An airtight and insulated home needs home ventilation or it can trap dust, moisture, odors and chemical pollutants inside. Installing an energy recovery ventilator or ERV will ensure the air in the home circulates and removes contaminations.
Energy Recovery Ventilator
Installing an energy recovery ventilator or ERV will allow the home to maintain air circulation while minimizing energy loss. An ERV constantly exchanges heat from the warmed air going out, with the cooler and healthier air coming in from outside.
There are two types of ERV home ventilation systems: one is independent of, and completely separate from, the home's forced air system, while the other is integrated directly into it.
Installing an ERV
It’s best to hire an HVAC contractor to install an ERV that is integrated directly into the home's forced air ductwork, but there are still several design considerations you should be aware of when the ERV is installed. - The fresh air intake should be located where fresh air circulates, and away from driveways, range hood exhausts, furnace flue and laundry vents.
- The stale air from the home should come from a wall close to the kitchen, within one foot of the ceiling and 10 feet away from an oven because vaporized grease can clog the ERV.
- The fan for the main air handling unit for the house should be on at all times to circulate fresh air around the entire house
- The ventilated air from the ventilator should be connected to the return duct of the home's forced air system so the ventilated air can be circulated easier with the home's ductwork system.
- The homeowners should still install point source exhaust fans in all bathrooms even with an ERV.
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