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When a property in Cirencester, Gloucestershire was in desperate need of a whole house ventilation system, Vent-Axia was only too happy to step in. The company supplied its energy efficient Sentinel Kinetic mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) unit to the BBC One series 'DIY SOS: The Big Build' as part of a life changing transformation to the home of the family.
The home was undergoing an extensive refurbishment programme after it had been left half renovated due to a lack of funds. The situation had caused an enormous strain on the family and exacerbated the depression suffered by the mother and daughter. In the project, Vent-Axia’s solution has helped to provide excellent indoor air quality and a reduced carbon footprint to the property, thanks to the company’s pioneering Lo-Carbon™ technology.
“The whole house was fitted with new windows and was completely reinsulated meaning a heat recovery system would work perfectly” comments Charlie Luxton from Charlie Luxton Design who led the project team. “I have worked with Vent-Axia previously and am always impressed with the effectiveness of its products. Vent-Axia’s Sentinel Kinetic technology is very quiet in operation, meaning the homeowner can keep the ventilation system working continuously without it affecting their day to day life. We also included a boost button near to the sink so the ventilation can be increased when needed.”
Charlie continues “Keeping humidity down in old buildings is often a problem but with the humidistat key in the Sentinel Kinetic this issue is solved. I also like the fact there is a manual override on the Sentinel Kinetic and that it does not need to be connected to the light switch.”
A whole house, multi-room ducted solution, the Sentinel Kinetic combines supply and extract ventilation in one unit. Warm, moist air is extracted from ‘wet’ rooms through ducting and passed through the heat exchanger before being exhausted to the outside. Fresh incoming air is preheated via the integral heat exchanger which recovers up to 90% of the heat energy that would otherwise be wasted. The unit’s energy saving Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon™ DC motors further improve its efficiency and carbon reducing capabilities.
In addition, heat recovery ventilation reduces excessive moisture in the air, combating condensation and subsequent mould growth, saving money on maintenance and decoration in the long and short-term. Residents will be further aided through better indoor air quality which has the duel health benefits of reducing microscopic fungal growth and eliminating the conditions in which house dust mites thrive, both of which are linked to allergic reactions and asthma. As the family suffered from allergies, this was an important factor in the specification process.
Meanwhile, the exact ventilation rate can be set on the LCD display at normal, boost or purge speeds to match the volume of the property. This operation is then further enhanced by a range of internal and external, plug and play control and sensor options which can account for changes in humidity, air quality, PIR (Passive Infra Red), CO2 and temperature. In addition, a user enabled night-time purge facility can help reduce summer overheating. The system’s operating temperature settings can be pre-programmed for automatic operation of the summer bypass, providing free summer cooling. Wireless control options are also available, allowing controls to be located in the most convenient position.
Manufactured in the UK, the Sentinel Kinetic is part of the Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon™ collection of energy saving ventilation solutions. The aim of the Lo-Carbon™ initiative is to offer the latest low carbon ventilation technology in order to reduce building energy consumption and so carbon emissions.
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