Positive Input Ventilation is a home ventilation system designed to remove condensation, mould growth, and dampness across your home.

The idea behind PIV is simple but brilliant: it creates ventilation throughout your entire living space with a clever, low-profile system of vents and fans.

The easiest way to explain what sets PIV apart from other options is by looking at its opposite, Mechanical Ventilation with a Heat Recovery system (or MVHR). MVHR serves the same purpose as PIV but requires ducting to be installed throughout your entire home.

The MVHR then connects to the ducts and starts moving air around your home. The ducting must be airtight, as does your house. Any air leaks or gaps reduce the effectiveness of MVHR, making it a poor choice for older buildings.

Positive Input Ventilation is just the opposite. No ducting has to run through your walls, plus PIV takes advantage of any gaps or air leaks in your home. You don’t have to do messy, expensive remodelling to enjoy the benefits of PIV. It leverages your home’s current design, using gaps to move air around and keep humidity from causing mold or dampness.

Also known as “positive pressure ventilation,” PIV ventilates your entire living space by drawing in fresh outside air, filtering it, and pushing it into your home. The fresh air forces out damp, stale, or humid air through the aforementioned gaps in your property.

Typically, PIV units are installed in your loft or attic. Then, a vent or diffuser is installed in the ceiling of the room below your PIV. This creates positive pressure in your home as the stale air is constantly freshened and replaced.

The result is healthier indoor air quality, thanks to removing humidity, odours, and ideal mould growth conditions.

But don’t fret if you’re lacking a loft or attic. It’s just as effective to install your Positive Input Ventilation unit in a location that draws air straight from your home’s exterior. At Albay Homes, we install several different types of PIV units. We’ll help you determine the most effective and affordable option for your unique situation.

On average, it takes a week or less for PIV to work and make a noticeable difference. The exact timing depends on your specific circumstances, like the size of your space, installation location, and severity of your condensation issues.

Once installed and running, a Positive Input Ventilation unit typically replaces all the air in your home several times daily. The only exception to this is extremely hot weather. On the warmest days, your unit will only draw in exterior air at night to keep your home from heating up.

But even if we install your PIV unit at the peak of humidity, you’ll still notice results within about one week or less. It’s an extremely affordable, efficient, and convenient way to make your house more hospitable year-round.

Your PIV unit can make the house cold if you run it in the winter. Because positive input ventilation works by pulling air from outside, the temperature in your home may be impacted.

But you still have no reason to sweat. Most PIV units come with heating functions to warm the chilly winter air. In summer, the heater automatically shuts off to avoid drawing in hot air. Then your PIV will run at night when the air is cooler.

All of that said, most people report a huge change in their home’s climate once the PIV unit gets to work. You’d be surprised how comfortable your home can feel when you’re not battling dampness and humidity simultaneously.

In a nutshell, your PIV unit won’t turn your home into an arctic tundra during any season. But nothing works better for removing mildew, mould, damp odours, and condensation than Positive Input Ventilation.

For most homes in Bournemouth and the UK in general, a PIV system is absolutely worth it. The period homes commonly found here weren’t built with any kind of anti-dampness materials. As our climate has gotten warmer and damper over the years, this has become a huge problem for residents everywhere.

Installing an air conditioning unit or dehumidifier is expensive, and sometimes impossible depending on the age of your home. Spending £120 per month on these systems just isn’t a sustainable option for most people.

But a PIV unit will only cost you about £1 or £2 per month, and you don’t have to micromanage which times of the day you use it. Considering the comfort, convenience, and health benefits you’ll enjoy, Positive Input Ventilation is one of the best home investments you can make.