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Ventilation for utility room

11 replies

BasinHaircut · 03/03/2015 10:51

Making an old galley kitchen into a utility room. As the new kitchen is an extension across the back, the utility will have just an internal door into it and no other door or window, therefore no direct ventilation.

I'll be using the room to hang wet washing and so I'm thinking I need to have some sort of ventilation. I'll get a dehumidifier but obviously don't want it running all day and night.

How should I do this? What sort of ventilation do I need? I don't really want to put a window in (although natural light would be nice) as I wouldn't be able to leave it open, so how do I install ventilation? It's an outside wall.

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Marmitelover55 · 03/03/2015 10:56

We have a similar setup. We just have an extractor fan and s ladder type radiator. Seems to do the trick Smile

mousmous · 03/03/2015 10:58

do you have an outside wall so you could fit an extractor fan?

mousmous · 03/03/2015 11:00

just seen it's an outside wall.. so yes you can have an extractor fitted quite easily. will involve drilling a hole which is great fun.

TeddyBee · 03/03/2015 11:13

You'll probably find building control will insist bitter

BasinHaircut · 03/03/2015 11:23

Thanks. When you say extractor do you mean something electricity powered? Or just holes in the wall so to speak?

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Marmitelover55 · 03/03/2015 11:28

Ours has motor which comes on when you turn light on.

mousmous · 03/03/2015 11:31

I would put one in with a motor and timer.
new ones are very quiet.

BasinHaircut · 03/03/2015 11:42

I don't really want one connected to the light, as I won't have the light on that much. I also need any ventilation to be quiet! Can I do it without electric? Maybe just a vent? Or would that not be sufficient?

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TeddyBee · 03/03/2015 12:00

Check with building control - they'll probably want extracting rather than purge ventilation, but you can get them with humidistats so they only operate when needed.

PigletJohn · 03/03/2015 12:52

if you intend to dry washing in there, you really do need an electric extractor. Otherwise it will get very damp. In most circumstances (e.g. bathroom or WC) the light switch plus an overrun timer is best, as it assures ventilation without any effort. However if you plan to put the washing in and leave it to dry, I suppose you had better get a manual switch.

A typical extractor fan will run for about 50 hours on 12p worth of electricity, so it does not matter if you forget to turn it off.

Modern ball-bearing fans are very quiet and last a long time.

100mm/4 inch fans are very weedy, so look at a six inch/150mm fan.

This brand is very quiet and has a good reputation. It is about three times as powerful as a typical cheap bathroom fan.

Mount it as close to the ceiling as you can, because water vapour is lighter than air, and rises.

If you think that one day you might buy a tumble drier, have a 4-inch hole made about 600mm above the floor, with a hit-and-miss vent on the inside. It will also allow fresh air in without sucking it from the house. Remember to have a power socket nearby.

Put a cowl vent on the outside of both ducts. It does not rattle as much as the ones like a miniature plastic venetian blind. Six-inch ones are hard to find.

An electrician can fit it for you. You might like to have the switch outside the door with an indicator neon to remind you (if so, specify it before the cable is run or it will not work)

You can get a speed controller, but it will cost a lot.

BasinHaircut · 04/03/2015 08:32

Thanks Piglet, good idea about the outside switch and thanks for the tip about the quiet fan

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