How Do You Know If Your Air Ventilation System Is Working Properly?

With energy conservation and better indoor air quality (IAQ) on the minds of consumers and HVAC manufacturers, air ventilation systems are earning the attention they deserve for their contribution to better home efficiency and IAQ. An air ventilation system delivers fresh outdoor air to homes, many being tightly sealed, that prevents indoor air from becoming polluted and stagnant.

However, there are key differences between various types of air ventilators that need exploring. What follows is information that could help you determine if your air ventilation system is on point.

Balanced Ventilation Vs. Unbalanced Ventilation: Which Is Best?

There are two types of ventilation systems. There are balanced air ventilators, such as a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). This category of air ventilators maintains equal air pressure between air in the living spaces, in unconditioned spaces, and in outdoor air.

Then, there are unbalanced air ventilators. Unbalanced ventilators create air-pressure differences between the indoor air of the living spaces and the air in unconditioned spaces of the home, as well as outdoor air. Balanced ventilators deliver two benefits over unbalanced systems.

The air-pressure differences created by unbalanced ventilators force contaminants from outside and the unconditioned spaces in the home into the living spaces. Secondly, balanced air ventilators with heat- and energy-recovery capabilities help reduce the costs of heating and cooling fresh intake air. That's better IAQ and better energy efficiency. Here are some different types:

• Supply and exhaust ventilators. These ventilator types use one or more fans to force outdoor air into the living spaces or force indoor air outdoors. Fans may be installed in walls, in ceilings, in floors, and/or in ductwork.

• HRV. HRVs use exhaust and supply fans that force fresh intake air and indoor stale air through a heat-exchanger core. Inside the core, heat is transferred between the two opposing airflows without mixing air. This saves heating and cooling costs.

• ERV. ERVs work identically to HRVs with one difference: ERVs also exchange moisture between air streams to promote better indoor humidity.

For professional assistance revamping your air ventilation system, contact Air Assurance for the right HVAC solution at the right price.

HRV or ERV? Choose the Right Ventilation System for Your Home's Needs

The choice between an HRV or ERV depends heavily on your climate. Because Broken Arrow sees both high summer temperatures and cold winters, the right choice isn't so obvious around here. Getting a better understanding of how these ventilation systems work will help you decide.

How HRVs and ERVs Differ

A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) uses exhaust fans to draw out stale, humid indoor air and supply fans to bring in fresh, outdoor air. Equal amounts of air are removed and replaced to provide continuous, balanced airflow.

Because just blowing out indoor air and letting in outdoor air would waste energy, an HRV contains a heat exchanger to minimize this waste. In winter, the heat exchanger collects heat energy from the outgoing warm air and transfers it into the incoming outdoor air, effectively pre-warming the air. In summer, it does the opposite to pre-cool the incoming air.

Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) work the same way as HRVs with one difference. Their heat exchanger also transfers moisture. This means ERVs let in less humidity than HRVs in summer.

Making Your Choice

In a cold winter or mixed climate, an HRV is usually the best option. That said, there are other factors to consider when choosing between an HRV or ERV. These include the age and energy efficiency of your home, its size and the number of occupants. A large, drafty house with only two or three people is more likely to suffer from uncomfortably low humidity in winter, particularly in the drier parts of town. In this situation, an ERV may be a better choice.

Modern homes are built to be airtight, increasing their tendency toward high humidity. These homes, especially the smaller ones, are best suited to HRVs. Older homes were often intentionally built with cracks to provide airflow, meaning they're more likely to become dry during our cold winters. This makes some older homes better candidates for ERVs, although air sealing should also be considered.

For help deciding whether an HRV or ERV is right for your home, contact the pros at Air Assurance in the Broken Arrow area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Jezper/Shutterstock”