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Help. I need a practical and simple definition on the difference between HRV’s (heat recovery ventilators) and ERV’s (energy recovery ventilators) and where you should use each. I am building a home using insulated concrete forms. This makes the home highly “tight” so it needs to be ventilated. I want to do this as efficiently as possible without loosing the indoor climate by exchanging with the outdoor air.
Please advise anyone.
Humbly,
Levi
Replies
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I've never heard of an ERV before, however, I have installed a number of HRV's both in clients' homes and in one I built for myself. I would never build without one. Canadian code requires a mechanical ventilation system which will provide a certain number of air exchanges per hour. The minimum system is a bathroom fan connected to a humidistat which will come on automatically once humidity reaches a certain point. Make-up air is supplied by a grill through an exterior wall. Not only are these not effective from an energy conservation point of view, they are extremely easy to circumvent...shut off the humidistat, close the grill. The joy of the HRV is that they run continuously and inobtrusively. The humidistat control does kick them up to a higher speed should humidity go too high. Timers in bathrooms also enable you to crank it up to the higher speed should you generate some smellies or you have a shower. A side benefit is that you can generally eliminate any seperate bathrooms fans.
I've had nothing but good reports about these units and they're always high on my list for recommended installation. Jim
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I think it is pretty clear:
The HRV just recovers HEAT energy, while the ERV recovers all the other kinds of energy from the air...
:)
Adam
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Lei:
As an Hvac contractor, I have installed many HRVS and REVS. The difference is that the REV transfers not only sensible heat, but incorporates a dessicant wheel/core to also transfer humidity. Some sites that you can try are:
1. Honey well
2. Research Products
3. Bryant
4. Newtone-Broan
There are many small manufacturers too numerous to list or even recall! I hope this helps.
mark
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Help. I need a practical and simple definition on the difference between HRV's (heat recovery ventilators) and ERV's (energy recovery ventilators) and where you should use each. I am building a home using insulated concrete forms. This makes the home highly "tight" so it needs to be ventilated. I want to do this as efficiently as possible without loosing the indoor climate by exchanging with the outdoor air.
Please advise anyone.
Humbly,
Levi