Heat Recovery system installed

We have been busy this last month!

Prior to the electrics going in, we had to fit the heat recovery system - it's much easier to route cables round a duct than it is the other way round!

What is a heat recovery system you may ask - full title is Mechanical Heat Recovery and Ventilation system.

Most people are aware of trickle vents on windows - those ones that let in a terrible draughts when it's blowing a gale and the same ones that if you shut them, can result in condensation or damp.

All houses need to have fresh air and the old fashioned way is these vents in window frames. It's slightly perverse- why spend a lot of money on triple glazing to keep the heat in and then put holes in it specifically to let cold air in!

A MHRV system draws fresh air in from outside, and removes warm, stale air from kitchens and toilets. The heat from the stale air is put through a heat exchanger, and warms the incoming air which is fed to the living areas. Thus, a constant supply of fresh, filtered air, and minimal heat loss - and no draughts!

The unit itself is located in our plant room and ducts are run through the roof joists - remember last year when we installed the roof using Posi Joists? These are special joists with metal webbing meaning you can feed pipes and wires through them. They cost us a bit more, but they made running all the (Red) ducting through the house really really easy.

Here's what it looks like...