Ventilation is very vital to any building since it allows the entry and the exit of air from the room. A building, just like your body, needs to breathe. There are various myths and facts surrounding the HRV and it is important to set the record straight so that you know the truths, the half-truths and the lies if any, against this system.
But first, what is HRV system?
Heat recovery ventilation (HRV) can be described as the ‘nose’ of your house. Just the way your house breathes in fresh air and expels out the used one from the body, the HRV system is comprised of two ventilation ducts which run next to each other. These two ducts pass between the outside and inside of your house. One of these ducts carries fresh, cool air in while the other duct carries stale, moist air out.
FACT: there is exchange of heat between the incoming and the outgoing air in HRV system:
The clever bit of the ventilation system is that these airstream run through heat exchanger, a device which allows exchange of heat between the outgoing and the incoming air. This exchange of heat happens without the ingoing and the outgoing airstreams coming in to contact with each other or mixing actually. Normally there is a blower fan within each duct which can be automatically or manually turned down or up depending on the humidity and temperature levels. The supply of incoming air can be channelled directly in to your home such that it does not meet the outgoing air at any point.
MYTH: a HRV system will increase power bills in your home:
Some people claim that a heat recovery ventilation system will increase the power bills at your home but nothing can be further from the truth that a good HRV system will in fact lead to reduction of heating bill in the long run. Among the greatest goals in the building of energy-efficient home in extreme climates is to ensure the interior of the home is sealed to the maximum and thus eliminate any loss of heat through air leakages. It also helps save money because it does not increase the heating bills at your home.
FACT: HRV system can recover up to 85% of heat in outgoing stream of air:
As explained above how the exchange of heat takes place between the incoming and the outgoing streams in heat exchanger, a high quality HRV system can recover as much as 85% of the heat in outgoing stream, meaning that only 15% of heat is lost. This means that the system is cost effective and efficient in terms of performance and energy saving.
These are just of the few myths and facts you need to know about HRVs. Note that most of these systems require maintenance in the long run in order to ensure they perform efficiently.
But first, what is HRV system?
Heat recovery ventilation (HRV) can be described as the ‘nose’ of your house. Just the way your house breathes in fresh air and expels out the used one from the body, the HRV system is comprised of two ventilation ducts which run next to each other. These two ducts pass between the outside and inside of your house. One of these ducts carries fresh, cool air in while the other duct carries stale, moist air out.
FACT: there is exchange of heat between the incoming and the outgoing air in HRV system:
The clever bit of the ventilation system is that these airstream run through heat exchanger, a device which allows exchange of heat between the outgoing and the incoming air. This exchange of heat happens without the ingoing and the outgoing airstreams coming in to contact with each other or mixing actually. Normally there is a blower fan within each duct which can be automatically or manually turned down or up depending on the humidity and temperature levels. The supply of incoming air can be channelled directly in to your home such that it does not meet the outgoing air at any point.
MYTH: a HRV system will increase power bills in your home:
Some people claim that a heat recovery ventilation system will increase the power bills at your home but nothing can be further from the truth that a good HRV system will in fact lead to reduction of heating bill in the long run. Among the greatest goals in the building of energy-efficient home in extreme climates is to ensure the interior of the home is sealed to the maximum and thus eliminate any loss of heat through air leakages. It also helps save money because it does not increase the heating bills at your home.
FACT: HRV system can recover up to 85% of heat in outgoing stream of air:
As explained above how the exchange of heat takes place between the incoming and the outgoing streams in heat exchanger, a high quality HRV system can recover as much as 85% of the heat in outgoing stream, meaning that only 15% of heat is lost. This means that the system is cost effective and efficient in terms of performance and energy saving.
These are just of the few myths and facts you need to know about HRVs. Note that most of these systems require maintenance in the long run in order to ensure they perform efficiently.
Where should HRV be installed, if at all, in 50 yr old bungalow in Manitoba where it is +25 in summer and -25 in winter, with electric baseboard heat.
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