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The Importance of Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) and Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) in the maintenance of a healthy home.

April 12, 2023

Indoor air quality is an essential aspect of a healthy and comfortable home environment. However, modern homes that are designed to be energy-efficient are often tightly sealed, resulting in poor indoor air quality due to insufficient ventilation. That’s where energy recovery ventilators (ERV) and heat recovery ventilators (HRV) come in, providing fresh air while also retaining energy efficiency.

Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)

An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) is a ventilation system that works by exchanging stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while also recovering energy from the outgoing air. ERVs use a heat exchanger to transfer heat and moisture from the outgoing air to the incoming air. This process reduces the energy needed to heat or cool the incoming air, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs.In winter, the ERV warms the incoming air with the heat from the outgoing air, while in summer, the ERV cools the incoming air with the coolness from the outgoing air. Additionally, an ERV helps to maintain a balanced humidity level, which is important for preventing mold growth, reducing allergens, and improving indoor air quality.

A Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) is similar to an ERV but is designed primarily to transfer heat between the incoming and outgoing air streams. Like the ERV, it utilizes a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the outgoing air to the incoming air, reducing the energy required to heat or cool the incoming air.  In winter, the HRV warms the incoming air with the heat from the outgoing air while in summer, the HRV cools the incoming air with the coolness from the outgoing air. 

The HRV also helps to remove pollutants, odors, and excess humidity from the indoor air while bringing in fresh outdoor air.

The Importance of having ERVs and HRVs in your home

The importance of ERV and HRV in a home cannot be overstated. Firstly, they provide fresh, clean air to the home, which is essential for the health and comfort of the occupants. They help to remove pollutants, allergens, and odours from the indoor air while bringing in fresh outdoor air.  Secondly, ERV and HRV are critical for energy efficiency. They help to reduce heating and cooling costs by recovering energy from the outgoing air and using it to warm or cool the incoming air. This reduces the energy required to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, leading to lower energy bills.  Lastly, they help to prevent moisture-related issues such as mold growth, which can negatively impact the indoor air quality and the health of the occupants.  By maintaining a balanced humidity level, ERVs and HRVs ensure that the indoor air quality remains healthy and comfortable.

Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) and Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) are essential for ensuring a healthy and comfortable indoor environment while also maintaining energy efficiency. By providing fresh, clean air while also reducing heating and cooling costs, ERVs and HRVs offer numerous benefits to homeowners, making them a worthwhile investment for any home. 

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