The quality of the air in our homes is very important as it impacts our health and the health of our family. Good quality air within our home also ensures that we have a pleasant living environment. The quality of the air though, can be impacted in a number of ways.
During the week, a great deal of moisture is released into the air when we do the washing, use a tumble drier, cook and enjoy a shower or bath. In fact in an average family home with four people, the amount of moisture released is about 112 pints per week – that’s 16 pints a day!
Everyone likes to keep their house clean and tidy – especially at this time of year when most of us are planning a big spring clean! Needless to say, all the different cleaning products that we use do impact the air in our home too and of course as we enthusiastically dust and polish thousands of specks of dust are whipped up too. This all helps to contaminate the air that we are breathing in our home.
To compound the problem, we are all very careful to ensure that our homes are double glazed, well insulated and lacking in any draughts. What we are actually doing is preventing any natural ventilation so all the moisture-laden air cannot escape and nor can the polluted air we have been breathing. The tell-tale signs of this are windows with condensation and black mould on their frames and often a distinctive musty smell.
Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) was developed in the 1970s and is an exciting system that transforms the stagnant and moisture laden air into fresh clean healthy air. The PIV units come in all different shapes and sizes so that there is one that will work effectively in every type and size of flat, bungalow or house. PIV is the most effective way of curing and preventing condensation and damp problems in your home.
The unit cleans the air and circulates it back into the home either on the landing (in houses) or in the hallway (flats and bungalows) using the positive input ventilation system. This system extracts the high levels of humidity in the air and dilutes it so that condensation cannot form which in turn ensures that dust mites cannot thrive either. The unit also dilutes any harmful toxins in the air from domestic cleaning products and then recirculates the air creating a healthy living environment all year through.
The use of PIV in the home is beneficial for all ages but it is exceptionally advantageous for asthma sufferers or those with allergies as they will notice a significant improvement in their health. The system can also lower the levels of radon in affected areas.
PIV units are quick to install and easy to operate in buildings of all ages. They have low running costs, need minimal maintenance and importantly, they are very quiet to run. Some users have found their heating charges have reduced too. The unit needs little maintenance because it is supplied with special long-life filters and all come with a guarantee.
More than one million homes are already using PIV and units are being installed in social housing, many new builds, as well as by landlords in their rental properties. The system has proved to be very reliable and cost effective. So before you reach for the paper towel once again to wipe the windows isn’t it worth finding out more about PIV?
But remember, condensation can also be caused by defective brickwork that has become porous, crumbling pointing which also lets rain in or wet cavity wall insulation. Check that these aren’t issues before installing PIV.
Free advice and quotations available from www.cavitch-uk.com.