New homes are built to be more energy-efficient than ever before, and this involves making sure they don’t waste energy through air leaks. These airtight homes save energy because heat loss and heat gain are reduced. However, without the right kind of ventilation system in place, moisture and decreased air quality becomes a concern in these homes. Adding a heat recovery ventilator is a solution that comes with additional benefits.

How it Works

A heat recovery ventilator draws stale air into its heat exchange core, made of aluminum or plastic. Simultaneously, fresh air is also drawn into the core via a separate channel. Heat naturally flows towards cooler temperatures, and so the heat from the stale air is conducted through the core to the cooler, fresh air. This is why a heat recovery ventilator is also called a heat exchanger. In summer months, the process is reversed and is removed from the outdoor air as it enters the home.

During the heat exchange process, another thing happens. As the fresh air flows past the warmed core, moisture is removed from the air. The result is that stale air is continuously replaced with fresh, dry air.

Benefits

Energy savings — Exhaust fans and similar ventilation methods reduce stale air, but they don’t recycle heat. Heat recovery ventilators reuse most of the heat from the exhausted air instead of just pushing it outdoors. This helps you save on energy while ensuring your home has adequate, healthy ventilation.

Air quality — Indoor air pollutants build up very quickly in airtight homes. These include mold spores, household dust, and volatile organic compounds or VOCs, which exist in building materials, carpets, paints, and some cleaning chemicals. Heat recovery ventilators improve air quality by replenishing the home’s air with fresh air. Since the incoming air is dehumidified, mold spores, bacteria and viruses are also reduced.

To learn more about adding a heat recovery ventilator to your home, please contact us at Powers Heating & Air.

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). For more information about heat recovery ventilation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Tungphoto/Shutterstock”