In a new house, a ventilation system should not be accepted merely by pressing the power button. A running fan does not confirm the required airflow, good distribution, proper maintenance or understandable controls. Owners need not become ventilation engineers, but it is worth participating in handover and keeping a clear checklist. The following ten checks help distinguish actual results from what exists only on a drawing.
First check: as-built documents
Ask for equipment models, manuals, a layout and important settings. If routes changed during installation, the plan must reflect the actual installation. The original design and as-built layout may differ and must not be treated as the same document. Photographs taken before finishes are closed help future repairs, but do not replace a clear description of the air network.
EPA and DOE practice links ventilation assessment to the condition of the whole system; the DOE assessment guide highlights the value of operation and maintenance. This is a general technical basis, not a substitute for regulatory requirements at a Lithuanian property. Acceptance criteria must match your particular design.
Second check: airflow at every point
Ask for measurements at the intended supply and extract points. The report must clearly state where measurements were taken, in which mode and in what units. One overall figure on the heat-recovery unit's display does not confirm airflow in every room. Paper or the feel of air against a hand at a grille is insufficient too: it may show movement but not the required quantity.
Compare actual data with the design task and note discrepancies. If some points have not yet been measured, record that explicitly. Do not call an unfinished check successful merely because other rooms appear suitable. Agree who will complete the measurement, when and how the final document will be provided.
Third check: the air path with doors closed
Demonstrate the door position intended for normal use. Gaps, grilles or other transfer-air arrangements must suit the design. A bedroom is commonly used with its door closed, so a situation with every door open does not describe the full occupied scenario. Owners need to know which openings must not subsequently be covered.
If a furniture installer plans to cover grilles or alter the bottom of a door, discuss this before work. New finishes must not remove the air path just checked. Give this information to everyone who will later fit out the interior. The ventilation installer's memory alone does not protect the system from other work.
Fourth check: normal and boost modes
Ask for a demonstration of normal, away and boost modes where provided. Record when each is used and how to return to normal operation. A button name without explanation may mislead, especially if different functions are controlled separately. Owners must understand the roles of both timers and automatic sensors.
The check must demonstrate not only a changed display but also the intended system response. If a sensor or function has not yet been tested, record that limitation. Do not create hazardous situations for a demonstration. A suitably prepared contractor organises safe functional tests according to the equipment and design.
Fifth check: noise in occupied rooms
Listen to the system in bedrooms at the normal night-time setting and in other zones at more active settings. A unit's catalogue sound rating is not the final room acoustic result. If there are doubts, a specialist must select the necessary measurement and its conditions. A phone recording helps demonstrate a problem but does not always replace professional assessment.
Distinguish fan sound, airflow sound and structural vibration. Different causes may need different solutions. During acceptance, record more than “loud”: state where, when and in which mode it is heard. This description helps find the cause rather than randomly changing every diffuser.
Sixth check: outdoor intake and exhaust
Inspect safely accessible external connections and compare them with the design. Have surroundings changed, are grilles covered and will future work block the air path? Owners do not need to climb onto the roof merely for acceptance. A prepared contractor must check and document hard-to-reach locations.
The ENERGY STAR indoor-air-quality description emphasises fresh-air supply and verified airflows. At a Lithuanian property, the design sets specific positions and separation distances. A general foreign principle does not replace your building's arrangements or justify an arbitrarily relocated connection.
Seventh check: filters and access
Show owners how to reach and replace filters according to the manual. Record their exact model, direction and permitted maintenance. Not every element is washable, and similar dimensions do not prove suitability. Also check that a future cupboard or shelf will not block servicing space.
Resetting a maintenance message must not be confused with actually replacing a filter. Agree who maintains other assemblies and when a specialist is needed. Learning to change a user-serviceable filter does not mean owners should open electrical or other hazardous parts.
Eighth check: condensate and technical conditions
If the product requires condensate drainage, check it against installation documents and a test actually performed. Not every system has the same layout. The equipment's temperature environment and access matter too. “Everything is hidden” is not a suitable result if a concealed assembly is unchecked or used incorrectly.
Ninth check: alarms and owner actions
Demonstrate important warnings, normal states and permitted first actions. Leave a service contact and instructions for another family member. Do not teach how to bypass protection merely to silence an alarm. If a function is not yet connected, clearly identify it as inoperative or untested.
Ask which specialist should receive a particular alarm and what information to add. The model, date, mode and visible message help prepare an assessment more quickly. Do not write passwords or private login details on equipment instructions visible to the public.
Tenth check: completion and outstanding items
In one acceptance record, list completed checks, identified discrepancies and deadlines for remaining work. Distinguish measured results, visual inspections and untested functions. The airflow guide helps prepare for the discussion, while in an enquiry you can submit a technical question. Good handover leaves owners not only working equipment but clear evidence of what was actually checked.
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