16.07.2024

I. Air exchange in a house or apartment: where is the best place to start?

Fresh air exchange is one of the most important things to pay attention to when buying or building a new home, as it determines the long-term durability of the home's interior against unwanted elements and the livability of the space - it goes without saying that a room with a constant supply of fresh air is going to increase productivity and be more pleasant to live in than a room where the air cannot exchange quickly enough and remains stale. 

In the past, many buildings were constructed with only natural methods of air exchange in mind: ventilation shafts, small ventilation windows as part of the overall room window. Whereas for an old log house or panel apartment such an air exchange system used to be sufficient, nowadays, especially in the light of renovations carried out with the main aim of improving the thermal insulation of the building (facade insulation, installation of double-glazed windows, etc.), air exchange is reduced and unfavourable conditions are created for the occupant and for the quality of the home (too much humidity or dryness can cause damage to finishes or even the introduction of mould into the room). For this reason, forced air exchangers - air recuperators and fans - are increasingly being installed in renovated houses (and have also become mandatory in new buildings). 

Air recuperators are generally more expensive than natural ventilation systems, require an electrical connection and set-up, but unlike natural ventilation systems, they can exchange air more efficiently and, depending on the equipment chosen, effectively maintain the room temperature without causing air exchange problems on the coldest and hottest days of the year.

The aim of this series of articles will be to introduce you to the two most common types of forced air exchange units - centralised and decentralised heat recovery units - and to help you understand which one will be most suitable for your home, their advantages and disadvantages. 

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