Should Your Home Have Centralised or Decentralised Ventilation?
Posted on: 8 May 2023
If you have been thinking about home ventilation, you have probably heard that there are two main types: centralised and decentralised ventilation. Here is a quick guide to each type.
Centralised ventilation
Centralised ventilation systems are used to ventilate the whole house. They work from a single central ventilation unit. This will generally be mounted either to the wall or the ceiling. A network of ducts will extend out from it, which reach out to all areas of the house to extract stale air and supply fresh air via ventilation grilles.
The advantage of this system is that the whole house's ventilation can be controlled from a single unit rather than many individual units. It tends to produce stronger ventilation and is more efficient at heat recovery, which helps to ensure that heat within the home is not lost.
It is vital in such a system that the ducting is kept in good condition. A leaking duct can cause problems throughout the system, making it less effective and less energy-efficient. It is also important that the house contains enough room for all the ducting, which can be a complicated system. Because of this requirement, centralised systems are usually installed in new builds so that the house can be built around the ducting.
Decentralised ventilation
Decentralised ventilation works through a number of individual units in each room. These units are installed in pairs so that one unit removes the stale air while a second provides the fresh air. They will generally swap these functions regularly.
The main advantage of this type of ventilation is that it does not require the house to be stripped back to have a maze of ducting installed. They can simply be added to an existing layout, either placing the units throughout the house or just installing them in problem areas. When multiple units are installed, they can usually be operated by a single central control, even though they are not running off a centralised unit.
Because they do not require the installation of ducting, decentralised ventilation is a better solution for existing homes that are being modernised or improved.
In conclusion, centralised ventilation is a better option for new builds and major renovations, whereas decentralised ventilation is more suitable for existing properties where major work is not possible. For more advice about home ventilation, talk to your ventilation contractor about your home's current ventilation system and options.
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