Ventilation installation in Stoke-on-Trent

Signs your home needs it

Streaming windows on winter mornings, a musty smell in bedrooms and black spots in ceiling corners all mean moisture isn't escaping. A simple hygrometer helps: humidity sitting above about 60% for long spells in winter is a warning.

Start with the basics before buying a system. Open trickle vents, clean fan grilles and avoid drying washing on radiators with the windows shut.

Positive input ventilation

Almost three in four homes in the city are semis or terraces, most with a loft. A PIV unit there draws filtered air in and feeds it to the landing, pushing damp air out through vents and gaps. It's one of the simplest whole-house fixes for condensation.

Kitchen and bathroom fans

Building regulations guidance in Approved Document F sets minimum extract rates. Many old fans fall short, or vent into the loft. Ask the installer to measure airflow and check the duct runs outside.

Fans with a humidity sensor run until the room is dry, which suits busy households.

MVHR

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery suits new builds and major renovations, where ducts can go in while ceilings are open. In a lived-in terrace, fans and PIV are usually more practical.

Kitchen hoods that only recirculate through a filter remove grease and smells but put the steam straight back. A hood ducted outside, or a wall fan beside the cooker, removes it.