Most of us are well aware that mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems can save energy and reduce heating expenses, but a lesser-known advantage of these installations is that they can also have positive impacts on resident health. There are both short-term and long-term health benefits with MVHR systems, which we will explain next.
Humidity Control for Reduced Joint Pain
Humidity has a more direct impact on our health and wellbeing than we realize. For example, arthritic conditions are usually aggravated when there’s high humidity in the air, but a MVHR system actively prevents that from happening. Proper humidity control can also alleviate an already aggravated joint condition.
Preventing URTIs
URTI stands for upper respiratory tract infections, and residents living in a building with MVHR systems have a significantly lower rate of developing URTIs during winter compared to people leaving in buildings without one. Multiple medical studies have confirmed the fact that there is a direct relationship between damp air and the following:
- Allergic reactions in the upper respiratory system, which are similar to the symptoms of common cold, such as nasal congestion, throat congestion, nasal and throat irritation, sneezing, runny nose, etc.
- Bacterial and viral URTIs such as rhinitis, sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, pharyngitis, nasopharyngitis, etc. can either affect residents independently or in conjunction with the allergens.
MVHR systems prevent the air from becoming too damp in the first place, as they will push stale air out of the building, long before the humidity can linger on to create any health hazards. It should be noted that people with asthmatic tendencies will benefit in particular, as high humidity also aggravates asthma.
Mould Control
For any fungus to grow, damp or wet environments are essential. Since the MVHR system never allows air moisture levels to go up too high or too low, this naturally creates an indoor environment that is healthy for human beings, but unsuitable for mould growth. The aforementioned allergic reactions are often caused by hidden mould growths that are unavoidable inside damp and hot buildings. Fungal spores in general are bad for the human respiratory system, although the effects will vary in both type and intensity, depending on what type of mould is growing inside the building. For example, aspergillosis is only caused by the mould aspergillus, which is found in all parts of the UK.
Why Selecting the Right MVHR System is So Crucial for Enjoying the Health Benefits
Saving energy, money and maintaining a flow of clean, healthy air inside the building are all achievable targets with MVHR systems, but only when you manage to select a unit that is adequately equipped to handle the building’s exact requirements. Find out how to choose the perfect MVHR system based on airflow requirements, utilised heat recovery tech, and multiple other crucial factors here – https://www.bpcventilation.ie/choosing-mvhr-unit.
These would be the primary health advantages of incorporating a MVHR system, but they are not the only ones. For example, we did not even mention how the filters trap air pollutants from the outside air, ensuring that only clean, germ-free air manages to enter the building. Post-installation, be sure to change the filters out at regular intervals or the unit’s power-efficiency will begin to reduce due to clogged air inflow.