Ventilation installation in Chelmsford

Extractor fans

Approved Document F gives the minimum rates a fan must extract from kitchens and bathrooms in Chelmsford homes as elsewhere. Older fans often fall short, especially with long ducts. Replace them with humidity-controlled models that keep running until the room is dry.

Check the duct actually exits outside. Fans that vent into a loft move moisture somewhere it causes damage.

PIV

Positive input ventilation suits houses with condensation on windows every morning. A loft unit blows gently filtered air into the landing, pushing damp air out. It is quick to fit and cheap to run.

Rooms that matter most

Start with the bathroom and kitchen, where most moisture is produced. Bedrooms come next: two people sleeping in a closed room overnight add a lot of water vapour, and that is where morning condensation and black mould on window frames tend to appear.

MVHR

Some new Chelmsford homes have mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. It supplies fresh air to living rooms and bedrooms and extracts from wet rooms, recovering heat. Change filters at least once a year and never switch it off.

Retrofitting MVHR only makes sense alongside major airtightness work.