HRV and ERV systems, also known as heat and energy recovery ventilators, or often forgotten about systems that we specifically install in homes that might need them.
They’re extremely helpful and can answer an ancient question that people have been asking since home comfort was invented–how can I get fresh air when it’s too cold or hot outside?
Fresh air is somewhat of a luxury. We think of warm, tropical climates when we envision a home that has access to tropical air.
Or, many customers in our area just wait for the fall, winter, or spring to finish up before opening the windows to enjoy some crisp, outside air. But what if we told you that it didn’t need to be like that?
Fresh air can be accessed all year round, and you can get it with a simple system installation. Keep reading to learn how an HRV in or ERV system in Barron, WI can help you achieve maximum comfort and relaxation in your home.
How an HRV System Works
HRV systems work through a process called counterflow heat exchange, which we’ll describe below. But basically, they take the fresh air from outside, filter it of contaminants, and mix it with the air from inside so that it becomes the right temperature to be comfortable.
hen, it’s exchanged with the stale, indoor air which is sent outside where it belongs, without the heat you’ve paid for.
Counterflow heat exchange is the scientific process by which this happens. It’s basically a process where the indoor air exchanges heat with the outdoor air as they pass by one another.
This allows the heat to stay inside of your home, but just with fresh air that’s come directly from outside. So, you don’t need to open a window when you’re feeling stuffy!
HRV AND ERV SYSTEMS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
You might have seen us use HRV and ERV interchangeably. While they’re similar for sure, they do use different processes and work differently.
HRV stands for heat recovery ventilation, and it’s mainly what we’ve been talking about. It only transfers your indoor heat or air conditioning from indoor air to outdoor air.
An ERV stands for energy recovery ventilation, and it works with the same process but with the addition of humidity transfer.
So if you’ve got a dehumidifier or a humidifier working in your home, the ERV system works to transfer that humidity (or dryness) to the incoming fresh air, so you don’t waste any energy on extra humidity control. Cool, right?
The Benefits of These Systems
These systems might seem like weird, niche units, but they’ve actually got some extremely practical benefits to everyday homeowners.
First of all, they save you money on your heating and air conditioning bills by removing the need entirely for you to open a window. You’ll be getting access to fresh air regularly, without the wasted air conditioning or heating.
Then, they also help reduce allergens and contaminants from the outdoors, since the air is filtered as it enters your home. Basically, you get all the benefits of fresh air without any of the negatives.
