In many ways, the measure of your day-to-day home comfort is linked to adequate whole-house ventilation to remove stale indoor air, allergens, harmful gases and germs, and by providing optimally humidified air for you to enjoy. Whole-house energy recovery ventilation systems perform these exact tasks to supply your Georgia home with fresh outdoor air regardless of outside weather conditions, with modest, if any, added energy costs.

Whole-house ventilation systems

Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) are mechanical whole-house ventilation systems that utilize the ductwork to circulate fresh air through your home. Inflowing fresh air and stale discharging air enter a cube-shaped heat exchanger at opposite ends. The opposing airstreams exchange heat via thin metal plates.

This heat-exchange technology allows you to ventilate your home affordably and comfortably during cold winter days and during hot and humid summer afternoons. For instance, during the heating months, the cold, inflowing fresh air is heated by the out-flowing warm, stale air, which reduces the energy needed to heat the in-flowing air. During the cooling months, the in-flowing warm air is cooled by the outflowing stale air.

ERVs or HRVs: Which one is best?

The only difference between ERVs and HRVs is humidity-control technology. In addition to transferring heat, energy recovery ventilation systems transfer moisture between the opposing airstreams.

During the heating months when indoor air feels extremely dry and uncomfortable, the outflowing stale air transfers heat and moisture to the inflowing fresh dry air. During the humid cooling months, the inflowing hot and humid air transfers heat and moisture to the outflowing air.

Have you ever noticed it’s difficult to feel warm and comfortable with dry indoor air during winter, and it’s equally difficult to stay cool when humidity levels are high during the summer? By optimally humidifying your home, you can turn the thermostat up or down to save heating and cooling costs with greater comfort. So, for comfort and energy savings, ERVs are best for Georgia homeowners.

For more information about energy recovery ventilation systems, contact Powers Heating & Air today. We service all HVAC issues throughout Peachtree City and surrounding areas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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