What is an ERV unit?

Table of Contents:

1. What is an ERV unit?
2. What is an HRV unit?
3. What is the purpose of an HRV system?
4. Does HRV use a lot of power?
5. Is an HRV necessary?
6. What should my HRV be set at?
7. Does HRV make your house colder?
8. How do you know if HRV is working?
9. Why does my HRV freeze?
10. Should I turn off HRV in summer?
11. When should I turn off my HRV?
12. Should I use my air exchanger in the winter?
13. How often should I change HRV filter?
14. Can you use an HRV in summer?
15. Does HRV reduce radon?
16. How do I set my HRV to summer?
17. How long does a HRV system last?
18. How much does HRV cost to install?
19. Does HRV stop condensation?
20. Why is my HRV so loud?
21. Why is my air exchanger making noise?
22. Are heat recovery systems worth it?
23. How does a heat recovery ventilation system work?
24. How can I bring fresh air into my home?

What is an ERV unit?

ERV stands for energy recovery ventilator, with common name variations including ERV air exchangers and ERV ventilation systems. ... ERVs are systems designed to be connected to the ducts that are part of your HVAC system. By way of two fans, ERVs draw clean, fresh air into a home or office and remove stale air.

What is an HRV unit?

A heat recovery ventilator system (HRV) is ideal for homes located in colder climates, where there is excess moisture during heating season, since the unit allows to get rid of it. A HRV system supplies continuous fresh air from outside in the house.

What is the purpose of an HRV system?

An HRV is a very energy efficient system that pulls the stale air from inside your home while simultaneously replacing it with fresh air from outside your home. An HRV works by drawing in the stale, warm air from inside your home along with the cooler, fresh air from outside your home.

Does HRV use a lot of power?

A small amount of this energy is used to power the electric fans in the HRV system (typically about 50–100 watts, and as high as 300 watts in some cases), but there's still a considerable energy saving.

Is an HRV necessary?

Do You Need an HRV or ERV System? For new construction, yes. A new home that meets current building codes or high-efficiency standards like Passive House should be quite airtight and needs an air ventilation system.

What should my HRV be set at?

The proper procedure is to set the humidistat control somewhere between 25 and 40 per cent in the heating season, which will engage the HRV only when the RH in the home exceeds that level.

Does HRV make your house colder?

The HRV can only reduce the relative humidity of outdoor air (that is being supplied into the home) when the outdoor air is colder than the inside air. If the indoor air is warmer than the outdoor air, the HRV is still an effective controlled ventilation system.

How do you know if HRV is working?

To check if it is working, the HRV should come on automatically when the RH settings are turned down below the normal range without engaging any other switches or controls.

Why does my HRV freeze?

The problem. In an HRV core, the moisture can condense on the cold, impermeable membrane. That's why HRVs have a drain in the bottom and a condensate line to carry away the liquid water. And that's where the trouble happens. If the end of that condensate line is outdoors, you can get a chunk of ice in it.

Should I turn off HRV in summer?

In a nutshell, you should shut off the HRV humidistatic control as soon as the furnace is not being used on the heat setting. ... The damp-feeling air and moisture on the windows in the summer months is proof that running the HRV unit at this time of year is detrimental.

When should I turn off my HRV?

We always tell our clients that an HRV should be used any time all the doors and windows are closed, no matter the season. Just remember to turn off the HRV when you open windows to conserve energy.

Should I use my air exchanger in the winter?

Should I Run The Air Exchanger During Winter? Every home is different depending on how much condensation builds up during the winter, Simple answer is yes. During the winter, your home will experience high amount of condensation due to the insulation and moisture barriers (Thermo poly).

How often should I change HRV filter?

That's why to get the best performance from your HRV system, it's important that we change your filter and service your system every two years (premium HRV system F8 filter) or every 12 months (HRV Lite F7 filter).

Can you use an HRV in summer?

The answer depends on your home's air conditioning system, your ERV wall control, the outdoor temperature and, most importantly, the outdoor relative humidity. As a rule of thumb, if you are more comfortable outside than inside your house, you should run your air exchanger in the summer.

Does HRV reduce radon?

A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy recovery ventilator (ERV) can be installed to increase ventilation, which will help reduce the radon levels in your home. ... In most homes, an HRV might reduce radon levels by 25 to 50 per cent. An HRV will cost between $1,500 and $3,500 (material and labour).

How do I set my HRV to summer?

Adjust to suit. Spring, Summer, Autumn: Lower ventilation levels (1 – 3) Winter: Higher ventilation levels (3 – 6) To activate: Turn off system (press Power button). Hold the Down arrow for 3 seconds or until display is lit. Press Power button to adjust between 1 and 6.

How long does a HRV system last?

5 years

How much does HRV cost to install?

Home ventilation is important for your family or your tenants as ventilation will introduce filtered, clean air and help greatly with removing condensation. HRV or home ventilation starts from just $2,995 inclusive installed!

Does HRV stop condensation?

An HRV is an effective, energy-efficient and healthy method of managing moisture in your home in the winter, but your HRV does not remove condensation from your windows, it removes excess moisture in the air. ... The surface temperature of the can is lower than the dew point of the air outside.

Why is my HRV so loud?

Often the issue is from incorrect design work where the HRV/ERV is located too close to bedrooms and/or there isn't suitable acoustical isolation for the HRV or ERV unit. In other cases, noise is significantly amplified by improper mounting and duct sizing.

Why is my air exchanger making noise?

The ductwork could be undersized or not installed properly. But it could also be as simple as a blocked air filter. ... Other vent-related noises include rattling and or flapping sounds - which are usually due to debris in the duct... screws, nails, small toys, plastic, construction materials, saw dust, and so on.

Are heat recovery systems worth it?

Yes in 90% of homes Installing a heat recovery system in your home has a large amount of benefits. A heat recovery system will supply your home with fresh air while also recovering heat that is usually lost and creating a healthier living environment and savings on your heating bills!

How does a heat recovery ventilation system work?

A heat recovery ventilation system works by extracting moist and stale air from wet rooms in your home, it recovers the usually lost heat from the extracted air. It also supplies clean, filtered fresh air that is heated from the recovered warmth of the extracted heat.

How can I bring fresh air into my home?

Use exhaust fans in bathrooms to remove moisture and gases from the house. Fit your kitchen with an exhaust fan that moves the air to the outside. Use the fan or open a window when cooking to remove fumes and airborne particles. Make sure gas, propane, wood or other combustion appliances vent completely to the outside.