Condensation vs Nuaire Drimaster

[Notreallymeeither]

There is a paper template which is roughly circular about the size of a dinner plate with a slightly odd shape on one side. The odd shape is the control panel with the fan speed control buttons and LED display saying what fan speed. Have a think about where you want the control panel to point (don’t have it inaccessible facing in to a wall).

Offer the template up to the ceiling and drill a pilot hole through the center of the template in the ceiling. Then pop in to the attic to make sure you are roughly between two joists.

I found the best position for the vent and then drew around the template with a pencil . Rather than use a plasterboard saw to cut a hole in the plasterboard (I thought it would be difficult to get a neat circle) instead I used a small drill and drilled individual holes along that pencil line all the way around to effectively cut out the hole for the vent. I used a vacuum to suck away the dust as I drilled.

As mentioned by someone above, the 4 x screws that hold the vent to the ceiling are VERY close to the edge of the new hole you’ve just cut. Using rawl plug type fixings in the plasterboard was never going to work. I therefore used 4 strips of wood on the loft side of the plasterboard which I screwed in to, which rested on top of the plasterboard ceiling and spread the weight of the vent.

I then hung the motor by the string from the rafters (I didn’t.t mount it to the joists). I then connected the large pipe from the motor to the vent.

You then need to wire it up. I think my electrician took a spur off the ring main in to the FCU that is supplied with the kit.

It didn’t take that long to install. The biggest pain was cutting a neat circular hole in the plastered plasterboard ceiling.

Hope this helps.

[Notreallymeeither]

Oh and don’t install it near a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector as the fresh air from the loft could blow away any smoke and mean you aren’t alerted to a fire as early as you otherwise would be.

[GT89]

All fitted today, took about 1hr 30 after mincing about. Got it as central in the hall as I can but a joist off set it alittle but not noticeable.

It's certainly larger than in expected, initial power up showed no display in the fan speed, fortunately a slightly loose wire on the command wire and it's all working as should.
Currently set on 2 of 6, time I'll tell and I'll see what the morning brings condensation wise

[shady lee]

GT89 said:

All fitted today, took about 1hr 30 after mincing about. Got it as central in the hall as I can but a joist off set it alittle but not noticeable.

It's certainly larger than in expected, initial power up showed no display in the fan speed, fortunately a slightly loose wire on the command wire and it's all working as should.
Currently set on 2 of 6, time I'll tell and I'll see what the morning brings condensation wise

They recommend setting to 3 or 4 for the first week, then bring it down to what's preferable.

[anonymous-user]

Brilliant things, I have a Drimaster 365 that has been installed for 5 years.

This is in a 1960's bungalow that suffered condensation, my neighbour was very impressed as they were running 2 dehumidifiers 24x7.

Only issue has been the bearings supporting the fan assembly failing, Nuaire sent a complete replacement unit under warranty.

Only downside is the hall being cold but something that is worth the benefits.

[xyz123]

For those who installed one u have couple of questions please.

1.do you have to get a vent in roof fitted? If so, can it be done from inside or has to be done from outside? Any special vents needed?

2. How much noise does it make?

[craig1912]

xyz123 said:

For those who installed one u have couple of questions please.

1.do you have to get a vent in roof fitted? If so, can it be done from inside or has to be done from outside? Any special vents needed?

2. How much noise does it make?

1. No there should be enough ventilation in your loft anyway.
2. If you listen very carefully close to the vent you can hear a low hum but anywhere else it is effectively silent.

[defblade]

xyz123 said:

For those who installed one u have couple of questions please.

1.do you have to get a vent in roof fitted? If so, can it be done from inside or has to be done from outside? Any special vents needed?

2. How much noise does it make?

1) No. But then our roof is very old and not sealed much at all (unfelted slate).

2) You can hear it blowing, if you stop and listen and it's quiet in the house. But when it was switched off, as mentioned, I had to go up and check the unit itself as we weren't too sure if it was off or we just weren't hearing it...

[GT89]

As suggested I'm now running the first few days on setting 3, a very faint hum if you listen in a otherwise silent house.

Should you have vented soffits that'll be more than enough

Happy to say it is the magic device I've been looking for and no sign of any condensation. Absolutely chuffed with the purchase and result

[defblade]

GT89 said:

Happy to say it is the magic device I've been looking for and no sign of any condensation. Absolutely chuffed with the purchase and result

They're so simple, so cheap (compared to most damp "solutions"), so effective... it's weird everyone doesn't know about them!
Watch your heating bills fall too... dry air is a lot easier/cheaper to heat than damp

[C&C]

GT89 said:

As suggested I'm now running the first few days on setting 3, a very faint hum if you listen in a otherwise silent house.

Should you have vented soffits that'll be more than enough

Happy to say it is the magic device I've been looking for and no sign of any condensation. Absolutely chuffed with the purchase and result

Glad it has sorted your issue - we also have had one for more than 5 years and it has sorted all condensation in the house (3 bed semi).

One point - I went for mounting it hung from the rafters in the loft rather than bolted to the loft floor. To really minimise any potential vibration, I mounted it with chains, but then used a mountain bike inner tube through the chain links to slightly shorten the chains, so it's basically hung on the inner tube (which absorbs any vibration), but if the inner tube were to fail, it would only drop about an inch and still be held up by the chain alone. The inner tubes have held up fine and show no signs of degrading/weakening over 5+ years, and there is no vibration at all, just a very faint sound of the air coming out of the vent in the landing ceiling.

[xyz123]

Thank you for replies. Couple more question please.

Do you feel a small draft at different places on the house or just underneath the unit in landing? Does it cool down the landing area a lot? Thanks again.

[robemcdonald]

xyz123 said:

Thank you for replies. Couple more question please.

Do you feel a small draft at different places on the house or just underneath the unit in landing? Does it cool down the landing area a lot? Thanks again.

If your worried about if cooling the landing go for the drimaster heat. It has a 4kw heater that tempers the air from the loft.
You can also get wireless controls for the heater and boost function. These are powered by battery and work via rf signals so no complicated set up.

Let me know if you have any technical questions.

[GT89]

The draft is one thing I was worried about but on setting 3 when walking underneath I can't feel anything.
Unless I put my hand right up to the diffuser I can't tell the difference, neither can my wife who's quite possibly the coldest blooded person on earth.

Our hive schedule is set to come on at 0600, I leave for worth before the heating comes on and ice noticed the temp has dropped in the hallway by .8degree.
A very small price to pay !

[shady lee]

robemcdonald said:

xyz123 said:

Thank you for replies. Couple more question please.

Do you feel a small draft at different places on the house or just underneath the unit in landing? Does it cool down the landing area a lot? Thanks again.

If your worried about if cooling the landing go for the drimaster heat. It has a 4kw heater that tempers the air from the loft.
You can also get wireless controls for the heater and boost function. These are powered by battery and work via rf signals so no complicated set up.

Let me know if you have any technical questions.

Have you had any issues with the newer drimaster eco PCB getting condensation and shorting Rob?

I know the older model was a no no to have it on a timer, I've got the newer one and had mine in a timer for the last 3 years with no issues.

[The Don of Croy]

robemcdonald said:

...If your worried about if cooling the landing go for the drimaster heat. It has a 4kw heater that tempers the air from the loft...

We have installed the heated version - it's only 400watts! Enough to take the chill off.

So far - day 5 of the new regime - the air indoors feels 'conditioned', a lot less humid and thus less 'warm' although the thermostat says we're still at 20 degrees. There is a different feel in the vicinity of the outlet on the landing, and sometimes you can feel the draft, but we'll get used to it.

On the plus side, the windows are less foggy - but we've yet to handle a proper cold night. Cooking a full Sunday lunch didn't fog the kitchen windows, even with no extractor on above the hob. Odours seem to dissipate quicker, too.

We hung it between the roof joists on the supplied cord, and it is impressively quiet in operation. We've put it on number 5 for maximum effect and will turn it down as and when we know the house is at a better level (currently 65% in our bedroom and 82% in the living room - about 10% decrease so far). I've only seen the orange heater light on one morning this week.

So far, so good.

[shady lee]

Landing will feel like a window it's open somewhere, it's a fresh air kinda feeling.

Can get abit chilly when temps drop below 3c outside, but that's why we have ours on a timer.

[robemcdonald]

The Don of Croy said:

We have installed the heated version - it's only 400watts! Enough to take the chill off.

So far - day 5 of the new regime - the air indoors feels 'conditioned', a lot less humid and thus less 'warm' although the thermostat says we're still at 20 degrees. There is a different feel in the vicinity of the outlet on the landing, and sometimes you can feel the draft, but we'll get used to it.

On the plus side, the windows are less foggy - but we've yet to handle a proper cold night. Cooking a full Sunday lunch didn't fog the kitchen windows, even with no extractor on above the hob. Odours seem to dissipate quicker, too.

We hung it between the roof joists on the supplied cord, and it is impressively quiet in operation. We've put it on number 5 for maximum effect and will turn it down as and when we know the house is at a better level (currently 65% in our bedroom and 82% in the living room - about 10% decrease so far). I've only seen the orange heater light on one morning this week.

So far, so good.

Oops 400w not 4kw. Can’t be right all the time.

[robemcdonald]

shady lee said:

Have you had any issues with the newer drimaster eco PCB getting condensation and shorting Rob?

I know the older model was a no no to have it on a timer, I've got the newer one and had mine in a timer for the last 3 years with no issues.

I’m at the factory tomorrow so will ask, but I think it isn’t an issue.

[xyz123]

Thanks again for replies. (hopefully) final questions for those who got it.

Where did you buy it from and roughly how much for the heated version l. It seems the there are many places selling it. Not sure if there is any thing such as an authorised seller for wanbanty etc?

Can it be wired in as a plug rather than hard wired in?

Silly question but I saw some mention of air feeling dryer. Without the heater how does this work as in if the humidity outside is 80_90% doesn't the PIV just bring that more moist air in the house (as far as I know humidity on house of 60 to 70% is sufficient to have condensation)...

Thanks

Edited by xyz123 on Wednesday 15th January 18:00