Heat transfer kit?

[dino3310]

ok lads i've got a new pad and where looking into getting a heat/air transfer kit installed theres a few out there (DVS, HRV,smart vent etc) and they all look pretty much the same, at this stage were just looking at a basic air flow to stop condinsation, pollens and shit around the place. They all seem to do the job were after, and weve been hearing good things about them, has anyone here got any feed back (good or bad) on them to help aid us on our decision as to which one to get??

cheers Dean

[popa griffin]

I heard they dont work with brick houses.

[Slicksta]

They very in price how many rooms you looking at? Weiss do some cheap kits that are decent quality.

[slofox]

I installed a heat transfer system in my house. I have a log burner in the living area that keeps said area toasty warm. And used to leave the bedrooms etc freezing bloody cold. The HTS takes the warm air from the heated space (inlet is up under the peak of the flush ceiling where all the warm air used to collect out of reach) and pushes it down to the bedrooms, thereby equalising the temperature throughout the house as well as keeping the bedrooms etc dry. Each bedroom has an adjustable vent to control the amount of air that comes through the system. So since I only use one bedroom, I direct most of the warm air into that room. The other two bedrooms get just enough to ensure they stay dry.
It has a wall mounted thermostat with on/off switch and three fan speed settings. It is whisper quiet - on the slowest fan speed it is JUST audible if you listen hard in the dead of night - it sounds like a distant breeze. It uses a big-arse fan (well, 200mm I think)[edited the missed out 0] to drive the air. The fan is suspended in the roof space - no direct connection to rafters etc which is why so quiet. It works very quickly - fifteen minutes after lighting the fire the difference in the bedrooms is apparent.
The system was made by Heat Transfer Systems Ltd and is distributed by Securimax (whoever they are...) I got it from a company called Heating and Controls here in the Tron. It is a three bedroom unit (convertible to four) and cost around $1200 (2007) I think with installation included. I had to get a sparky in to do the wiring up as well - needs to have a certificate of compliance and all that yadayada.
Important thing is to have it properly installed. Placement of the outlets is important else it don't work so well.
Best thing I ever did in this house - totally transformed the comfort level of living here. To be recommended.

[hayd3n]

hrv seems to work in dunedin!!!
ohh and uncle loves his hrv in auckland
but the hrv unit is heat recovery ventilation not a transfer
motor is made by mercedes quiet
.05 of a micron filter

[dino3310]

hey thanks guys i appreciate the input

They very in price how many rooms you looking at? Weiss do some cheap kits that are decent quality.

4 rooms

I installed a heat transfer system in my house. I have a log burner in the living area that keeps said area toasty warm. And used to leave the bedrooms etc freezing bloody cold. The HTS takes the warm air from the heated space (inlet is up under the peak of the flush ceiling where all the warm air used to collect out of reach) and pushes it down to the bedrooms, thereby equalising the temperature throughout the house as well as keeping the bedrooms etc dry. Each bedroom has an adjustable vent to control the amount of air that comes through the system. So since I only use one bedroom, I direct most of the warm air into that room. The other two bedrooms get just enough to ensure they stay dry.
It has a wall mounted thermostat with on/off switch and three fan speed settings. It is whisper quiet - on the slowest fan speed it is JUST audible if you listen hard in the dead of night - it sounds like a distant breeze. It uses a big-arse fan (well, 20mm I think) to drive the air. The fan is suspended in the roof space - no direct connection to rafters etc which is why so quiet. It works very quickly - fifteen minutes after lighting the fire the difference in the bedrooms is apparent.
The system was made by Heat Transfer Systems Ltd and is distributed by Securimax (whoever they are...) I got it from a company called Heating and Controls here in the Tron. It is a three bedroom unit (convertible to four) and cost around $1200 (2007) I think with installation included. I had to get a sparky in to do the wiring up as well - needs to have a certificate of compliance and all that yadayada.
Important thing is to have it properly installed. Placement of the outlets is important else it don't work so well.
Best thing I ever did in this house - totally transformed the comfort level of living here. To be recommended.

does your one have the filter in it?, allergies run a muck through my family

[vifferman]

If you're looking at getting something like an HRV system, then you're better off putting the money towards a heat pump. If it's a simple heat transfer system like Slofox described, it's not such a big deal, as it's nowhere near the sort of money an HRV unit costs, which goes a long way towards the cost of a heat pump (around 40-50%)

[dino3310]

i did look at heat pumps etc, but because of the insulation our house dosent get that cold, so i'm thinking more along the lines of circulating clean dry filtered air to minimize condensation and allergens, but with out the price of a full heat transfer kit, but still have a descent warrenty/back up service

[Genestho]

I was going to go with installing a fireplace and a heat transfer, but I knew who would be chopping the wood!

So, I went with an HRV and Heat Pump, the HRV is AWESOME, it drys out the air, a) no condensation and b)the house warms up alot quicker!

it's 0.5 of a micron filtration, which they say equates to a dog hair!

The alergen and condensation factor has improved my home 100%

Every winter I had to clean mould off aluminum joinery and rubber inserts and wipe the windows dry, I have not done this in 3 winters now, my kids hardly get crook, like they used too! Even the bathrooms are mould and condensation free!

BEST thing I have ever done! Totally Recommended!

[dino3310]

awesome T.G.W how much the HRV set you back

[alanzs]

I have an HRV system in my house. It just circulates whatever air is in your roof. If the air is cold, it will put cold air into your house. It isn't a heater and shouldn't be thought of as one.
Remeber, condensation occurs at the meeting of the cold air and the warm air; your window. If the air is close/same temperature, you get no condensation. The HRV system attempts to equalize the temperature (through pushing cold air in the roof into your house), therfore negating condensation. You will feel the cold air blowing in. In the summer, the opposite is true; hot air blows in. It can be adjusted, but that is the principle.
It has been a great improvement, as it has given the house ventilation, and the house is fresher.

[slofox]

does your one have the filter in it?, allergies run a muck through my family

Not sure about that. I would not think it necessary since it is not pulling outside air inside - just moving interior air from one room to the next. I imagine a filter would not be hard to put in though...

I have an HRV system in my house. It just circulates whatever air is in your roof. If the air is cold, it will put cold air into your house. It isn't a heater and shouldn't be thought of as one.
Remeber, condensation occurs at the meeting of the cold air and the warm air; your window. If the air is close/same temperature, you get no condensation. The HRV system attempts to equalize the temperature (through pushing cold air in the roof into your house), therfore negating condensation. You will feel the cold air blowing in. In the summer, the opposite is true; hot air blows in. It can be adjusted, but that is the principle.
It has been a great improvement, as it has given the house ventilation, and the house is fresher.

Exactly. Which is why I didn't get one. In winter I don't want cold air blown into the house. And in summer I don't want warm air blown in. Quite the opposite.
The HTS system I have can be rigged, at a cost, to pump in cooler air from outside during summer. I have not had that option installed. Yet anyway.

[dino3310]

Not sure about that. I would not think it necessary since it is not pulling outside air inside - just moving interior air from one room to the next. I imagine a filter would not be hard to put in though...

its the allergens in the house that gets me, dust mites etc, old carpet really gets me going.
ive got a bloke from zephyr pure air ventilation turning up for a quote shortly, will let you know how it goes.

[325rocket]

sorry i didnt read all the replies, im at work so shouldn’t be on here to long.

From your first post you’re not after a heat transfer kit. You’re after a positive pressure system. All the brands you named use a EU7 (or higher) grade filter. That’s plenty for pollen and the like.

If you are after a heat transfer kit $1200.00 sounds pretty high for an installed kit.
Securimax make a good one that you can get from bunnings / mitre 10 / and most electrical wholesalers. They have two different types. The cheaper is still a good kit and works well. The more expensive “pro series” has a slightly better fan and uses “acoustic ducting” so it’s a bit quieter.
For a heat transfer kit to work you need to have a fire!!! And it must be a wood fire. Never use a heat transfer kit with a gas fire, you can transfer un burnt gas into other rooms.

Good luck.

[Genestho]

awesome T.G.W how much the HRV set you back

I'll pm you the figure, it was quite expensive but I weighed up cost of prevention of colds and dr visits, I recon it's been worth it! They have payment options, It does have a filter, just had mine changed at the cost of 260, and it was BLACK! Amazing!!!