Since the majority of Americans spend close to 90% of their lives indoors, it’s essential to have excellent indoor air quality. That’s why many HVAC contractors are recommending energy recovery ventilation systems, so you can breathe freely and stay healthy. The primer below explains how these mechanisms work and how they’ll improve your home environment. 

What You Should Know About Energy Recovery Ventilators

What Are Energy Recovery Ventilators?

An energy recovery ventilation system provides home and building occupants with fresh air while regulating and maintaining the temperature inside. It heats up or cools down the air coming from outside while expelling dirty air from the inside. By exchanging stale, polluted indoor air with clean, fresh outdoor air, you’ll breathe cleaner without having to compromise comfort.

How Do They Work? 

Most units hold two fans: one to draw air from outside and another to expel dirty air from inside. A heat-exchange core then adjusts the temperature of the airflow. Energy recovery ventilation systems work somewhat differently depending on the season. When your furnace is on in the winter, your ventilator will expel the warm, dirty air in your home while simultaneously preheating the outdoor air coming in. The preheating process means your unit doesn’t have to work so hard once the warm, fresh air is inside your home. When your air conditioning is on in the summer, the cycle is reversed and the hot air coming in is precooled. 

What Are the Benefits?

This type of HVAC system helps cut down utility costs by providing ventilation without consuming excess energy. Were you to simply open a window, for instance, you would diminish your home’s efficiency, as treated air would escape, and your heating or cooling apparatus would have to work harder to maintain the same temperature. These ventilators reduce many common airborne allergens that can make you sick, including dust and mold spores. You’re also able to better balance humidity levels and reduce foul odors that some machines emit when they’re recycling stale air.
 

Breathe clean air with help from Mill Creek Heating in Turner, OR. Their team of highly trained and fully licensed professionals will work with you to meet your HVAC needs, from air conditioning repairs to full-scale ventilation system installation. Combining industry-leading technology and cutting-edge tactics with competitive prices, they’ll keep your home safe and comfortable. Read more about their full range of services online or call (503) 749-1000 to schedule a free consultation.