Home Ventilation installation Exeter
Ventilation installation in Exeter
Extractor fans, PIV and heat recovery systems to keep Exeter homes free of condensation.
Exeter has two very different ventilation problems. Older terraces and rented flats often have weak or broken fans. New-build estates are airtight and depend on mechanical ventilation that owners don't always know they have.
Exeter at a glance
- Heating in new homes
- Of new-build homes in Exeter with an EPC lodged up to March 2022, 23.8% were heated by a community heating scheme and 66.5% by mains gas. Across all Exeter homes, community heating was 3.8%. Source
- Housing mix
- 31.3% of Exeter households lived in terraced houses in 2021, 26.9% in semis and 15.1% in detached houses. 26.0% lived in flats, maisonettes or apartments. Source
- Energy ratings
- 49.2% of Exeter homes with an EPC lodged up to March 2022 were rated C or above. The figure was 41.5% for privately rented homes, 18.6% for homes built before 1930 and 97.4% for new builds. Source
New-build estates
97.4% of new-build homes in Exeter with an EPC were rated C or above. They reach that rating partly by being airtight, so they depend on mechanical ventilation to remove moisture. Many have MVHR or continuous extract fans running all the time.
If the unit has been switched off because of noise, or the filters haven't been changed since the house was built, condensation and mould follow quickly. Find the unit, usually in the loft or a cupboard, check it's running, and change the filters at least once a year.
Older homes and rented flats
In older terraces and converted flats, the problem is usually the opposite: weak, noisy or broken extractor fans that tenants switch off. A quiet, continuous-running fan with a humidity boost in the bathroom, and a cooker hood that ducts outside, fix most condensation complaints.
Landlords of student houses should check fans at every change of tenant. Ten minutes with a tissue held to the grille tells you whether a fan is pulling air.
PIV for houses with a loft
Positive input ventilation draws air from the loft and pushes it gently into the landing. It suits semis and terraces with a central stairwell. It reduces condensation but won't fix rain getting in or a leak.
Insulating? Ventilate too
If a grant is paying for wall or loft insulation, ask the surveyor how the home will be ventilated afterwards. Sealing a house without adding ventilation is one of the most common causes of new mould.
Exeter homes and what they need
Interwar and post-war semis
PIV in the loft, a ducted kitchen hood and a humidity-controlled bathroom fan cover most semis in Whipton and Pinhoe. Keep the eaves clear when adding loft insulation.
Victorian and Georgian terraces
Bathrooms in rear extensions often have small windows and no fan. A wall fan ducted straight outside makes the biggest difference. In listed buildings, discuss the vent position with the council first.
New-build estates on the edge of the city
Read the home user guide that came with the house. It should say what ventilation is fitted, where the unit is and how often to change filters.
Areas covered
Engineers who cover Exeter work across areas including Heavitree, St Thomas, St Leonard's, Pennsylvania, Alphington, Whipton, Pinhoe, Exwick, Topsham and Cranbrook.
Questions people in Exeter ask
How often should MVHR filters be changed in an Exeter new build?
At least once a year, and more often if you live near a busy road or building site. Many units show a filter warning light.
Who fits ventilation?
Electricians fit extractor fans and PIV units. MVHR needs someone to design the ductwork and balance the airflows, then commission the system.
Sources
Also nearby: Ventilation installation in Plymouth, Ventilation installation in Bristol, Ventilation installation in Bournemouth