Nuaire Drimaster NOX What is it? What does it do? And is it any good?

What do you get when you cross nearly fifty years of whole house ventilation experience with powerful carbon and ePM10 filtration technology? The Drimaster NOX!  

Condensation and mould growth causes not only an ugly mess but also sometimes thousands of pounds worth of renovation costs.

Back in the 1970s, a company called Nuaire created PIV (positive input ventilation), with the idea of increasing the pressure within a building to force out stale and moisture-laden air.

This would mean that air circulation would be greatly improved and condensation and mould growth would not be possible.


They called this unit The Drimaster.


Skip forwards nearly 5 decades and the Drimaster has been the go-to condensation control unit for millions of homes, and for good reason.


If you’d like to know more about how the original Drimasters work for a little background info before we get into the meat of this article, have a read of this previous article that explains everything you could need to know.


How does a Drimaster work

What is the Drimaster NOX?

The Drimaster NOX is a powerful combination of Nuaire’s PIV whole-house ventilation technology, combined with high-grade carbon and ePM10 filters. Designed specifically to tackle pollution and NOX gas build-up, the unit can lower the levels of these harmful gasses in a property by up to 80%.

After investing some serious time and cash into researching of the effects of harmful pollutants in built-up areas, Nuaire decided it was time to start creating units that would not only solve peoples condensation and mould issues but also reduce the levels of these dangerous chemicals in the air the homeowners were breathing.


Their first unit was the Nuaire Noxmaster, a loft cavity installed PIV unit with high-grade filtration systems. The unit was highly successful, but Nuaire realised it could bring many of the benefits that its NOXmaster unit provided and put it into the much loved Drimaster units.

What’s new?

The units themselves have remained very similar to the original Drimasters, retaining their high-performance motors, but adding carbon and ePM10 filters instead of the G3 filters the standard units utilise.

What you are left with, is what looks like your standard Drimaster unit, but with a completely hidden and seriously powerful hidden upgrade.

Each ePM10 filter is capable of filtering objects as tiny as 10 micrometres across (that can be inhaled and reduce the function of the airways), out of the air being drawn into your property.

A carbon filter is hidden away in each of the ePM10 filters, which are filled with small carbon pellets that are able to absorb up to 80% of harmful Nitrogen Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) gasses from the air you breathe. These typically come from car exhaust and industrial processes in towns and cities.

These new filters have gone through rigorous testing and approval criteria to make sure they function at the highest function without compromising the performance of the units and live up to the claims of the manufacturers.    

Does it work?    

Yes, the Drimaster units have been successfully ridding people of condensation and mould issues within their homes since the ’70s. There are plenty of other Positive pressure ventilation units available, but the name most commonly associated with PIV technology is the Drimaster.

i-sells have been providing the Drimaster units for years with exceptionally high customer reviews and excellent feedback. People are genuinely surprised at just how effective these units can really be.

To say the units are life-changing may be somewhat of an exaggeration, however, in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness and ease of use, these units are seriously hard to beat.

I have personally spoken to Nuaire during the research and development stages of their NOXmaster units, so I can vouch for just how much effort has gone into developing the filters.

The fact that they have now been added to what was already a very highly regarded unit can only improve what was already a near-perfect solution to mould and condensation.

Which Drimaster NOX is best for you?

Nuaire has released two new units, the NOX Heat and the NOX HC.


Benefits of the Drimaster ECO NOX HC  (DRI-ECO-NOX-HC)

• Powerful carbon and ePM10 filters.
• Reduces toxic “NOX” levels by up to 80%.
• Positive input pressure technology eliminates mould and condensation.
• Highly cost-effective with just 2p per day running cost (typical).
• Control settings placed within diffuser for easy access.

Benefits of the Drimaster ECO NOX HEAT (DRI-ECO-NOX-HEAT)

• Powerful carbon and ePM10 filters.
• Reduces toxic “NOX”  levels by up to 80%.
• Positive input pressure technology eliminates mould and condensation.
• Highly cost-effective with just 5-10p per day running cost with the heater at full capacity (typical).
• Integral 400W heater tempers outside air, increasing its temperature and reducing central heating costs.

You can see that the units are fairly similar in their capabilities, but the 400W integral heating element is really what makes this unit one of a kind.

As a result of drawing in air from the exterior of a property in colder months, a slight feeling of a draught can sometimes be felt from the ceiling diffuser. However, on many of the forums I’ve read, owners have said this issue is only very minor.

To combat any issue that people may have with discomfort from draughts, Nuaire added a 400W heating element to its units in order to take the chill off any air being brought into the property.

Do you need the heated option?

If you are living in an area that can get very cold or are sensitive to cold and draughts, then a heated unit is certainly the preferred option.

The heating element will not add a huge amount to the yearly running costs, nor will it increase the noise output of the unit, so it really is a good option if you are concerned about any small draughts irritating you.

However, if you live in a moderate temperature area, the standard HC (Hall Controlled) will be more than adequate to control any damp, mould or condensation problems without negatively impacting the comfort of your home.

The heated option is by far, the most popular unit at i-sells.co.uk, as if you have the heated option, you can control when the heater comes on yourself, or you can leave it up to the sensors to decide when it is necessary.

It takes very little effort to set up and means you can have the benefit of tempered air coming into the home if and when you need it with little added expense.

The ECO HC model lacks the heating element, however, as discussed this could be unnecessary in warmer climates. Its main feature is the control system for the unit being located in the ceiling diffuser.

This enables users to change any settings with the added convenience of not needing to enter the loft cavity to do so.

Drimaster NOX yearly Running costs

Nuaire estimates the yearly running cost of standard Drimaster NOX units to be around 2p per day.  

Rough estimates on the Drimaster NOX Heat running costs per day would be around
5-10p per day depending on electrical supplier and speed setting and how frequently the heating element is activated.

Remember that the unit itself determines when the air requires additional heating, so this will not be active 24 hours per day.  

These estimates are created by Nuaire using typical data from their own testing. The prices may vary depending on usage and electricity supplier.

Installing the Drimaster NOX units

Installation is exactly the same as the original Drimaster units, they can be either installed on the beams in the loft cavity or can be hung from the rafters.

It is recommended that a qualified installer put the unit in, but it should take no more than a few hours work. So, the standard fees of hiring a qualified installer for a few hours work should be the only installation costs you encounter.

Hanging the unit from the rafters is the recommended installation as it can help to reduce vibration travelling through the beams and becoming audible in the lower floors of the property.

If this is not possible, rubber mounting discs can be purchased and placed under the unit to again prevent any vibration noise.

It is worth noting that any noise created by the units is minimal, so this is not always necessary.

If you choose to install your Drimaster yourself, follow these simple steps:

1. To install the diffuser, cut out a section of the ceiling in the central position of your landing hallway. If possible, at least 1m away from a smoke alarm or CO2 monitor.

2. In the loft cavity, mark the centre point between two joists, and drill a hole in the centre point.

3. Using the diffuser template provided, line up the centre point, and mark out the section to be cut out of the ceiling.

4. Cut out the section of ceiling ready for the diffuser, then fit the diffuser into the hole, and secure with the screws and plasterboard plugs provided.

5. Once the diffuser is secured, fit the ducting over the heater and over the screws, then attach the supplied cable tie below the screws to secure the duct to the heater.

6. Connect the data cable to the diffuser interface panel, then the heater to the diffuser.

7. Attach the ducting to the fan, and secure using a cable tie.

8. Fix a screw to a convenient joist near the diffuser. If possible, suspending the unit approx 2/3 of the loft height to capitalise on solar gain, making sure the duct is not overstretched.

9. Ensure that the filters are fitted securely.

10. When the unit is in position, connect the data cable from the heater to the unit, then the heater mains cable back to the unit.

11. Ensure there is a minimum of 50mm between the heat power and data cable.

12. Before connecting the Drimaster eco to the phase connection unit, check that supply voltage is correct. Isolate at the mains before connecting the Drimaster to the fuse connection unit. Then re-instate the power supply.

For your own safety, and to protect your warranty, I would always suggest using a qualified electrician or installer to instal a unit such as this.

Maintenance of the Drimaster NOX units

Can the filters be cleaned/washed?

Nuaire has told us that the filters should be vacuumed once per month, or when any debris or dust starts to build up.

There is a small light on the diffuser (visible disc on the ceiling) that comes on when you need to give your filters a clean.

Once they have been vacuumed a few times, it will be worthwhile giving them a wash.

You might imagine that cleaning these filters would be tricky to wash, but they really aren’t. Just give them a gentle clean in some warm soapy water with a mild detergent. Then make sure they are completely dry before re-installing them onto the unit.

Washing and vacuuming your filters will be fine for two to up to around five years, but eventually, you will need to replace them.

We have a demo unit in our store that we clean once a month, and I can assure you it is incredibly easy and takes about five minutes in total.

The carbon filter cartridges only need to be replaced once every two years and aren’t hugely expensive.  

Conclusion

The NOX units are by far Nuaires most technologically advanced Drimaster units. The research and development that have gone into these units are astounding, and a combination of the stunning efficacy of the PIV with high-grade filtration systems can only create what will surely become one of Nuaires finest positive input ventilation units.

This is certainly a product that i-sells would recommend for any household struggling with mould, condensation and damp that also wants to remove harmful chemicals from the air they breathe.

The running costs are low, and heating bills are reduced as you are able to keep the windows closed in the colder months of the year.

Where can I buy Drimaster NOX units?

i-sells.co.uk currently has both Nauire Drimaster NOX units available.

Please click the links below to be taken to their pages for more details.

The Drimaster ECO NOX HEAT

And

The Drimaster ECO NOX HC

They also have the full range of classic Nuaire Drimaster units, which you can see by clicking the link below.

Nuaire Classic Drimaster Units

These units are available with free & fast Mainland UK delivery, we also have a team of advisors available on 020 8463 9696 that will be able to answer any questions you may have.