2.11 Ventilation

Your home has an electrically operated whole house extract ventilation (MEV) system that provides continuous back round extract ventilation to your apartment. This is the large box that is located in the ceiling void in your cupboard and that is accessible via the access hatch you will see in the ceiling.

To safely open the access hatch and gain access to the MEV unit we suggest that you stand on a small set of steps that are held securely in place by another person to stop them from slipping. On the wall in the cupboard is the main switch fused connection unit which is basically the ‘on/off’ button. This is clearly labeled and should be left on at all times and not switched off unless works need to be undertaken to the unit.

The ventilation unit is a Vent Axia 437634C MVDC−MS MULTIVENT and should be inspected every 6–12 months to check the operation and clean out any dirt build up within the unit.

Kitchens, Bathrooms & En-suites

On the switch plate located in your kitchen is a switch that is labeled ‘extractor fan’ (see image below). This switch is a boost switch that will increase the rate of air that flows into the lounge area. It should not, under normal circumstances, be necessary to use this and the switch should really be left in the off position.

The general principle of the system is to provide continuous back round extract to the bathroom and kitchen area. Make up air is via trickle vents fitted in the windows within the living room and bedroom areas. Whilst the system will operate at a continuous level, it is also linked to the lighting system as well and so when a light is turned on in any of the bathrooms this will then boost the MEV unit to run at high speed in order to assist with the removal of steam from those rooms. The system is on a run-on timer and so it will remain in the boosted position and run at high speed for a period of 5–10 minutes after the lights are switched off to make sure that the steam is extracted.

Please ensure your kitchen extract unit is switched on when you use the cooker or hob. The extraction hood that has been installed has a fan and filter that enables it to clean and filter the air locally around the hob. You should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on how frequently the filter in the hood should be changed in order to allow it to operate at its optimum efficiency.

If you cannot hear the ventilation system working, hold a tissue near the extract grille unit to see if it moves; the tissue should be drawn upwards.

Do not switch off the fan isolator switch unless maintenance is being carried out to the fan.

Where washing machines are provided in hall cupboards, the MEV system has been extended to provide an extract point to the hall cupboard to prevent the buildup of moisture in this area.