Table of Content
- Is an Energy Recovery Ventilator Worth it?
- Need help with condensation, mould or damp problems?
- What Is A Heat Recovery Ventilation System?
- Nuaire Drimaster Eco Basic Loft Control Positive Input Ventilation Unit
- Using Aeroseal for Air Duct Sealing: Is It The New Standard?
- Three Types of Whole-Home Mechanical Ventilation Systems
Knowledge about air duct cleaning is in its early stages, so a blanket recommendation cannot be offered as to whether you should have your air ducts in your home cleaned. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urges you to read this document in it entirety as it provides important information on the subject. As already noted, warm air rises, and so the loft spaces can be warm during the summer or when the house is well heated. An energy recovery ventilator works during both warm and cold seasons. The ERV air exchangers eliminate moisture and humidity from the air entering your indoor space in hot seasons.
For most houses, attempting to recover all of the energy in the exhaust air will probably not be worth the additional cost. Also, these types of ventilation systems are still not very common. Only some HVAC contractors have enough technical expertise and experience to install them.
Is an Energy Recovery Ventilator Worth it?
It needs a summer bypass – your roof space will become too hot in summer so you need to switch it off so it doesn’t push that air into your home and overheat it. A sub-slab air and water barrier, which helps mitigate the risk of harmful gases such as radon and moisture from entering the home from below grade and influencing air quality. The main difference between a heat-recovery and an energy-recovery ventilator is the way the heat exchanger works. With an energy-recovery ventilator, the heat exchanger transfers a certain amount of water vapor along with heat energy, while a heat-recovery ventilator only transfers heat. Cost-effective in climates with extreme winters or summers and high fuel costs.
If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home, but you are not sure, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling system may be a good source of advice. You may also want to contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. Remember, they are trying to sell you a service, so ask questions and insist on complete and knowledgeable answers.
Need help with condensation, mould or damp problems?
One thing you may still want to do is run it on occasion, just to make sure that it’s still in working order before you need it. Heating is one of those bills that has a natural tendency of creeping up on you. HRVs are designed to reduce the amount of heat you have to introduce in your home by keeping the heat inside at all times. Follow additional recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
That said, the other secret to keeping your system clean and free-flowing is to replace filters frequently . There are several advantages to this sort of low-pressure ventilation. It ensures a constant flow of fresh, filtered air through your home, regardless of the conditions inside or outside the house.
What Is A Heat Recovery Ventilation System?
Damp conditions and condensation can lead to health issues such as allergies and respiratory problems in the long run. Moreover, good ventilation systems regulate air flow within your home, helping to save energy while maintaining good air quality indoors. Have your air ducts cleaned if they are visibly contaminated with substantial mold growth, pests or vermin, or are clogged with substantial deposits of dust or debris. Demonstrate visible evidence of microbial growth in your duct work. Some service providers may attempt to convince you that your air ducts are contaminated by demonstrating that the microorganisms found in your home grow on a settling plate (i.e., petri dish).
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning. This is because much of the dirt that may accumulate inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts.
Should chemical biocides be applied to the inside of air ducts?
EPA, NADCA and NAIMA all recommend the replacement of wet or moldy fiber glass duct material. Now, mechanical ventilation systems have evolved into whole-home ventilation systems. A whole-home or whole-building system uses one or multiple fans and ductwork to effectively bring fresh outdoor air indoors and remove stale indoor air. Ventilation, it seems, “is the new frontier for making houses healthy,” says Carl Seville, whose Atlanta-based SK Collaborative does green building consulting and certification.
Without the help of natural ventilation and the inability to control or filter natural ventilation sources, the sole importance is on mechanical ventilation. One of the key features of ventilation and heat recovery systems is that you can control the ventilation throughout your building. A heat recovery system can recover up to 90% of normally wasted heat and reduce your heating requirements by up to 25%. Recently we reviewed the different types of home ventilation systems commonly found in Kiwi homes. Now we go a bit further and discuss the pros and cons of each, plus a few tips for best performance from extractor fans. Exhaust ventilation systems are most appropriate for cold climates.
However, little evidence exists to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase your system's efficiency. There are a few drawbacks to an exhaust-only system that are worth mentioning. The main problem is that the process draws air out of the home without a dedicated source to provide fresh air to make up for the difference. The resulting change in pressure, or depressurization, means the space itself actively pulls in air from cracks, leaks and vents in the home to create the necessary balance. Depressurization is even more harmful in warmer climates because moisture isn’t removed from the air before it enters the home. Thus, the change in pressure increases the threat of moisture damage.
While the top-of-the-line Zehnder products can be upwards of $10,000, we mere mortals, or at least those of us who don’t have $45 million for a luxury mansion, can still get fresh air into our homes. As Seville points out though, it’s not just about bringing in outdoor air but bringing in air from the right places. If your HRV is running during the winter, you will be able to reduce the amount of humidity that’s trapped in the core. This, in turn, reduces the amount of mold that gets trapped there and hopefully keeps your air quality as fresh as it can be. If you’re worried about humidity, then you may want to turn on your humidity control feature (if it has one!). All of these procedures are done with the help of a mechanical system.
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