Winter has taken its time getting here this year (thankfully!), but it has arrived. Many homes in Bolingbrook have made great strides in becoming as air-tight as possible, which helps tremendously with energy efficiency. However, one problem with being so air-tight is a lack of good ventilation. This can be quite the conundrum for some, but we have the perfect solution: an energy recovery ventilator, also known as an ERV.<\/p>\n
One thing you should know upfront is that an ERV is also great for cooling. But first, let\u2019s take a look at how it works.<\/p>\n
An ERV is a small component that is installed right on to your existing HVAC system. It becomes a part of your heating and cooling. At the core of the component is a heat exchanger, which vitally important to the operation of the ERV.<\/p>\n
When the ERV is working, two actions take place simultaneously. The first is that your stale indoor air is expelled to the outside; the second is that the cool, dry air from the outside is drawn into the ERV by a fan. These air streams pass through the heat exchanger, with only a small percentage of the air, about 7%, crossing streams.<\/p>\n
Why is this necessary? As the air streams move into the ERV, the thermal energy and moisture from the outgoing air is applied to the incoming air. This pre-treatment makes the incoming air moist and warm, so that when it moves to your heating system, it is already pre-warmed and moisturized. It is also fresh.<\/p>\n