Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) are two methods of mechanical ventilation in Foothill Ranch, CA that can improve the quality of your indoor air and improve efficiency. They are designed to replace stale indoor air with fresh air, reducing high concentrations of allergens, volatile organic compounds and more. White Mechanical, Inc. can assist with the installation, maintenance and repairs of this equipment, ensuring you reap the benefits of healthy indoor air quality year-round.
The Basics of ERVs
ERVs utilize heat and moisture recovery. When the temperature outside is warm, cool air will exhaust from the inside of your home. Your ERV equipment will transfer that cool air to the warm air that is being brought in, also removing moisture. This helps alleviate some of the burden from your air conditioner, improving system efficiency and improving your indoor air quality (IAQ). Very humid air holds onto particulate matter easily, causing allergy symptoms and other health issues.
When cold temperatures arrive, ERVs work to capture heat and moisture from warm outgoing air. This heat and moisture are then used to precondition that cold air that is coming inside. This helps stabilize indoor humidity and warm your home without overusing your heating equipment or causing respiratory irritation.
ERVs are beneficial in climates where there are very distinct, separate seasons with varying temperatures and humidity. You can use this equipment to protect your home from damage caused by humidity, such as warped flooring.
The Use of HRVs
HRV units transfer heat between incoming and outgoing streams of air. They do not deal with any exchange of moisture. Because of this, an HRV is ideal for a climate where humidity isn’t usually much of a concern. However, homeowners may be worried about maintaining efficiency when it comes to temperature control.
When it is cold outside, an HRV will capture heat from indoor air that is expelled, transferring it to the cold air that is coming inside. During warmer seasons, HRVs will allow you to maintain a comfortable and consistent interior environment as they recover cool air from inside to offset the heat from the air that’s being brought in.
Choosing Between These Two Options
Homeowners should decide between an ERV and HRV, taking into consideration indoor comfort needs and local humidity. Stable environments with low humidity benefit from an HRV. An ERV provides dual benefits, addressing temperature and moisture. They work well in areas with fluctuations in these factors throughout the year.
Both systems have the potential to reduce the load on your HVAC system thanks to an efficient preconditioning process. This will help reduce your energy consumption.
Other Considerations to Think About
Indoor air quality should always be a priority, regardless of what kind of equipment you use to achieve it. By reducing your exposure to indoor contaminants like pet dander, dust, dust mites, mold spores, volatile organic compounds and microbes, you can sleep better, feel better and be more productive.
Not only will an ERV or HRV lower your monthly energy consumption, which in turn reduces your monthly utility bills, but they also have the potential to protect your HVAC system’s integrity. By reducing the workload placed on your heating and cooling equipment, you may experience fewer repair needs. We recommend that you keep up with routine maintenance to catch issues early before something catastrophic happens.
The Placement of an ERV or HRV
We recommend working with our experienced team for the installation of an ERV or HRV. Proper placement is very important. Your unit should be in an area that is climate-controlled to prevent issues with performance. It should also be accessible for maintenance and repairs. It’s typical that we position this equipment near an exterior wall in your home. This helps to reduce the length of ducting that needs installation, using existing ductwork as much as possible. All ducting should be insulated and sealed to prevent loss of airflow.
It’s important that your fresh air intake is located six feet or more away from any exhaust pipes that are on your home. This includes outlets for dryers, furnaces or kitchen equipment. You want to avoid bringing contaminated air back inside, especially things like carbon monoxide. We recommend running dedicated lines for your fresh air intake and stale air exhaust. This prevents issues with airflow imbalances.
Our team will use specialized tools like a manometer to balance your new system. We can also adjust dampers to promote balanced airflow. This ensures optimal indoor air quality while helping you boost the overall efficiency of your HVAC system. All of the work we do is according to local code enforcement to ensure safety and compliance during the installation process and for years to come.
Choosing an HRV Over an ERV
Your residence may benefit from an HRV if you have minimal square footage and indoor humidity levels are a major concern. It’s common for a small home or condo to experience retained moisture because it is tightly sealed and not many people are living there. In this scenario, an ERV would transfer heat and moisture into a very small space, leading to issues with rising humidity and contaminated indoor air. This could increase your risk of IAQ issues like mold, which can lead to frequent headaches, dizziness, brain fog and gastrointestinal issues.
Choosing an ERV Over and HRV
Consider using an ERV if you feel like you need to be very careful with humidity control in your home. Very humid climates benefit from this type of unit. If you feel you’re able to maintain optimal relative humidity without using any kind of humidity-controlling equipment or ventilation strategies, then this may not be the type of equipment for you.
Your Other IAQ Options
There are other ways that you can improve the quality of your indoor air by removing particulate matter and contaminants and maintaining a level of relative humidity of 35% to 50%. For example, consider upgrading to a whole-home filtration system. When your HVAC system runs, contaminants will be removed from the air that is conditioned and circulated through your home.
You can also use a whole-home dehumidification unit to remove excess moisture from your air as your heating or cooling equipment runs to condition your indoor air. A whole-home humidification unit can add necessary moisture back in if your air is dry. These units can also help ease the burden on your HVAC equipment. A dedicated drain line eliminates the need for emptying bulky reservoir tanks. Minimal maintenance is required.
You can rely on our team here at White Mechanical, Inc. in Foothill Ranch when you are trying to decide between an ERV and HRV. We will consider local climate, budget and household IAQ and comfort needs. We also perform routine maintenance and HVAC inspections as well as emergency repairs. Reach out to our knowledgeable staff at White Mechanical, Inc. in Foothill Ranch to learn more or to schedule an appointment today.
