Ventilation Systems: Auckland, Christchurch & NZ Wide

A home ventilation system can help improve indoor air quality, reduce moisture levels, prevent the growth of mould and mildew, and reduce the risk of respiratory problems. It can also help regulate temperature and reduce heating and cooling costs.

Heating costs can be reduced because humid air is harder to heat.

Why does window condensation form?

Window condensation forms on the inside of windows during winter because the temperature inside the home is warmer than the temperature outside. When warm, moist air comes into contact with the cold surface of the window, the water vapor in the air condenses into liquid droplets on the glass. This is because cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air, so the excess moisture in the air is deposited as condensation on the coldest surfaces, such as windows.

Factors that can contribute to window condensation include high indoor humidity levels, poor ventilation, and inefficient windows. To reduce window condensation, it's important to keep indoor humidity levels below 60%, ensure proper ventilation by using exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms and ensure sufficint air-changes in bedrooms.

Will a ventilation system help?

Yes, a ventilation system can help fix crying windows and condensation by improving indoor air quality and reducing moisture levels in the home. By circulating fresh air throughout the home, a ventilation system helps to remove stale, moisture-laden air, reducing the amount of water vapor in the air that can contribute to condensation on windows.

A well-designed and properly installed ventilation system can also help to reduce humidity levels in the home, which is a major contributor to window condensation. By reducing moisture levels in the air, a ventilation system can help prevent the growth of mould and mildew, improve indoor air quality, and create a more comfortable living environment.

However, it's important to note that a ventilation system is not a cure-all for window condensation and crying windows. Other factors, such as inefficient windows or poor insulation, can also contribute to condensation problems. A comprehensive approach that addresses all the contributing factors is often necessary to effectively eliminate window condensation and crying windows.

The main component of a ventilation system is the fan. A two-vent system costs around $15 per month running continuously - that's around 2c per hour. A 4-room system costs around 3c per hour. This estimate is based on 27c/kWhr.

Positive pressure systems push out the damp, stale air through gaps around doors and windows in older homes (pre-2000) and positively pressurise fresh, dry filtered air in from either the ceiling space or from outside into your home.

Unlike extractors, a positive pressure system can ventilate multiple rooms and is usually used as a whole home ventilation system, particularly in homes which are not tightly sealed.

They source air from the roof space (winter) or outside (summer) and use a fan with a filter to push air into your house creating a slight positive pressure displacing existing air with fresh air. These systems are good for reducing condensation and moisture which can contribute to mould, they also reduce heating and cooling costs by utilising freely available warmth from the roof space in the daytime in winter, and outside air at night in summer for cooling. This system works effectively in older homes but more airtight homes should consider a heat recovery or energy recovery system that draws the stale air out as it introduces fresh air.

Read more about Positive Pressure ventilation systems here.

Most ventilation systems rely on having a roof space to run the ducting to the various rooms. If you don't have a roof space your options are limited, however some options are:

• There are through-the-wall options on a room by room basis. The SmartVent option for this incorporates heat recovery efficiency.
• There are options for skirting roof cavities.
• When renovating or replacing the roof, there are options to be able to run ducting during the construction phase.

Our standard ventilation systems can cover 1-6 rooms using one outlet per room. Additional kits can be utilised to extend to up to 12 rooms. Note that particularly large rooms may need more than one outlet.

Balanced Ventilation systems for air-tight homes

In new or tightly-sealed homes, a balanced system is needed as it removes moist, stale air while at the same time replacing it with fresh air.

Energy & heat recovery systems remove warm and damp air from living spaces and pass it through a heat recovery system (also known as a heat exchanger) to warm up dry, cool air which has been pulled in from outside.

These balanced ventilation systems have 1 fan to supply air to the home and 1 fan to remove air at the same rate - which creates gentle circulation and keeps the air filtered and fresh. There are whole home, single or multi-room solutions available. An Energy and Heat Recovery system is generally a balanced pressure system but can be configured to be either a slight positive or negative pressure system by adjusting the speed of the supply and exhaust air fans.

Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) also known as Energy Recovery systems

A Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system is a type of mechanical ventilation system that is designed to provide fresh air to a building while also recovering heat from the outgoing stale air. The system works by using a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the outgoing air to the incoming air, which reduces the amount of energy needed to heat or cool the building.

In New Zealand, HRV is also a brand name of a ventilation system that may or may not have heat recovery ventilation technology.

There are many home ventilation systems in New Zealand with different technologies and designs. Brightr ranges both Smart Vent and mitsubishi Lossnay ventilation systems.

It doesn’t matter how dirty the air is in your roof space, the high quality filters in the ventilation system will remove dust and any airborne particles to ensure only fresh, filtered air is transferred into your home, keeping it clean and healthy.

Dust, pollen, bacteria, smoke (from cooking) and other airborne particles are filtered by the ventilation system.

Change Ventilation Filters for a Healthy Home.

SmartVent filters are recommended to be changed every 12 months for maximum effectiveness but your controller will indicate when it is necessary.

Charcoal and HEPA filters usually require 6 monthly changes.

The great aspect about SmartVent filters is that you can easily change them yourself, alternatively we offer a full filter change and service check. Read more here.

Depending on the ventilation system you have, there are filter cartridges, carbon filters or HEPA filters available. They do need changing every 6-12 months depending on the type, and are extremely efficient in preventing the spread of airborne bacteria, odours, pollutants, particles, dust, pollen and allergens. We can help, read more here.