What is a dMEV extractor fan?

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dMEV or Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation, is a low energy, usually compact continuous running fan, designed to promote good air quality in the home.  Often, they will form part of your overall ventilation strategy but due their range of features, can readily be used to replace standard intermittent fans. Quieter and more energy efficient than standard extractor fans, dMEV are a popular choice for new build properties and renovations. dMEV units are particularly good at dealing with mould, damp, and condensation problems, by managing humidity in the home. Decentralised simply means they are not designed as a single central ventilation system such as the MEV or MVHR systems, which of course we also offer – for that reason dMEV fans are much better suited to simple retrofit applications.

Which is the best dMEV fan to install?

As you would expect, most quality ventilation manufacturers offer a dMEV fan to suit any application. All the fans here perform well, but some include more features, which may better suit landlords.  Of course, they also differ in appearance and price, which may be a key factor for you.

Tornado Silent dMEV

We love all products by Tornado and the dMEV is another belter of a fan, ticking all the boxes for an off the shelf dMEV solution. At just 1 watt for the trickle setting of 5 l/s, it’s one of the lowest energy fans here but is still a very capable fan. The trickle setting is adjustable up to 30 l/s, and can also provide a boost up to 35 l/s either via the humidity sensor or remote switch. With a high performance on the trickle settings, the boost will be called for less, meaning a more constant flow through the property. Set up is made easy with a clear LED display. Great looks, great performance, and all in a tidy looking unit with a 5 year warranty.

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Envirovent ECO dMEV

Envirovent offers a fantastic and cost effective range, with their ECO dMev. The fan has been designed for all domestic situations, taking the guess work out of buying the correct extractor fan for your bathroom, toilet, WC, and even kitchen.  The DC motor offers exceptional performance, whilst remaining super silent, at just under 20 decibels.  Furthermore, the front grill is a smooth stylish design to blend perfectly to your interior décor, with a choice of 4 colour trims.

The ECO dMEV range from Envirovent includes a standard model, adjustable run-on timer model, adjustable timer and humidity sensor model, and the same model again but with a handy pull cord boost function.

Set up is made easy with a choice of 5 trickle speed settings from 4-13 litres per second l/s, and energy consumption as low as 1.5 watts. The powerful centrifugal fan is able to automatically adjust the airflow to maintain the desired output, through unique “sensorless” technology. This means that even when ducting runs have increased the extract resistance, the unit will perform as expected.  You won’t need to worry about meeting new building regs targets.

The ECO dMEV is also offered as per the same models but with an Intermittent (LC) version. This gives maximum versatility to be able to operate continuously or intermittently. It is not recommended to use the LC model in the kitchen or utility on the intermittent setting only.

The range is further enhanced with a low voltage (SELV) version for fitting in bathrooms. 

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Airflow ICONstant

Building on the success of their Icon range, Airflow has developed the superb looking ICONstant dMEV fan, offering a standard timer and humidistat model. The humidity sensor is adjustable between 60% and 90%. Airflow claims this is the quietest dMEV fan on the market, from just 10dB(A) on the lowest trickle setting, it’s barely audible. It’s also an extremely energy efficient extractor fan, using between just 1.21 and 1.81 watts, due to the efficient 24 V DC Motor.

The ICONstant is also pretty powerful, with a boost function up to 79 m³/h, which can be set to 2, 15, 30, or 40 minutes. Similar to other fans here, this neat round unit is ideal for dealing with damp and condensation problems, by using continuous running technology. A constant flow volume is achieved via a sensor to detect changes in the flow rate. The 3 year warranty, and compliance with the latest building regulations, should give you peace of mind that this fan is ideal for WC’s, bathrooms, utility rooms, and kitchens.

Finally, this quality fan benefits from IPX5 protection, meaning the fan can be installed wall or ceiling mounted, virtually anywhere in the bathroom or wet room within Zones 1 and 2.

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Vent Axia Lo-Carbon Response dMEV

Market leaders in ventilation, Vent Axia have once again delivered an award winning product, with their Lo-Carbon Response dMEV model.  Ideal for social housing, the unit ensures maximum comfort and air quality for residents, whilst being quick and easy to install.  Set up is made easy with a clear LED display, and locking anti-tamper function. A real time display ensures that residents have confidence in the low running costs of the unit, whilst giving landlords vital information about the hours on humidity boost function. Trickle speeds are adjustable from between 5-30 l/s with a boost setting of 35 l/s. The attractive smooth tile front fan even boasts a 7 guarantee for maximum confidence.

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Should I install dMEV in my home?

If your home is suffering from damp and mould problems, or you have recently replaced your windows or insulation, thus increasing the air tightness in your home, the answer is yes.  You can be assured that by using the constant trickle function, condensation-related problems won’t develop.

Furthermore, if you are a landlord, dMEV is a fantastic fit and forget solution for your tenants and property.  The near silent trickle operation, means they are much less likely to be switched off. If your home is suffering from particularly bad damp problems, or a dMEV fan doesn’t seem to fully solve the problem, we recommend pairing it with a PIV (Positive Input Ventilation) fan, which will ensure constant throughput of fresh clean air.