How to Choose the Right Fresh Air System for your House

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already realized the importance of having good indoor air quality. You might be the type of person that always turns on their bathroom fan when showering and makes sure to run the range hood when cooking. But now you’ve decided to improve the quality of the air in your home. A Fresh Air System (FAS) like an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) or Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) has probably come across your screen and you’re wondering what you need to look for in the best ERV/HRV for your home.

Here are the 4 key things to look for when deciding which fresh air system is best for you.  

#1 – The Airflow

The main attribute to look for is the airflow capacity because you want to bring the right amount of fresh air inside your home. The airflow refers as the technical specification named the CFM. CFM stands for Cubic feet per min. It is the quantity of air it can move per minute. But how much fresh air a home need?

This is determined by a couple factors; the size of your home, type and construction of the ducting, and type of installation will all be used to determine the right CFM level for your home. Since there are so many different building codes around North America, we suggest you refer to the building code in your area to get a better idea on how many CFM do you need. Also, your local HVAC contractor can guide you in the process of determining the airflow required.

Venmar offers a large selection of residential Fresh Air Systems. Once installed, your HVAC contractor will balance the airflow so that the same number of CFMs leaving your home is matched by the same number coming into your home. This is known as a balanced ventilation system.

#2 – The Core

Once you know the right amount of fresh air you need, the second thing to understand is the core of the unit. There are two different types of core: The Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) and the Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV). The ERV is the better version because it recovers both heat and humidity.

How the core works? Fresh air, from outside, can be hot, cold, humid, and dry. The air in your house may be the same, or different, depending on what you desire. Since you likely won’t be brining air into your home that matches the temperature or humidity of the air in your home, fresh air systems like an ERV or HRV have a core in which incoming hot/cold/dry/humid air streams pass by outgoing air from your home. In the core heat and humidity are exchanged (depending on which style of fresh air system you have). This exchange in heat and humidity means the air coming in will be tempered to more closely align with the air in your home, relieving the burden on your furnace or air conditioner to bring the air to your desired comfort level. It also means you can save on your heating bills.

• A Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) is ideal for homes located in colder climates where humidity is less of an issue.
• An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) is ideal for both colder and warmer climates because it recuperates the energy trapped in moisture as well as heat.

#3 – The Filtration

What makes indoor air poor is all of the stuff floating around in it. Dust, smoke, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), dander, and other small particles are all constantly present in our indoor air. Filtering out those particles is important to the health of your air. A good Fresh Air System will filter out most or all of the stuff in your air.

MERV filters are the best type of filters for these systems. The filter rating is based on the Minimum Efficiency Report Value (MERV). The best filtration on the market is called HEPA. It captures 99.97% of allergens and other microscopic particles and can help reduce the symptoms of allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems.

#4 – The Wall Control

Finally, one of the most important features you’ll need to consider is the wall control. Select your wall control wisely because it will define how you use your fresh air system. When considering your wall control, you’ll want to first look at the type of operational control that fits your lifestyle.

Venmar’s wall controls come in many varieties. Some let you control the power level (speed) of the fan while others let you control the amount of time per hour that it runs. Some are automatic, taking the decision making over for you, and others offer control over humidity. The most advanced control allows you to control every aspect of your indoor air quality and comfort via an interactive Touchscreen.

Let’s have a look at other popular modes and controls you may want to consider when choosing your FAS control:

• Recirculation mode recirculates the air inside the house. In this mode, no air is drawn in from outside. This is a great mode to use in areas of the country where, at certain times of day, the temperature is extremely cold or hot outside. In this mode you still beneficiate from the filtered air going trough your unit.
• Turbo mode is the perfect mode for when you have a lot of people in the house or when you’re doing an activity that creates a lot of excess humidity or other polluting activity like painting. It operates the unit at its maximum speed for 4 hours and then returns to its previous setting.
• Intermittent mode operates your FAS in 60 minutes cycles. In this mode the unit will operate 20 min at minimum speed and in stand by or recirculation mode for the remaining time.
• Auxiliary controls allow for intermittent boosted operation and are often installed in the bathroom. This control offers a 20-40-60 min exhaust ventilation to clear out excess humidity from the shower.

Paying attention to these 4 key features will ensure you select a Fresh Air Systems that suits your need. Quickly select a FAS that delivers the right CFM airflow, has an appropriate core for your area, a filtration up to your expectation and a control with the modes that fits your lifestyle.

Then with all this taken into consideration, you can enjoy a comfortable home filled with fresh and healthy air.