1. Why is it that ice forms in the roof fan/exhaust ventilation pipe and that water drips down on the stove?
Answer:
Under normal circumstances, warm air rises up by way of channels and construction details and, contrawise, cold air sinks downwards. The condensation point forms when cold and warm air meet, with temperatures being about 0 degrees.
It pays to check the insulation of the channel system. The insulation thickness of the cold channel system in the attic space must be according to building regulations. At present, 100 mm insulation is used in Finland.
Also check, that the ventilation of the apartment is correctly adjusted. Usually the ventilation is adjusted at 10% underpressure.
If the roof fan has frozen over so that it cannot freely revolve, the automatic heat relay will be activated and prevent the roof fan from being damaged. After thawing, the heat relay will revert and the roof fan is again functional. Often there will already be a small opening for air in the butterfly damper in the cooker hood channel, or shutting the butterfly damper completely is mechanically prevented. Thus a small amount of air will be able to seep into the channel, which also will prevent the roof fan from freezing.
When the roof fan shuts down too soon after cooking food, there is still much vapor and warm air in the channel. The water vapour condenses both in the channel and in the roof fan´s motor. The next time the air extractor is used the water which has condensed into ice melts and flows down the channel unto the stove. It pays off to keep the fan running long enough for the channel to dry out properly. The best way to avoid condensation is to keep the fan running at low speed all the time.
2. Is it possible to change the exhaust ventilation pipe for the roof fan without changing the whole product?
Answer:
Usually, where the hat of a used 125 mm ventilation exhaust pipe is situated, an S-series roof fan E120S or E80S can be mounted. This is easily done by removing the hat and changing it for a roof fan. The fan is attached to the exhaust ventilation pipe by three screws from the bottom part of the extractor.
The change from a 160 mm exhaust ventilation pipe to an E220S roof fan is a bit more laborious. From between the exhaust ventilation pipe and the hat, the plastic wedge shaped air steering guide is screwed off.
Please note that, when effecting changes, a separate pass-through has to be made in the roof for the roof fans electrical cable. Due to fire regulations, an electrical cable cannot be run through the channel to the regulator. Often a hole is made for the electrical cable in the plastic pass-through and sealed with glue- and joint sealant.
The transformation of an exhaust ventilation pipe into a roof fan is often a possibility in older houses when one wishes to exchange a gravity-based ventilation for mechanical ventilation. Often one also wishes to exchange the stove fan for a cooker hood, and for this reason the exhaust pipe is changed for a roof fan. In this way one gets a more silent kitchen.
3. Can a hat be placed on the top of the sewer exhaust ventilation pipe?
Answer:
It is not recommended to use a hat on the top of the sewer exhaust ventilation pipe. But it can be placed there, should one want to have the sewer pipe look the same as the other pipes on the roof of the house. In order to improve the ventilation, it pays off to remove the rain wedge inside the hat.
In cold climates for ventilation of the sewer pipe, we recommend using insulated piping 110/ER/500 to avoid freezing. An uninsulated sewer pipe can be insulated later on by placing a ”freeze cover” over it.
4. What is the life span of the roof fan?
Answer:
The normal life span of the VILPE roof fan is about 15-20 years. The motors are long-lived and seldom break down before their time.
Should the roof fan for some reason run on low level, the general cause is failure of the condensator. Changing the condensator is a rather rapid operation, but is part of the work of a professional electrician.
It may also be due to a ballbearing fault if, during running, a noise is heard from the motor and which increases at higher revolutions. There is a service pack available for each roof fan model. The service pack includes both motor and condensator.
5. How do I act in matters regarding the warranty?
Answer:
Our products have one year guarantee. Initially, it will be worth while to contact the retailer of the product, or the SK Tuote factory directly (telephone +358 (0)20 123 3200).
We try to take care of warranty matters as fast as possibly, within a few days. Due to the rapid handling, it is best to be in contact before sending off the product for service. In this way we will obtain advance notice of the product’s functional ability, and can then be able to return a working product more rapidly.
6. How many Ross ventilation poles will I need for ventilating the crawling space of my house, and how large a mounting opening in the foundation do I reserve for the ventilation pole?
Answer:
In the Finnish Building code of statutes C2 part 3.2.1.5 it is stated that the total area of the ventilation openings of the crawling space shall be at least 4 promille of the crawling space area. To insure sufficient ventilation of the foundation, the matter can be checked with the planner or the superintendent of the job site.
For a Ross 125 ventilation pole an opening of min 135 mm is made in the foundation, and for the Ross 160 an opening of 170 mm.
Ross ventilation poles can also be used for:
- Radon ventilation
- Compensation air for the fireplace
- Incoming air for mechanical or gravitational ventilation
7. Which is the best alternative for sealing the pass-through of the solar panel pipes?
Answer:
Our new product series SOLAR pass-through series offer roof pass-throughs for incoming and outgoing pipes, cables or other small pipes of solar collectors. Solar pass-throughs suit virtually all different roofing materials.