An exhaust fan is often used while cooking. When the air is expelled from the kitchen, the house can become negatively pressurized. This can pose a lot of issues such as backdrafting, increased energy consumption, moisture, and many more. The solution to avoid these issues is by having a make-up air system as well as the exhaust system that balance each other out. Together, this is called a balanced make-up air system.

The issues of a negatively pressurized house

As stated, there are a many issues that can happen when a house is negatively pressurized:

Backdrafting: Backdrafting can cause the gases of combustion appliances to be drawn back into the home instead of being vented outside which can create health issues.

Increased energy consumption: Outdoor air can infiltrate the home to balance out the pressure, which can cause your air conditioner or heater to work overtime trying to keep temperature.

Moisture: Air that infiltrates a negatively pressurized house often carries moisture with it. This can lead to increased humidity levels in the home; promoting mold growth and potentially causing structural damage over time.

Pests and bugs: Negative pressure can draw in insects and pests from outside or from other parts of the building which can lead to potential infestations.

Dust and allergens: Negative pressure can draw in unfiltered air from outdoors or spaces like attics and crawlspaces, which can increase the amount of dust, pollen, and other allergens in the home.

What comes with the base Balanced Make-up Air System kit

The Ruck Balanced Make-up Air System comes with 2 Ruck Air Movement Prime Evo EC fans, an HVACquick CFB MERV-13 filter box, a backdraft damper, and a B10K potentiometer assembly and wiring terminal adapter.

Once you’ve chosen a stove; verify the required volume of exhaust and we can assemble a package to meet your needs including the exhaust and make-up air fans, silencers, wall caps, controls, and damper.

For an optimal kitchen exhaust system, begin by integrating our CSL elbow silencer into the hood vent’s duct. Follow this with the Prime Evo EC fan to drive the air through the duct and out through either an exhaust roof cap or wall cap.

The make-up air system begins with either an intake roof cap or wall cap followed by a backdraft damper. The damper ensures no backdraft enters the home when the system is inactive. To purify the incoming air, a CFB MERV-13 filter box is installed. The system’s airflow is facilitated by the Prime Evo EC fan, while our CSL elbow silencer ensures quiet operation.

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By ensuring a harmonious balance between intake and exhaust, the balanced make-up air system offers not just an advanced mechanism, but peace of mind. As we continue to seek improvements in our living environments, understanding and investing in balanced airflow remains a crucial step toward healthier, more sustainable homes.

Keep your home balanced today for a better tomorrow.

When it comes to HVAC installations, both functionality and aesthetics are paramount. The last thing a homeowner or business wants is an unsightly vent cap marring the exterior of their structure. Seiho has successfully combined the two with their range of vent caps.

Seiho vent caps provide a variety of vent caps that allow for finding that perfect blend of functionality and elegance. The models with backdraft dampers provides energy efficiency by preventing outside air from coming back into the house. Models without the backdraft damper can be upgraded with an insect screen to prevent smaller creatures from finding their way in.

The Crucial Roles of Vent Caps

1. Protection from the elements: Vent caps provide a barrier against external factors such as rain, snow, and wind-driven debris. Without an effective vent cap, these elements could enter the ductwork and compromise the HVAC system or indoor air quality.

2. Prevention of Animal Intrusion: Many vent caps feature louvered grilles designed to keep out birds, rodents, and larger insects. This is vital because animals can nest in unprotected ducts, leading to blockages and other potential issues.

3. Supporting Proper Airflow: A well-designed vent cap allows for optimal airflow out of the exhaust ducts or into intake ducts. It minimizes backdrafts, which can be a concern, especially for exhaust vents from appliances like water heaters or furnaces.

4. Aesthetics: Vent caps can be designed to fit in with a building’s exterior, preventing the ductwork from being an eyesore.

5. Energy Efficiency: By minimizing drafts and preventing backflow of air, vent caps can also help in maintaining the energy efficiency of HVAC systems.

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Explore the different Seiho vent caps and find the style that suits your aesthetics

Elevate your air experience with Seiho today.

Click on a picture to start customizing a grille with that pattern or click here to start fresh.

Decorating your home or office is a personal journey, an opportunity to express your unique style and preferences in every nook and corner of your space. While furnishings and wall décor often receive much attention, a seemingly humble but vital element, air vents or grilles, are often overlooked. However, these small yet significant elements can make a powerful impact on your overall aesthetic. The solution to these overlooked aspects?

Custom grilles

The Power of Custom Grilles

Grilles are a crucial component of any home or office space. Traditionally, grilles have been standardized, mundane objects – purely functional with little regard to aesthetic appeal. Custom grilles are becoming a popular choice among homeowners, architects, and designers.

Custom grilles are not just about function, they introduce an additional layer of aesthetic charm; seamlessly blending practicality with design.

Advantages of Custom Grilles

1. Made-to-Order: Every space is unique, and so should be the elements within it. Custom grilles are tailored to your specific measurements, ensuring the perfect fit for your requirements.

2. Quality Craftsmanship: Crafted from top-notch materials, our grilles are designed to stand the test of time. Precision cutting and meticulous finishing guarantee that each piece is durable, beautiful, and a testament to excellent craftsmanship.

3. Personalized Aesthetics: Our custom grilles offer a broad array of materials such as aluminum, black acrylic, black GeoTone MDF, maple ply, or bamboo, with three powder coat finishes available for aluminum grilles, providing a selection that aligns with your individual style. The intricate perforated patterns can add a sophisticated touch to any décor, enhancing your room’s aesthetic appeal.

4. Made in the USA: Each custom grille is made in our warehouse in Medford, Oregon.

5. Specialized Purposes: Custom grilles can be designed with a specialized purpose such as a blanking panel, or other specific use cases.

Making a Statement with Custom Grilles

The beauty of custom grilles is that they allow you to express your unique style in an unexpected place. They can seamlessly match your existing décor or serve as an accent piece, adding an intriguing touch of design.

With our customized grilles, you’re not just choosing a functional component – you’re selecting a piece of art that breathes life into your spaces. So, whether you’re revamping your home or designing a new office space, consider the transformative power of custom grilles.

Stepping into the world of custom grilles means every aspect of your home or office can reflect your personality and taste. It’s about creating a space that feels truly yours.

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Explore the exciting possibilities today, and elevate your interiors with our custom grilles. Remember, no detail is too small when it comes to creating your dream space.

It’s time to transform functionality into style

InOvate believes in creating products that transform your laundry routine, making it safer, faster, and more efficient.

Efficiency, Space, and Safety with the Dryerbox_®

One of the most common challenges homeowners face in their laundry rooms is the lack of space. Traditional dryer venting solutions often require a large clearance, leaving your dryer sticking awkwardly into the room. The revolutionary Dryerbox_® by InOvate is designed to tackle this problem head-on.

The Dryerbox_® is a recessed box that fits into your wall behind the dryer. It allows your dryer vent hose to run straight through the wall, eliminating those unsightly and space-consuming bends. This allows your dryer to sit flush against the wall, freeing up valuable laundry room space.

But that’s not all; the Dryerbox_® also promotes efficient airflow by providing a direct path for venting. This reduces drying times and energy consumption, saving you money in the long run.

Safety and Maintenance with the DryerFlex_®

Another paramount concern with dryers is the risk of fire from lint build-up in the vent. The DryerFlex_® by InOvate offers a solution to this problem. Made with all-aluminum ribbon, the DryerFlex_® provides a safe, smooth, and efficient conduit for your dryer vents. It takes the concept of a flexible vent hose to the next level, offering superior protection and airflow compared to semi-rigid or plastic options. Its smooth interior and flexible design minimize lint accumulation and make it easy to clean, reducing the risk of dryer fires.

Roof Venting Solutions with the DryerJack_®

Unlike regular roof vents that are prone to lint build-up and bird nesting, DryerJack_® offers a unique design that minimizes these issues. It features a curved damper, allowing it to open fully for maximum exhaust airflow, while the professional-grade construction keeps pests out, ensuring your vent stays clear and secure. The DryerJack_® also offers a sleek, low-profile design that blends seamlessly with your roofline.

Outdoor Venting Solutions with the DryerWallVent_®

The DryerWallVent_® is an aesthetically pleasing and effective solution to outdoor dryer venting. Its low-profile design sits flush against your exterior wall, making it an attractive addition to your home’s exterior. But the DryerWallVent_® isn’t just about looks. With a strong, lightweight damper and a structurally optimized hood, it also helps to ensure optimal airflow, enhancing dryer performance and efficiency.

Improving Indoor Air Quality with the Dryer-Ell_®

The Dryer-Ell® is an innovative elbow fitting that offers a brilliant solution for long vent run situations. It provides equivalent airflow performance to traditional sections of straight duct, enabling you to have longer vent runs without compromising on dryer efficiency or safety. It’s a perfect choice for homes where the laundry room is located in the center of the house or on upper levels.

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InOvate dryer products are designed with the customer’s needs in mind. They aim to solve common laundry problems with innovative solutions, making the routine task of doing laundry easier, safer, and more efficient. So whether you’re renovating your laundry room or simply upgrading your dryer venting solutions, InOvate’s products are the right choice for you.

What is a MERV?

MERV is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, it is a standard rating system used to measure the effectiveness of air filters in removing particles from the air. The MERV rating scale ranges from 1 to 16, with higher numbers indicating better filtration preformance.

What do the MERV ratings mean?

MERV 1-4: These are the lowest-rated filters and provide minimal filtration. They only capture large particles such as dust, pollen, and carpet fibers, but are not effective at removing smaller particles or airborne contaminants.

MERV 5-8: Filters in the range offer moderate efficiency and are suitable for most residential and light commercial applications. They can capture smaller particles like mold spores, pet dander, and fine dust.

MERV 9-12: Filters in this range provide a high level of efficiency and are commonly used in commercial and industrial settings. They can capture even smaller particles like tobacco smoke, bacteria, and particles from exhaust fumes.

MERV 13-16: These are the highest-rated filters and are generally used in specialized applications such as hospitals, cleanrooms, and other environments where very high air quality is essential. They can trap extremely small particles, including viruses and bacteria.

How do MERV filters work?

MERV filters work by capturing and removing airborne particles from the air that passes through them. To do this, the filters are typically made from materials such as fiberglass, synthetic fibers, or pleated paper. The materials are designed to create a maze-like structure with passages for the air to pass through.

While the air flows through the filter, particles are trapped in different ways depending on their size. Larger particles are trapped by colliding with the filter fibers in a method called impaction. Smaller particles are trapped when they collide with filter fibers as they travel through the passages in a method called interception. Smaller particles can also be trapped when random particle motion causes them to hit and adhere to the fibers in a method called diffusion.

What is HEPA?

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency-Particulate-Air, it is a highly effective method of air purification that can remove a wide range of airborne particles.

What is the difference between a HEPA filter and a MERV filter?

Similarily to MERV filters, HEPA filters are composed of materials such as fiberglass or polyporopylene with diameters between .5 and 2 microns. The materials are designed as a mat of arranged fibers which create narrow convoluted pathways so that air may pass through. Typically, HEPA filters consist of multiple layers of filtration materials with varying sizes of pores. The layering enhances the filter’s performance and helps extend its lifespan.

What are the HEPA filter do we use?

We use a European standard H13 HEPA filter. These filters must capture at least 99.95% of particles down to .3 microns.

What does that mean?

The hardest particles for a filter to catch are .3 microns, so this rating is used to show the capture rate of the least captured particle. Like MERV filters, HEPA filters capture particles through impaction, interception, and diffusion. Particles that are smaller than .3 microns are captured through diffusion due to the collision of gas molecules with small particles.

This is the typical performance of a HEPA 99.9% filter and as you can see, HEPA filters are incredibly efficient at capturing particles under .3 microns.

What does a pre-filter do?

A pre filter is a MERV filter that is placed before the airflow gets to the HEPA filter. The MERV filter captures a majority of the larger particles and leaves the HEPA filter to only capture the smaller particles that made it through the MERV filter. This makes the HEPA filter more efficient and increases the lifespan of the filter by not getting clogged up by larger particles. This becomes more cost efficient as well because MERV filters are much more affordable than HEPA filters.

Click here for our available inline filter boxes

Click here for our available HEPA product