Central Air Units

The central air unit is the heart of the whole house heat recovery ventilation system; it houses two fans, extract and supply, a high efficiency heat exchanger plus filters for the exhaust air and fresh incoming air. The extract fan removes stale moist air from the home and the supply fan brings fresh air in to replace the extracted moist air.

Designed for loft or wall installation the Regavent central air units are designed for continuous ventilation of domestic dwellings and small commercial premises. The unit casings are manufactured from strong, corrosion resistant galvanised steel and the plate heat exchanger in long life plastic so the only items subject to wear are the fan motors.

Selected for durability and performance the fan motors are of external rotor design. With sealed for life ball bearings they are quiet running and completely maintenance free in operation. Experience has shown that under normal 24 hour operating conditions the expected motor life should exceed 10 years. The central air units are supplied with EC (Electronic Commutation) motors that convert 240V AC power to 48V DC to give reduced energy consumption. Although the initial cost of the EC motors is higher than AC, the energy savings can recover the initial outlay within six to eight years. EC motors convert two thirds of the power used into useful work compared to only a half for AC motors. Reduced electrical losses mean lower temperatures and less thermal stress giving even longer motor life and continued electrical savings many years into the future. Central air units with EC motors are supplied with a fully variable control unit to allow the air volume to be matched exactly to the requirements of the dwelling.

The heat exchanger is of highest level of efficiency. At low air volumes the heat exchanger can recover up to 90% of the heat from the extracted stale air. With higher air volumes an average of 75% of the available heat will be used to warm the incoming fresh air. The heat exchanger requires no routine maintenance but may be removed for cleaning if an exceptional build up of grease or dust makes this necessary. Alternatively replacement units are available at low cost.

The central air units incorporate filters for dust removal on both extract and fresh air supply. The washable filters protect the heat exchanger from the build up of dust and from grease and other particles in the stale air. Frequency of cleaning of the filters is dependent on the level of contamination but typically would be an annual operation.

Any ventilation system must be unobtrusive in operation so low noise is of great importance, to this end Regavent central units are supplied complete with an acoustic/thermal insulation jacket. Manufactured from high density close cell neoprene foam the jacket not only prevents noise breakout from the unit but also reduces heat loss to maintain thermal efficiency. To further ensure quiet operation each unit comes with a mounting cradle incorporating rubber mounts, preventing noise transmission to the structure.

When the cool incoming air and the warm stale air pass across the heat exchanger the moisture in the stale air condenses. All Regavent Central Air Units are supplied with a drain connection and small diameter hose to allow this condense to be drained away from the unit.