Our tips and tricks for ventilating in summer
The temperature outside is rising quickly: summer is here! Warm weather is often lovely, and we spend a lot of time outdoors. What is less pleasant is the heat slowly entering your home. The result? An uncomfortable and sometimes even unhealthy indoor climate. Many people keep windows and doors closed during the day or even switch off the mechanical ventilation in their home. That is not the right way to fight heat. By ventilating at the right times and consciously managing the indoor climate, you can keep the air in your home fresher, healthier and more pleasant. In this blog, we tell you more about this.
Our tips for ventilating your home in summer
- Ventilating your home in summer remains important, even when it is warm outside.
- Do not simply switch off mechanical ventilation in summer. The system helps extract polluted and humid air.
- Ventilate mainly during cooler moments, such as early in the morning, later in the evening and at night.
- Summer night ventilation helps extract warm air and bring cooler outdoor air inside.
- Do you have an MVHR unit in summer? Check whether your system has a bypass function.
- Switching off an MVHR unit in summer is usually not advisable, because ventilation will stop.
Why is it important to keep ventilating properly, even in warm weather?
When a room is not ventilated properly, the air quality decreases and humidity can rise. This is caused by everyday activities such as cooking and showering, but also by breathing and perspiring. Poor indoor air quality can lead to complaints such as headaches, coughing, shortness of breath or a persistent cold-like feeling. In addition, excessively high humidity in your home can contribute to mould growth on walls and ceilings. This is not only bad for your home, but also for your health.
Even if you want to keep the heat outside by keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible, fresh air remains important. With mechanical ventilation, polluted and humid air is extracted, while fresh air usually enters through ventilation grilles, small top-hung windows or other air supply openings. Therefore, make sure these supply openings are clean and remain open.
Do you have an MVHR system? Then air is mechanically supplied and extracted. In that case, clean filters, well-maintained ducts and a properly functioning MVHR unit are extra important for sufficient fresh air in your home. This helps keep the indoor climate healthier and more comfortable, even on warm days.
Our ventilation products help ensure a healthy indoor climate, even in summer!
How can ventilation help lower the temperature in your home?
Mechanical ventilation (system C) is especially effective when the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air. The system extracts warm and polluted air from rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Fresh air then enters through ventilation grilles, small top-hung windows or other air supply openings. If this outdoor air is cooler, it helps gradually lower the temperature in your home. This is especially effective early in the morning, later in the evening and at night. Looking for a suitable MV box for your home? We are happy to help you make the right choice!
An MVHR system (system D) works differently. This system mechanically extracts air and mechanically supplies fresh air. In winter, heat from the extracted indoor air is used to preheat the cold outdoor air. In summer, this principle can also work the other way around. When the outdoor air is warmer than the indoor air, part of the heat from the incoming air is transferred via the heat exchanger to the cooler air that is being extracted outside.
In everyday language, we often call this cooling, but technically speaking, heat is being removed from the incoming air. An MVHR unit therefore does not work like an air conditioner, but it can help prevent warm outdoor air from entering the home directly and unconditioned.
Many MVHR units also have a bypass function. This bypass usually opens automatically when the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air in the evening or at night. The incoming air is then not directed through the heat exchanger, allowing cooler outdoor air to enter the home more directly. This can help cool the home naturally in summer.
Do you want to lower the temperature in your home by a few more degrees in summer? Then you can consider an additional cooler, such as a HomeEvap cooler. This is used in combination with an MVHR system. Please note that this is not an active cooling system like an air conditioner, but an additional solution to make the supply air more comfortable.
Even more tips from our specialists for ventilating in summer temperatures
- Place a CO2 monitor to measure the air quality in your home. When windows and doors are closed, you can immediately see when it is time to ventilate extra. Many CO2 monitors also measure humidity and temperature, so you can take action in time.
- Close windows and doors during the hottest hours of the day, but leave the ventilation grilles open. Also make sure the grilles are clean, so fresh air can continue to enter properly.
- Place a fan in front of an open window when it cools down outside. This helps bring fresh, cooler air inside faster. Do this especially in the morning and evening, as these are usually the coolest moments of the day.
- Use adiabatic cooling, also known as evaporative cooling. This cools air by evaporating water. The HomEvap can be used in combination with an MVHR unit or mechanical ventilation. Is that not possible? Then a standalone system, such as the HomEvap Direct Cooler, can be an alternative. Read our blog for more information about adiabatic cooling.
- Make sure ventilation ducts and grilles are clean. Dirty grilles, filters or ducts can restrict airflow and cause the ventilation system to work less effectively. In our blog, you can read more about maintaining the ventilation system and what you can do yourself.
Need advice about ventilation? We are happy to help!
With our enthusiastic team of ventilation advisors, we speak to hundreds of customers every day. We are therefore proud to be known as the largest ventilation specialist in the Netherlands. With our free ventilation advice, we help homeowners, companies, schools and many other organisations take the next step in improving and making air quality more sustainable, contributing to a healthier Netherlands.
Do you still have questions about ventilating in summer after reading this blog? Or would you prefer personal advice? We are ready to help! You can reach us by phone, email or chat.
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