Condensation vs Nuaire Drimaster

[CampoTheMexicana]

So got my install completed today - will give it a few days for feedback, as we have suffered from condensation in our 4 bed house since we moved in 5 years ago.

Had to install it with consideration to our loft walkway, loft ladder, light point and existing smoke detector in the landing, its actually a lot bigger than I expected (I thought it might be similar size to the Ubiquiti AP on the wall).

As I've been monitoring these for a while I am hopeful that this will help with our problems.

[Heaveho]

Roboticarm said:

Heaveho said:

New to this, so possibly already been asked, or even more likely, a daft question! Could you run one of these specifically to clear up condensation in the loft? Dealing with a specific issue and wondering if this might solve it.

Edited to say, forget it, already twigged I'm barking up the wrong tree here!

Edited by Heaveho on Monday 30th November 17:59

In the standard install the pipework directs the air from the loft into the house. However I guess you could leave the pipe in the loft, but my understanding is the whole aim is that the loft has fresh air via the eves so of your loft has condensation then it wouldn't help

Cheers, that's the conclusion I very quickly came to! Looking at retrofitting over fascia vents now.

[rfsteel]

I fitted the Vent Axia equivalent last week to my 3 bed bungalow, rather impressed with the results, RH 69-56% in the kitchen, and from 59-44% in my study.

I also run a DB8L dehumidifier in the bathroom, and used to run for half a day after showering, this no runs for about a hour now that the PIV unit has been installed.





Kitchen - before install


Kitchen - week after install


Study - before install


Study - week after install

[robemcdonald]

rfsteel said:

I fitted the Vent Axia equivalent last week to my 3 bed bungalow, rather impressed with the results, RH 69-56% in the kitchen, and from 59-44% in my study.

I also run a DB8L dehumidifier in the bathroom, and used to run for half a day after showering, this no runs for about a hour now that the PIV unit has been installed.





Kitchen - before install


Kitchen - week after install


Study - before install


Study - week after install

Small piece of advice; Cut the flexible duct to length and avoid having it snake all over the place. Ideally it should be only just long enough to connect the PIV to the grille.
It will work better if you do that, although quite why I am giving performance boosting advice on a VA product is beyond me.

[IIIRestorerIII]

Hi, quick question for those with the heater. How safe is it with the loft insulation wrapped around it? On the Vent Axia I can see the heater unit on the unit itself but the Nuaire ones seem to have the heater attached to the ceiling...

[rfsteel]

robemcdonald said:

Small piece of advice; Cut the flexible duct to length and avoid having it snake all over the place. Ideally it should be only just long enough to connect the PIV to the grille.
It will work better if you do that, although quite why I am giving performance boosting advice on a VA product is beyond me.

Thanks, I'll trim it up next time I've got the loft ladder down.

I was going to email VA and ask when it's best to fit the heater to the unit or to the vent, and if using it on the unit, would it be best to use insulated tubing, as it states in the manual that you need a minimum on 1m of tubing between the vent and unit ?

[shady lee]

IIIRestorerIII said:

Hi, quick question for those with the heater. How safe is it with the loft insulation wrapped around it? On the Vent Axia I can see the heater unit on the unit itself but the Nuaire ones seem to have the heater attached to the ceiling...

It's attached in-between fan and the diffuser, all enclosed.

As a side note, have you ever seen a video of loft insulation trying to be burnt, it takes allot of flame from the video I saw.

[skinnyman]

Fitted my standard unit over the weekend, hardest part is getting the ducting to fit, they've done what most manufacturers do and made the ducting the same diameter as the hole it's supposed to fit over! Plenty of gaffer tape solved that though.

It's on setting 3 for now, which does make the landing noticeably cooler, but its actually in a nice way, there feels like there's a fresh breeze up there, rather than actually being cold, I will however turn it down to 2 after a week or so. It is bringing a slight musty smell down from the loft with it, hopefully this will clear in a few weeks as it starts to force the air within the loft to circulate more, if not I'll have a look into fitting some soffit vents, its a 70's house so it has solid soffits.

To be honest it does feel expensive for what you get, 2 filter bags, a fan housing and some ducting for over £300, but then I guess if it solves my condensation issue it'll be worth every penny.

[shady lee]

If your loft is musty I'd say you need more ventilation, especially if it's dragging that smell into the house via the piv.

Humidity in the loft will be pushed into the house.

[Diplomatico]

Just ordered the heated version with 4 way control. Should be here on Thursday and hopefully in place by the weekend.

[craig1912]

skinnyman said:

Fitted my standard unit over the weekend, hardest part is getting the ducting to fit, they've done what most manufacturers do and made the ducting the same diameter as the hole it's supposed to fit over! Plenty of gaffer tape solved that though.

It's on setting 3 for now, which does make the landing noticeably cooler, but its actually in a nice way, there feels like there's a fresh breeze up there, rather than actually being cold, I will however turn it down to 2 after a week or so. It is bringing a slight musty smell down from the loft with it, hopefully this will clear in a few weeks as it starts to force the air within the loft to circulate more, if not I'll have a look into fitting some soffit vents, its a 70's house so it has solid soffits.

To be honest it does feel expensive for what you get, 2 filter bags, a fan housing and some ducting for over £300, but then I guess if it solves my condensation issue it'll be worth every penny.

If your loft has plenty of ventilation then the smell will disappear in a couple of weeks. Our loft used to have bad condensation but four ventilation tiles solved that.
It does seem expensive but ours is now 10 years old and a couple of new filters and it still does a great job

[skinnyman]

craig1912 said:

If your loft has plenty of ventilation then the smell will disappear in a couple of weeks. Our loft used to have bad condensation but four ventilation tiles solved that.
It does seem expensive but ours is now 10 years old and a couple of new filters and it still does a great job

Yeah as I saw if it solves the problem then its worth every penny.

I might just install some soffit vents anyway, they cost naff all, although my main worry is how the soffits would stand up to being hacked at.

[Diplomatico]

Installed today.



Should the air feel warm coming out of it? I have the version with heater? Or does it just slightly warm it so I won’t be able to tell?

[MJNewton]

Diplomatico said:

Should the air feel warm coming out of it? I have the version with heater? Or does it just slightly warm it so I won’t be able to tell?

I would expect it just to temper the air temperature, particularly in this near-zero weather.

[shady lee]

Heater only heats air a few Celsius as far as I've read, like said above that's not going to be warm given the current outdoor temps.

That's why I didn't bother with the heater and just had it come on when it wouldn't be noticed.

Wonder how much 400w costs a day coming in and out all day.

Edit, just to check, have you fitted the air dam on the side that's pointing towards that smoke alarm?.

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs btw.

Edited by shady lee on Tuesday 8th December 13:19

[Diplomatico]

shady lee said:

Heater only heats air a few Celsius as far as I've read, like said above that's not going to be warm given the current outdoor temps.

That's why I didn't bother with the heater and just had it come on when it wouldn't be noticed.

Wonder how much 400w costs a day coming in and out all day.

Edit, just to check, have you fitted the air dam on the side that's pointing towards that smoke alarm?.

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs btw.

Edited by shady lee on Tuesday 8th December 13:19

I haven’t but it’s exactly 1m away. Think I read that if it’s over 1m it’s fine?

[Diplomatico]

Well this has been a revelation. Been on since yesterday lunchtime and no condensation on the windows this morning. Normally they would be soaking.

[markiii]

are these silent in operation chaps?

[shady lee]

Diplomatico said:

Well this has been a revelation. Been on since yesterday lunchtime and no condensation on the windows this morning. Normally they would be soaking.

Good ain't they, the only downside I had was managing the slight chill it can create when it's extremely cold outside.

If you have the heat or non heat link model then I found the boost switch to be a very handy add on option.

Check it's compatable first mind

No wires and just sticks on with the double sided tape provided, quick link it to the main unit wirelessly and when you press boost it sets the fan to the highest setting.

Good for if you've made a curry and want to get rid of the stink after, if you've cleaned with bleach or wet vacuumed the carpets and try to dry them out quicker.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203113308391

[Diplomatico]

markiii said:

are these silent in operation chaps?

I can’t hear it. But we have white noise in for the toddler at night. At full chat it’s like being on a ferry - you can hear it but it’s not intrusive.