Can a Gas Fire Be Used With MVHR?
Gas fires are a staple in many homes, and for those considering investing in MVHR, you may be wondering if the gas fire hinders or affects the effectiveness of MVHR. That is why, in this blog, we will address the question ‘Can a gas fire be used with MVHR?’
With new buildings being made to be as energy efficient as possible, and the UK aiming for 95% of its electricity usage to be low carbon by 2030, it is imperative to understand how we can make the most of our ventilation. This is where MVHR units come in.
To prevent mould, fresh air should constantly be introduced into your dwelling daily, as it helps to regulate temperature and reduce condensation. Introducing fresh air can be as simple as having a ventilation routine, or installing extractors or MVHR units. Almost all of this is facilitated by ducting.
Gas fireplaces explained
A gas fire in a home comes as a result of two things, a gas cooker, or a gas fireplace. As this blog is regarding MVHR, we will be focusing on the latter.
A gas fire place makes use of combustible gasses to create a fire. The fireplace consists of incombustible “logs” covering gas vents, and the fire itself burns behind glass doors. Waste gasses are expelled outside via tubing rather than the chimney of your home, but this can vary between homes and fireplaces.
The benefit of a gas fireplace is that it can heat up the room it is lit in, rather quickly, whilst maintaining a cooler temperature around the rest of the home.
Gas fireplaces run the risk of leaking carbon monoxide if any faults or damages are sustained by the fireplace. This is a deadly gas that can lead to death or even explosions due to the highly combustible makeup of the gas.
Having a carbon monoxide detector in your home is the best method to ensure that you are safe from any instances of a leak, and you can quickly contact the relevant people to rectify the problem.
What is MVHR?
MVHR stands for ‘Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery’. This is the formal term, the units that use this technology are generally known as heat recovery units, or heat recovery systems.
As the name suggests, MVHR units provide the function and benefits of ventilation, whilst also finding a way to recover heat that is lost during ventilation. They are available in single or multi-room units.
The advantages of heat recovery systems are the following:
- Holds all the benefits of an extractor, including the removal of stale air, humidity and smells.
- It helps to prevent the cultivation of mould through the removal of humidity.
- Temperature sensors ensure that additional heat is not being added to the atmosphere of the home if it is already hot.
- Heat recovery systems take a lot of the burden from you conducting a ventilation routine. This is ideal for a vulnerable person.
- Less of a need to use your central heating frequently as the heat generated through your house is recycled through the heat recovery unit.
- The reduced use of heating as a result of the heat conservation granted by a heat recovery unit can help you save on energy bills.
Can a gas fire be used with MVHR?
There are a couple of ways this question can be interpreted, so we will address both interpretations.
A gas fire is not part of a MVHR system, it does not directly employ the usage of a gas fire to improve its functionality. A gas fire is a completely different heating mechanism in your home, it does not need a MVHR system to work.
That being said, a gas fire can be used in conjunction with a MVHR system. This essentially means you can have your gas fire operating whilst your MVHR system is operating.
As a MVHR system focuses on heat retention and air purity, you won’t need to have your gas fire on for as long as you would expect, because the heat won’t be lost. (Unless you open your windows or front/back doors).
In the long-term, you will be saving money that would otherwise be going towards bills, as the necessity to keep the gas fire on is limited by the fact that the resulting hot air isn’t being wasted.
Can my home get too hot with MVHR and a gas fire?
Most MVHR systems have a summer bypass feature, which essentially means the heat retention aspect will disable once the home gets past a certain temperature. Be sure to research the application of this feature with the MVHR system you choose to purchase.
Is a wood fire better than gas for MVHR?
MVHR systems are compatible with every heating system, you don’t have to worry about your current heating system if you are considering MVHR. That being said, MVHR systems would benefit those with wood fires specifically. Wood fires release pollutants into the indoor air, which a MVHR system can ventilate and replace.
A gas fire is still compatible with MVHR, and would give it less work to do in regard to ventilating pollutants, as it does not emit the same pollutants as an open wood fireplace.
Does MVHR remove dust?
MVHR can remove dust, but this is airborne dust. Any dust that has settled on a surface will still need to be cleaned. MVHR reduces the amount of airborne dust in your home that would have eventually settled on a surface if there was no MVHR.
MVHR systems then take this polluted air, and replace it with outdoor air that is filtered and combined with any heat that was in the already extracted air.
Does MVHR have filters?
Yes, MVHR systems have filters, some are removable and easily cleaned whilst some need replacement. Neglecting to do so can result in reduced effectiveness of your system, as well as a build up of dust in and around the system.
MVHR systems have filters to facilitate the removal of pollutants and dust that is in the air, both from the extracted air from indoors, and the extracted air from outdoors. They are vital components.
Some filters can be cleaned with a dry cloth, but this is completely subjective to the system you purchase. Be sure to read the user guidance manual to understand the correct way to deal with the filters for your model of MVHR.
MVHR price range
The cost of MVHR systems vary between the type of MVHR unit you require. Naturally, single-room units will cost less than whole-house units. Our range of MVHR units begin from just over £260, to over £3000.
Single-room units are generally used for kitchens and/or bathrooms, as they see a high volume of humidity, making them hotspots for condensation to develop. Whole house units serve to ventilate the whole home.
Click here to view our full range of MVHR units.
Purchase a MVHR system today
We at I-Sells endeavour to ensure our customers have all the information they require before investing in our mould solutions. Be sure to visit our blog page to learn about the vast array of factors and issues surrounding ventilation, mould, condensation, and much more.
We hope to have answered the question ‘Can a gas fire be used with MVHR?’
We understand you may have more questions, do not hesitate to contact us for more information about whatever you need our help with. If you’d like to email us, click here. For other contact options, see below:
Call us on 020 8463 9696
Visit us at our showroom:
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Sunday: Closed
15 St John’s Parade
Sidcup, Kent
DA14 6ES
United Kingdom
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