HomeEvap in De Gelderlander

Houses can also be too well insulated, especially houses built after 2008. And houses that are equipped with a heat recovery (WTW) ventilation system. The effect is an indoor climate that is too dry in winter. In the summer there is also a negative effect of this excessive insulation: the heat remains in the house, so that the living climate is not pleasant.

'When the outside temperature drops, the relative humidity drops. Then your house becomes too dry, wooden floors crack, musical instruments detune earlier, you get dry eyes, your lenses sting and you are more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. Especially in retirement homes, for example, where the heating is generally high.'

Mimicking natural situation

With the HomEvap, these problems are easily tackled. The device is connected to the existing WTW ventilation system, first cooling the warm return air and evaporating the moisture. 'It's deliberately not an air conditioner,' explains Bengt Cornelissen 'but a cooling system that actually mimics a natural situation. Therefore, many people find this much more pleasant than an air conditioner, which stands blowing very cold and dries out the air. In the winter, the cold, dry air is first heated by the WTW and then humidified by the HomEvap. Then the air enters the house, making, it feel comfortable sooner. And that, in turn, is good for the energy bill.'

Product range expansion

Bengt works with five people in the company HomEvap. The device is now sold in thirteen countries in Europe. The product range has gradually expanded. 'We started with a humidifier and later added a cooler. 'We also already have a combination device available, which allows you to create a perfect indoor climate all year round, All Season,' says Bengt Cornelissen. Together with a design agency, the company is working on a vertical version of the existing horizontal HomEvap, which is easier to build in. 'You can attach that directly, without fittings, to the ventilation system.' This version will be available on the market by the end of 2023. 

Bengt works with different technicians in the company: 'Think mechanical engineering, aerial engineering, electrical engineering and, of course, business administration. That also makes working here varied and interesting.'