditions on natural ventilation. Simple flow mechanical systems always mechanically extract air, while it enters from the outside through ventilation grilles.

The healthiest systems are double flow mechanical ventilation systems, which include intake and exhaust ducts to ensure the best airflow.

This way, the air we breathe at home never loses quality or gets contaminated, and the moment that happens, it is extracted automatically. We avoid diseases and respiratory complications.

2. Forget about humidity, bacteria, and insects

Humidity is one of the biggest problems in indoor environments. Thanks to the use of mechanical ventilation, we avoid the source of the problem, which is poor air circulation and excess water vapor.

Moreover, the mechanical ventilation systems are automatic and always operate, so they never turn off. Therefore, with the windows closed and air renewal handled by the system, we avoid the entry of mosquitoes or other insects when the air is filtered.

3. We breathe purer air than outdoors and without pollution

One of the main benefits of double flow mechanical ventilation is that it can filter the incoming air indoors. Thus, no contaminating particles will enter, and the air we breathe at home will always be of much higher quality than that outside.

It is a way to purify the air without the need for devices that have leakage zones. Double flow ventilation controls all air paths in each room.

4. It is totally automatic, without worrying about anything

Mechanical ventilation is so simple that it doesn't even have a button to be activated. In fact, it is always on. Does this mean it uses a lot of energy? On the contrary, as it is an energy-efficient mechanism.

Automation is accomplished through sensors and detectors that measure air quality and adjust the flow accordingly. If, for example, there is cooking or smoke in the house, the extraction will be very high. But if there is no one in the room at that moment, the system will adjust to that.

5. Additionally, ventilation is quieter than other mechanisms

Mechanical ventilation is very quiet, quieter than air conditioning units and also traditional fans. If it comes to custom installations, it is possible to place the fan in an area of the home where there is no daily activity, such as the garage, thus avoiding noise problems.

6. Perfect for Nearly Zero Energy Building

Energy certifications like BREEAM or Passivhaus agree on the use of double flow mechanical ventilation. It is also the ideal solution for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings. This is because it is possible to dispense with traditional air conditioning systems through heat recovery.

Mechanical ventilation combined with an airtight construction can heat homes in winter and cool them in summer, if equipped with heat recovery units.

7. It is highly energy efficient

An example: energy mortgages, which are granted to homes that are more ecological and consume less, have a maximum discount rate for greener homes. And for that maximum level of discount, the installation of a double flow mechanical ventilation system is mandatory.

It is estimated that up to 90% of the heat from a home can be recovered in winter through double flow ventilation. This way, the use of heating—and in summer of air conditioning—which is the equipment that consumes the most in a home is avoided.