Ventilation & PIV (positive Input Ventilation)

Poor ventilation can allow moisture to build up inside a property.

Everyday activities such as cooking, bathing, drying clothes and even breathing release moisture into the air. If that moisture cannot escape effectively, it can condense on colder surfaces and contribute to mould growth.

Improving ventilation can help reduce humidity and create a healthier indoor environment.

Positive Input Ventilation, or PIV, works by introducing a continuous supply of filtered air into the property.

In many homes, the unit is installed in the loft and supplies air through a ceiling diffuser, usually positioned on the landing.

This gentle airflow helps dilute humid indoor air and encourages stale, moisture-laden air to leave the property through existing ventilation paths.

PIV can be useful in properties affected by:

• Persistent condensation
• Black mould
• High indoor humidity
• Stale or musty air
• Condensation on windows
• Poor background ventilation
• Recurring mould in bedrooms or bathrooms

It is particularly useful where moisture problems are driven by general humidity rather than structural damp.

Ventilation should only be recommended where it addresses the underlying cause.

PIV will not repair a leaking roof, defective gutter, penetrating damp or rising damp.

PPS investigates the property first to determine whether the problem is caused by ventilation, building defects, moisture ingress or a combination of factors.

Depending on the property, PPS may also recommend:

• Improved bathroom extraction
• Kitchen extraction
• Background ventilation
• Trickle vents
• Improved airflow between rooms
• Sub-floor ventilation
• Humidity-controlled extract fans
• Other mechanical ventilation solutions

The right system depends on the property layout and the source of the moisture problem.

Effective ventilation can help reduce the conditions that allow mould to develop.

The aim is to:

• Lower excess humidity
• Reduce condensation on cold surfaces
• Improve air movement
• Remove stale indoor air
• Provide a more consistent supply of fresh air

This page should link internally to Mould & Condensation because the two services are closely related.

Condensation and mould are common concerns in rented homes.

A professional assessment can help identify whether the problem relates to ventilation, heating, building defects, moisture production or several factors working together.

Where ventilation improvements are appropriate, PPS can recommend a system suited to the property.

PPS provides ventilation assessments and PIV installation throughout :

• Newcastle to the north
• Barnard Castle to the west
• Northallerton to the south
• Saltburn and the North Yorkshire coast to the east

Within this area, PPS regularly works in towns and communities, including:

• Stockton-on-Tees
• Middlesbrough
• Hartlepool
• Billingham
• Yarm
• Eaglescliffe
• Thornaby
• Ingleby Barwick
• Wynyard
• Sedgefield
• Darlington
• Stokesley
• Guisborough
• Redcar
• Saltburn
• Northallerton
• Barnard Castle
• Newcastle

If your property suffers from recurring condensation, mould or excessive humidity, contact PPS to arrange an appropriate assessment.