Manrose Ventilation for the Kitchen

We have recently encountered this problem and there was a question from many of our customers: do I need a bathroom fan with a humidistat function, or will a fan with a timer do? You could say that it all depends on what you need the fan for, what are the conditions the bathroom is in, what is the weather, what you use the bathroom for, etc. But in general, for the majority of people, a bathroom fan with a timer is more recommended than a fan with a humidistat. Unless there are special conditions with extreme humidity being constantly in the bathroom, all you need is a timer fan. Let us explain why. How Does a Humidistat Fan Work? What does this "humidistat module" do in a ventilation fan? Whether it is from Manrose, Vent-Axia, Envirovent, or Airflow, most of the bathroom fans come both in a basic version and in the version with a timer, humidistat, or even with timer and humidistat together (of course, the price is also higher). A humidistat is a sensor within a certain module in the fan that detects the level of humidity in the air, and then switches ON or OFF the fan. The humidistat can be set and adjusted as needed so that when there's a lot of humidity in the air, the fan will automatically be ON until the humidity is eliminated.Buy Humidistat Fans at Sparks How Does a Timer Fan Work? A timer bathroom fan is pretty straightforward and simple: you can set the time delay for the fan to continue to run once someone has used the bathroom and left (switching off the light). In other words, the fan will continue running for a period of 30 seconds - 3-4 minutes (according to your settings) after someone has taken a shower or has used the bathroom for more than 2-3 minutes. This is the most common use of the bathroom fan, and most bathrooms are not completely and properly ventilated unless a ventilation fan with a timer is installed. Why are the Timer Fans Better? Airflow Quietair 100 with a humidistat sensor incorporated Again, we don't prefer or replace a humidistat fan with a timer fan, but in general use, people rather need a bathroom fan with a timer than one with a humidistat. If your bathroom is in an area with a lot of humidity, it is good to get a humidity timer and set it on a not-so-sensitive setting. If the humidity level in your bathroom is always up and ventilation is needed all the time, a fan with humidistat is a must. But if you don't have huge problems with the humidity and all you need is a fan that would ventilate the air and make sure you have fresh air while the humidity and odors are eliminated a regular timer fan is the best solution. If you are planning to leave your house for a while and you know that the humidity can be up while away, you definitely need a bathroom fan with a humidistat. But if you're at home or your family is regularly using the bathroom during the day, you don't need a humidistat fan but a fan with a timer.Buy Timer Ventilation Fans Tip: Don't Fiddle Too Much with the Humidistat A humidistat is a very sensitive module within the fan, and not everyone understands how it works. The mere fact that you see that the humidistat doesn't turn the fan ON when you think that the humidity is high doesn't mean that you need to regulate it and adjust it all the time. Unless there are special humidity conditions in the bathroom, setting your humidistat on 60% or so should solve all the problems (see the manufacturer's specs and ask your electrician for more precise advice). But tinkering with the humidistat may cause it to be damaged - you simply have to "trust it", that it will work whenever the level of humidity is higher! Do You Have a Similar Experience? Did you install a humidistat fan? What is your experience with it? Maybe you want to share something you've learned while setting up, using, maintaining, and taking care of your humidistat fan (or timer fan) - please do so in the comments. You can read more technical details on how the humidistat works here, here, and here. To purchase bathroom fans with a timer, please visit the Ventilation Systems at Sparks Direct.

Recently, Beijing citizens have been advised to stay indoors as the air pollution breaks all known records. In light of this, we thought it was high time to talk about air pollution inside the house - which is often overlooked in favour of what happens outdoors. In fact, studies have shown that the air quality in the kitchen can be up to [three times more noxious] than a traffic-lined street, so there's a clear need to keep the indoor air quality (IAQ) at a breathable standard. What is Indoor Air Pollution? Because IAQ is so often overlooked, you might not be completely aware of what the term "indoor air pollution" means, exactly. It's a mixture of pollutants from inside the building with those that come into the building through windows and other sources of ventilation. Cooking appliances and tobacco smoke are among the worst offenders, as you might have already guessed, but there are other, more surprising sources of air pollution inside the average UK house: Pollutant Sources Nitrogen Dioxide (NO?) Heating and cooking appliances Carbon Monoxide (CO) Heating and cooking appliances Particulate matter Cooking and aerosols Radon Natural ground gases Environmental tobacco smoke Cigarettes, cigars, pipes Allergens Moulds and house dust mites Volatile organic compounds and ozone Cleaning products, paints, and printers With a list this long, it might seem as though there is nothing to be done - after all, if natural ground gases are a hazard, what can we do about that? Achieving Good Indoor Air Quality A good IAQ rating can be achieved through demand-controlled ventilation, among other things such as air-filtering plants and, well, only smoking outdoors (which, we understand, is one of the greatest joys a smoker can have in a world that increasingly shuts them out). Simply fitting an extractor fan in the most problematic areas of the house will ensure a constant air turnover: the replacement of interior air with exterior air. Pollutants vary from room to room: allergens and moulds tend to build up in the bathroom, whereas tobacco smoke is more common in living rooms and bedrooms, for example. This means that some rooms will require more ventilation or a more rapid airflow exchange.Best indoor Ventilation Fans Generally, there's a "trade-off" between airtightness and energy efficiency: very energy-efficient houses tend not to be very well-ventilated, and houses with a lot of ventilation are not very airtight. That said, there are a number of low-energy extractor fans in the Sparks Direct store, including models with incorporated motion sensors. If you're concerned about the air quality of your home, speak with an HVAC contractor about extraction fans, or take a look through our store. Better yet: why not ask one of our staff at our Archway showroom? Header image via How Stuff Works

Some people are OK with a random not-so-good-yet-functioning air extractor fan, while others "don't care about the brand but want a good ventilation at home". But we all need to know that the effect of not having a good-quality air in the home is dramatic. Most people spend 90% of their time indoors and many times 70% of this time is in our own homes! If we have clean air, ventilated air, and even purified air at home, we have a chance at living longer and at not being affected in our health. The indoor living environment is crucial to the health of the occupants. What Air do we have In our Home? It is a proven fact that half of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by poor indoor ventilation. In conclusion, what kind of air do we have in our home? Of course, we don't see with our eyes what's in the air we breathe, but there is lots of stuff in there! Besides to the general moisture build-up in the home (created from washing, bathing, cooking, breathing, and being there), a large compound of many other pollutants and contaminants is present in the indoor air both at work and at home. Here are some of the things we may daily breathe in: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) created from the use of aerosols and formaldehyde found in furniture and carpets CO, Carbon monoxide, from smoking and combustion appliances Odors from cooking and pets Humidity and vapors created from cooking, showering, washing, and ironing, all amounting to 16 pints a day in an average family home Allergens from house dust mites Mould spores found in household dust Carbon dioxide from household appliances and people Without any intention to scare you or myself, it's pretty nasty. What's the solution for all these pollutants in the air? Is there a way to actually live in your own home without being negatively affected by the air in home? Solution: Correct and Proper Ventilation! The solution to all these problems is simply to ventilate properly and correctly! In other words, you need to calculate what kind of volume of air your room has and you need to get an air ventilation fan that will insure at least 3-4 changes of air per day in the room. One of the most recommended ranges of energy-saving and low-cost air extractor fans is the EnviroVent ENV range.Recently we added the ENV1T12V 100mm low voltage centrifugal fan with a timer, ideal for the kitchen.Note: this fan is no longer available on our website; here is the Envirovent range of fans. With a quiet operation (you can barely hear it) and with a full IPX4 rating, this fan also comes with a timer module incorporated. Excellent for domestic use and with automatic backdraught shutters, this fan meets all the building requirements! Note: the above info is inspired from EnviroVent's own documentation on ventilation.Best Ventilation Fans for Home

Whether we work in an office, travel for work, or work from home, residential ventilation systems are critical for our health, for we all return home and we need fresh air in our homes. At Sparks, we distribute a wide range of ventilation systems, most of which are for residential applications. In this article, we are inspired by the Residential Ventilation Systems via Airflow, and we would like to highlight the following:the importance of residential ventilation, how to choose the residential ventilation system, what are the benefits of such systems, what are the available residential ventilation systems at Sparks. The air we breathe at home needs to be of good quality, which means that we need to work on improving the air quality so that there are lower and lower levels of pollution in the air we breathe. Since the air we breathe has an impact on our health and our overall well-being, we need to analyze what are the factors that affect the quality of the air we breathe at home and how can we properly ventilate our home. Residential Ventilation is Important - Here's WhyWhy is it important for residential buildings to be properly ventilated? Especially as we live in the UK with a high level of rain and humidity, it is easy for us to close our windows and make sure we stay safe and sound inside the comfort of our own homes. However, there's the possibility of mould being formed, which leads to respiratory illnesses, allergies, and an increased risk of cardiovascular issues. Plus, we feel tired and have no appetite for life, for the quality of the air we breathe has an effect on our mental health. As we live a modern life in our modern home, it is easy to expose our home to a range of pollutants, fuel-burning combustion appliances, building materials and furnishings, and cleaning products we use to clean our home. It is recommended to have proper residential ventilation since these pollutants can remain in the air and we actually breathe in the air! When we open the window and have a proper residential ventilation system, we eliminate pollutants in the air and minimize the health risks associated with them. However, if we don't properly ventilate or if our system is leaking and there are condensation issues, mould growth can happen and pollutants will remain. In conclusion, it is critically important for there to be a proper residential ventilation system and for us to properly ventilate our home. Factors to Consider in Choosing the Right Type of Residential Ventilation for Your HomeMany people realize there's a need for proper ventilation at home but they do not know what is the right type of residential ventilation for them. Sometimes they go overboard and order an expensive yet wrong ventilation system, and there is inefficient ventilation or worse, the building and health of those in the building is affected or damaged. There are a few factors to consider in choosing the right type of residential ventilation for your home. 1. What do you need to ventilate?If you need ventilation for the bathroom, a particular residential ventilation system is required, but if ventilation is required for the kitchen, a different system is needed. Depending on the room to be ventilated and the volume of that room, particular residential ventilation systems can be recommended. 2. Is your building new or old? By this we mean, is the property you live in a new build or an existing building? Some older homes won't be able to accommodate some of the new residential ventilation systems. Some of the new builds are more airtight, and they rely upon mechanical ventilation methods. It is important to know this when considering what residential ventilation system to purchase. 3. What's the volume of air to ventilate? Depending on the volume of air that needs to be ventilated (which can be calculated based on the dimensions of the room to ventilate), different residential ventilation systems are available. The size of the system depends on the volume to be ventilated and the settings you apply to it. 4. What are the current regulations regarding residential ventilation? It is good to know what are the government requirements for residential ventilation to make sure we meet the current regulations. Furthermore, it is good to know more about the latest plans to achieve the Future Homes Standard and Future Building Standard via the UK government portal. 5. What's the cost of the residential ventilation system we need? For many, this is the first consideration, especially in these days of high inflation and increased household costs. Budget is something we can't ignore; however, a good residential ventilation system will last you for many years, so it is worth it investing in a good quality system. What are the Benefits of Good Residential Ventilation Systems?Here are some of the benefits of choosing and installing good quality residential ventilation systems:Better quality of air to breathe leads to less suffering from allergies, respiratory and skin conditions, fatigue, and other health issues.Higher quality of air means less volatile organic compounds, less radon, and a lower likelihood for mould to develop in the home. Good quality air and ventilated air in a building lead to preserving the fabric of the building and not damaging it, and there are less mould, dampness, and condensation issues. Proper residential ventilation systems at home lead to significant economic advantages, especially when a dMEV system is installed and there is mechanical ventilation with a heat recovery system. The best Residential Ventilation Systems available at SparksAt Sparks, we are delighted to distribute some of the highest-quality residential ventilation systems in the UK. The ventilation manufacturers we distribute have decades of experience in the residential ventilation industry and they operate according to the highest standards. Here are some of the best residential ventilation systems available at Sparks (bearing in mind the factors you need to consider for a residential ventilation system in your home above):Airflow Bathroom Fans: excellent fans for extracting the air in the bathroom, from the Airflow iCON range to the Aura bathroom fans. Airflow iCONstant continuous air extractor fans: quiet, dMEV fans that are extremely economical to run. Envirovent Bathroom Extractor Fans: high-quality bathroom ventilation fans from Silent fans to the Design extractor fans for extracting air in the bathroom. Envirovent ECO-dMEV continuous running fans: ideal for constant volume, continuously running decentralised extract fan. Manrose Ventilation fans for Bathroom: good quality bathroom fans for extracting moisture and pollutants, low voltage and mains voltage fans. Manrose Kitchen ventilation fans: 100mm, 125mm, and 150mm duct fans for kitchen air extraction and ventilation.If you need help with deciding what residential ventilation system you require for your home, do not hesitate to contact us. Buy Residential Ventilation Systems at Sparks

There are many guides on how to deal with condensation and mould at home, and you can never be too much in advising people what are the dangers of having mould in a domestic environment. As the temperatures outside drop, it is easy to have condensation on the windows and then mould growth in different areas in the house. Especially between the months of October and March in the UK, there's a high likelihood that condensation and mould formation would increase. If your windows look steamy or with condensation on them in the morning or sometime throughout the day, you need to deal with the problems. If you are experiencing condensation and mould on windows, walls, or ceilings, you need to determine the cause for this and also take care of the problem as soon as possible. When mould grows on the wall, on the window, or on the edges of the window or wall, you shouldn't think there's a problem with your house but rather, there may be a problem with ventilation. Immediate action needs to be taken when mould growth is detected.Keep reading to find out more concerning how you can deal with condensation and mould at home, in particular:Condensation: Though Unavoidable, it can be Taken Care of!Excessive Condensation can Lead to these ProblemsMoisture and Condensation: how to Produce Less Moisture!Preventing Mould Growth by Reducing Condensation: Ventilation!Hot - Cold - Ventilation - Let the Air Circulate!When there is Mould Growth: How to Clean MouldFurther Reading on How to Deal with Condensation and Mould at HomeCondensation: Though Unavoidable, it can be Taken Care of!What is condensation and how does it form, or what are the causes for condensation? As we live our lives in our homes, especially during the colder months of the year, condensation may appear on the window or on the wall. There's always some moisture in the air, even though we can't see it; when the air gets cold, it cannot hold the moisture and tiny droplets of water are formed on the windows - especially in the morning. This is condensation. It is nice and warm inside and it is very cold outside; it is easy for condensation to appear. When you take a shower, for example, the mirror or the bathroom tiles may have condensation since the cold surface of the mirror is hit by the air loaded with tiny water droplets. When condensation forms inside your home, it can become a problem unless you take swift action. It is unavoidable to have condensation but you can take care of it! Excessive Condensation can Lead to these ProblemsIf condensation is not taken care of swiftly, it can lead to many problems. Dampness caused by excessive condensation can lead to mould growth on the window frame, the window sill, the ceiling, the furniture, the wall, or even on the clothes. Damp and humid conditions also are the best environment for dust mites to easily multiply, thus affecting those suffering of asthma. This is why we say that, though unavoidable, we need to take swift action when we see condensation forming. Dealing with Condensation - First StepsThe first and easiest step to deal with condensation is to wipe dry the surfaces where condensation forms. For example, when you see condensation on the window or the windowsill in the morning, you can wipe these surfaces dry. You can take a dry cloth and wipe the wet surfaces clean, and then squeeze the water out in the sink. Don't be tempted to let it dry somewhere and do not put it on the heater, or else the water will go back into the air! And the second step you can take to deal with condensation is simply to ventilate the place; open the window for a bit until there is some ventilation taking place, and then the window can be closed later. Don't Forget to Ventilate!Dealing with Mould Growth: First StepsIf there is mould growth on the window, the windowsill, the wall, or any other surface, the first thing to be done is to limit the amount of condensation in the room and kill and remove the mould. Ventilation is necessary to get rid of the moisture in the air. To deal with the mould, the surfaces with mould growth need to be wiped down or sprayed with a fungicidal wash or very diluted bleach. Please follow the instructions as per the bottle of the cleaning product to make sure you do not get sick or destroy the surface to be cleaned. Moisture and Condensation: how to Produce Less Moisture!Simply by living inside your home, moisture is produced. Our breathing adds to the moisture, our activities add to the moisture, and everything we do can add to the moisture. And moisture leads to condensation, which can lead to mould growth. For example, when we sleep at night, just one single person can add up to half a pint of water to the air overnight! For example, here are some approximate statistics regarding moisture and how much it is produced:Two people at home, just by breathing, can produce up to 3 pints per day.Taking a bath or a shower can produce up to 2 pints. Drying the laundry indoors can produce up to 6 pints.Cooking and using the kettle for tea can produce up to 3 pints.Washing the dishes in the sink can lead to 1 pint of water.If we add all these together, simply by doing the normal things around the house (without ventilation), up to 15 pints of water can be produced just by two people. How can we reduce the moisture at home? Here are some tips:Dry your laundry outside. Hang your washing outside in a clean and dry place if possible, or hang it in the bathroom with the door closed and the window slightly open or the extractor fan on. If you dry your clothes indoors next to the radiator or the heater, the moisture in the air will increase. When cooking, cook with pan lids on, and turn the heat down once the water has boiled. Using a hob when cooking also helps extract the moisture, and using less water when boiling and cooking will help reduce the moisture in the air. Also, ventilate! Simply by opening the window, ventilation is produced. Instead of drying clothes inside the house, use a tumble dryer if possible. Or if you don't mind the extra cost and you have a laundromat not too far from your house, it may be worth it to pay and dry your clothes there. When running a bath, if you want to take a bath, it's best to run the cold water first and then the hot water, since this will reduce the steam by 90%. When taking a bath or a shower, always turn on the bathroom fan. Do not be tempted to keep the temperature steamy and warm in the bathroom: always ventilate! And after taking a shower, it is best to wipe clean the bath tiles, the mirror, and the shower so that less water may evaporate and become moisture in the air, leading to condensation. Preventing Mould Growth by Reducing Condensation: Ventilation!The understated free action we all can take in order to prevent mould growth by reducing condensation is ventilation. When we ventilate properly, condensation is reduced and it becomes more difficult for mould to grow. There are many whole house ventilation systems that can be set up, which can cost you a lot of money, but at the same time, simple ventilation can help and is easier to do! For example, cross-ventilating the home helps very much! Since it is so cold outside, you can slightly open one window downstairs and another upstairs, making sure the doors in between are open. Or you can open the windows in the rooms on the opposite sides of the house, making sure the interior doors to the rooms are also open. Allowing the fresh air to come in and circulate throughout the house can remove moisture. We recommend such cross-ventilation to be carried out for about 30 minutes every day. Tip: do not leave your windows open when you leave the house - this poses a security problem!Here are some other simple tips on ventilation at home:Open the trickle vents in the widows: many of the double or triple-glazed windows have trickle vents, usually located at the top side, which can be closed or open. It is recommended to keep them open during the day to allow air to circulate. Ventilate the kitchen when cooking or washing up. Simply opening the window and having the air circulate makes a great difference to condensation. Using a cooker extractor hood also helps. Use the bathroom extractor fan and make sure it runs more than the time you take a shower or a bath. Many extractor fans are affordable and they extract a lot of the moisture in the air. Open the curtains during the day, especially when opening the window, to allow the air to circulate. If the curtains are not open, condensation can happen and mould may grow. When using the shower or taking a bath, close the door and turn on the fan or open the window. When cooking in the kitchen, close the door and open the window, even turn on the hob. When the bathroom and kitchen doors are closed as different activities are taking place in those rooms, moisture cannot travel in the other rooms in the house.Do not overfill the wardrobe and cupboards and keep them at a small distance from the wall. Beds, wardrobes, and cupboards can have moisture on them and even mould growth if there's no ventilation between them and the cold surface of the wall. It is recommended to keep a small gap between large pieces of furniture and the wall. Ventilation Fans for HomeHot - Cold - Ventilation - Let the Air Circulate!Many of us love it when it is nice and warm at home, especially during the cold months of the year, so we keep the window shut and we may even appreciate the heat coming from the kitchen when cooking takes place. We need to remember that warm air can hold more moisture than cooler air, and droplets of condensation can appear on different surfaces around the house. The warmer the air is, the more moisture it can hold, like a sponge. It is best to have a medium level of heat throughout the house than to have one room extra warm and the others cold. It is recommended to keep the heat on low all day, especially in the cold months, rather than having it on full blast for several short periods during the day. If there's no heating in particular rooms, instead of keeping the doors closed, it's best to open the doors to allow some heat to enter into them and for air to circulate. Remember: the lasting cure for mould is to reduce the amount of condensation you create by using the heating, cooking, showering, etc, and by ventilating your home effectively!When there is Mould Growth: How to Clean MouldSome people do not want to ventilate nor do they turn on the fan in the bathroom during or after the shower, and the next thing you know, not only condensation happens but even more, there is mould growth. This is not the end of the world, but unless treated and removed, mould can grow and become quite dangerous to our health and the health of those in our homes. Here are some tips on how to clean mould when it grows in your home:Open the window and ventilate the room before doing anything. Chemicals may be used to remove the mould, so the fumes can be quite toxic; opening a window and turning on a vent or fan to ventilate the room is recommended. If it is too cold outside, still open at least one window to allow the air to circulate in the room. And if it is freezing cold, it's best to wait for a sunny dry day to treat the mould. Be aware that, since mould grows best in moist areas, it's best to regularly ventilate and, if you want to remove it, it's harder to do so when it is raining. Use protection when dealing with mould: facemasks, gloves, and protective eyewear. Whether you have asthma or not, it is easy to breathe in the mould spores when treating mould, so it is best to put on a facemask, gloves, and protective eyewear. The fumes of the cleaning products also can irritate your eyes, skin, and airways, so it's best to be protected. And wear a long-sleeved top and trousers to protect yourself. Read the instructions of the cleaning product. You may use bleach (low concentration) or other chemicals; before doing anything, read the instructions very carefully. Some of the cleaning products can contain harsh ingredients which, when used incorrectly, can be harmful to your health or can damage the surface you want to clean. Read the manufacturer's instructions. Never mix bleach with ammonia, for when these are mixed together, they create toxic fumes that are hazardous to health. Read the labels and, if possible, avoid combining cleaning products altogether. Throw away absorbent or porous items that are mouldy. The mould spores can get into the pores of the material and can continue to grow even after you clean that item, so it's best to throw it away. Things such as drywall, upholstered furniture, carpet, rugs, ceiling tiles, art, etc that have holes in the surface or absorb liquids, all need to be removed. If it can be washed, you can salvage it. Kill the Mould on Surfaces by choosing the right treatment. Some of the options include bleach, white vinegar, baking soda, or even dish detergent and water. The bleach needs to be diluted and properly handled. White vinegar can kill the mould as a natural treatment (especially when it is not diluted). Baking soda is also a natural option, and it also removes odour (dilute it and spray it on the surface). Finally, simply using diluted mild dish detergent and warm water with a brush can deal with mould. You can scrub the mould with soap and water to clean the surface. It is recommended to read the instructions, the way to prepare and scrub, and how to do it for each of these treatments. Properly treat the mould by spraying the solution on it and allowing it to sit for 15 minutes to one hour so it penetrates the root. Don't spray it and scrub it: spray it and wait. Treatments that are harsh, such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia work quickly. Natural treatments such as white vinegar, baking soda, borax, or tea tree oil may require longer to work. Follow the instructions and apply more than once. Scrub the surface with a stiff-bristled brush, if necessary. When all the mould is removed, it is good to scrub the area with soap and water, and even scrub it with a bristle brush. If the mould is removed simply by scrubbing it, it is good. Rinse and dry. Do not leave the area wet. It is recommended to use clean water to remove the remnants of any cleaning solutions, and then pat the area dry with a clean towel. If you are unhappy with the results, you can try the whole process again. However, if you want to try a different cleaner, it is best to thoroughly rinse the affected area to remove any remaining residue from your cleaning solution, and then let the area dry before you try again. Make sure that the area is clean after being treated. Best ventilation solutions at SparksFurther Reading on How to Deal with Condensation and Mould at HomeThe above guide is compiled from a wide variety of guides and advice leaflets put out by many entities, to which we are thankful. We are listing some of the further reading on this topic, with thanks. How to prevent damp, mould and condensation in your homeDEALING WITH DAMP AND CONDENSATIONHow to prevent condensation and mouldHow to avoid condensation and mould in your homeReducing damp in your homeHow to deal with condensation and mould in your homeHow to Kill Mold (with Pictures)Condensation and Mould Advice for TenantsControlling Damp and Condensation in Your HomeControlling condensation and mouldCondensation, damp and mouldCondensation and mould advice for tenantsControlling damp, condensation and mould