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do you run an air exchanger in the summer

by Elza Ward Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Do You Need to Run Your Air Exchanger in The Summer? The simplest answer would be No. Many people will tell you that your air exchanger should be run all year round, in the summer and the winter. However, it may be detrimental and counterproductive, especially if you use other air conditioning appliances like an air conditioner.

Air exchangers should be run at all time, summer and winter. Depending on the size of your home, energy-efficient air exchangers can cycle through all the air in your home in just a few hours.

Full Answer

How to operate an air exchanger in summer&winter?

How To Operate an Air Exchanger in Summer & Winter. During the heating seasons, heat is transferred from the warm indoor exhaust air into the cold outdoor supply air inside the HRV heat exchanger. The ERV heat exchanger not only transfers this heat, but transfers some of the moisture in the more humid exhaust air into the less humid supply air.

Should I Run my air exchanger all year round?

The simplest answer would be No. Many people will tell you that your air exchanger should be run all year round, in the summer and the winter. However, it may be detrimental and counterproductive, especially if you use other air conditioning appliances like an air conditioner.

Can I use an air exchanger vent in the summer?

They can also be used to filter air during the summer, however there are some considerations to take into account that using it in the winter does not present. Decide on whether or not to open the air exchanger vent.

Do I need to run my ERV in the summer?

In summer, the heat and humidity are outside and your ERV will keep most of it from getting inside with your ventilation air. If your indoor air and the outside air have about the same temperature and relative humidity (for example, if you keep the windows open), there is really no need to run the ERV in order to have good indoor air quality.

What does humidity setting mean on an air exchanger?

Why are air exchangers used in winter?

Where did Bryant Harland live?

Is it better to leave the vent open or closed?

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Should I turn off air exchanger in summer?

The answer depends on your home's air conditioning system, your ERV wall control, the outdoor temperature and, most importantly, the outdoor relative humidity. As a rule of thumb, if you are more comfortable outside than inside your house, you should run your air exchanger in the summer.

Should I leave my air exchanger on all the time?

KEEP IT SWITCHED ON Your air exchanger is most effective when run continuously. As long as it's on, your exchanger continuously filters out polluted air and brings in the clean stuff. If you turn your exchanger off, pollutants can build up in your indoor air.

What should air exchanger be set at in summer?

As a general rule of thumb, you should set your system's dehumidistat to 25 percent to 50 percent depending on the temperature to keep condensation at bay. For instance, 50 percent is the maximum relative humidity you should have if the outdoor temperature is between -11 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius.

Should I turn off HRV in summer?

There are different schools of thought on this subject, but as a general rule of thumb, it's best to only turn your HRV system off completely during the summer if you have your windows open.

Does air exchanger remove humidity in summer?

Answer: No. Air exchangers do not create humidity but if the outside air is humid, they will bring this humidity into your home. Example: running an air exchanger on high in the summer.

Does air exchanger help with humidity?

Air exchangers help your home “breathe” by evacuating stale air and pollutants outside and drawing fresh air inside. Regulate humidity: Air exchangers eliminate excess moisture, which helps keep your home comfortable—not too humid and not too dry.

Does an air exchanger cool the house?

Air exchangers do not provide heating or cooling in your house. Instead, they channel fresh air in your home without requiring you to open windows or doors.

Can you open windows with an air exchanger?

Air exchange and airing out The advice is not open to open windows a tiny bit for the whole day but to fully open all windows for five to 25 minutes (depending on the season). The goal is to exchange all indoor air, including all potential humidity, with outside air.

Does an HRV dehumidify in summer?

Both HRV and ERV's will help with winter humidity levels and provide continuous fresh air for better indoor air quality, however ERV's have the added benefit of reducing over-drying the home in winter and reducing humidity gains in the summer, helping your air conditioner run more efficiently.

Does HRV cool house in summer?

A heat recovery ventilation (HRV) unit pumps stale, humid air out of your home and brings in fresh air from outside. While you'll normally use HRVs in winter to prevent dry air inside your home, you can also use it to help keep your home feeling cool and comfortable during the summer.

How do I change my HRV from summer to winter?

Spring, Summer, Autumn: Lower ventilation levels (1 – 3) Winter: Higher ventilation levels (3 – 6) To activate: Turn off system (press Power button). Hold the Down arrow for 3 seconds or until display is lit. Press Power button to adjust between 1 and 6. To exit, press the FUNC button.

Should I leave my air exchanger on in the winter?

So, what can an air exchanger do for you? Air exchangers should be run at all time, summer and winter. Depending on the size of your home, energy-efficient air exchangers can cycle through all the air in your home in just a few hours.

What setting should my air exchanger be on in the winter?

Set the control to the highest setting in warmer weather; lower the setting as the weather gets colder. In winter, set the dehumidistat just low enough to prevent condensation on windows.

Should I run my HRV continuously in winter?

To ensure that you home is well-ventilated and maintains good air quality, your HRV and ERV should run continuously. Many HRV fans can operate at low, medium, or high speeds depending on the ventilation requirements.

Does an air exchanger cool the house in winter?

Air exchangers do not provide heating or cooling in your house. Instead, they channel fresh air in your home without requiring you to open windows or doors.

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How to Maintain Your Air Exchanger in the Summer

Air exchangers are being installed more and more in our homes, which are more and more airtight and tend to lack air. Generally used during the winter to keep the room temperature up while refreshing the air brought in from outside, air exchangers are used differently once the beautiful days arrive. Many owners of these […]

How does an ERV heat exchanger work?

The ERV heat exchanger not only transfers this heat but transfers some of the moisture in the more humid supply air into the less humid exhaust air, thus reducing the humidity of the fresh air coming in. This heat/energy transfer means that your house cooling system uses less energy when compared to any other form of ventilation.

What does it mean when a house uses less energy?

This heat/energy transfer means that your house cooling system uses less energy when compared to any other form of ventilation. This transfer of heat or energy is accomplished with very little or no mixing of the 2 air streams, meaning the pollutants are exhausted and the heat/energy is recovered.

Can I get a medical credit after a vanEE air exchanger?

Can I Get a Medical Tax Credit? You may be able to get a medical tax credit after having a vanEE Air Exchanger installed.

Does an ERV heat exchanger transfer heat?

The ERV heat exchanger not only transfers this heat, but transfers some of the moisture in the more humid exhaust air into the less humid supply air. This heat/energy transfer means that your home heating system uses less when compared to any other form of ventilation. During the cooling seasons the process depends whether or not you are exhausting ...

Should You Leave Your Air Exchanger on All the Time?

Leave your air exchanger running. One simple rule you must know is, leave it On. This is even more practical during the winter when condensation and moisture build-up easily and faster.

When Should I Use an Air Exchanger in The House?

An air exchanger is necessary for circulating stale air out of the home and bringing in fresher air into the home, especially in homes that lack proper ventilation.

How Long Do Air Exchangers Last?

Like most other HVAC systems, an air exchanger can last as long as 15 to 25 years, depending on how well or badly it is used.

How Often Should You Clean Your Air Exchanger?

Some people clean their air exchangers every three months, some twice a year and some others once a year. Depending on how frequently you put it to use, once or twice a year should do.

Why are air exchangers important?

This is why air exchangers are such an important appliance to have in your home. They help to direct stale indoor air out of the home and move fresher, clean air into your home on a continuous basis.

What is the most important part of an air exchanger?

One of the most important components of an air exchanger is the filter . For every air purifying appliance, a filter is needed to stop pollutants and particles.

Why does my air conditioner filter wear down?

Where you live and the kind of weather in that area can also have a toll on your appliance. Dusty, misty environments can cause your unit to collect mist and particles too often , which can wear down its filter and fan.

Why shut off air exchanger in summer?

In these cases, you might consider completely shutting off the air exchanger in the summer to avoid wasting more energy.

How to maintain an air exchanger?

Before wondering about the maintenance of your air exchanger, you should adjust it to the temperature outside. Indeed, by continuously bringing in fresh air from outside into your home, these machines could potentially be bringing in more heat and humidity. You should therefore adjust the settings of your air exchanger by referring to the brand’s conditions of use. If possible, you should adjust the settings to switch to “recirculation” mode during the warm season. This effectively limits the entrance of moisture and lets the air circulate throughout the house.

What is the humidity level of a house?

Outdoor temperature between -30°C and -20°C: approximate humidity level of 30%. Keeping your indoor environment fresh and ventilated is essential for a healthy home that will be kept in good condition for longer. Air exchangers are an excellent option for this, especially with increasingly insulated homes.

Why are air exchangers used in winter?

Generally used during the winter to keep the room temperature up while refreshing the air brought in from outside, air exchangers are used differently once the beautiful days arrive.

What is an air exchanger?

Often considered one of the most neglected machines in the house, the air exchanger is one that must be maintained very regularly. For an exchanger to be able to filter and purify the air inside, it seems logical for it to be as clean as possible.

Do air exchangers come with filters?

Some air exchangers come with replaceable filters, while others are permanent. In both cases, it’s important to note the replacement of the filters on your calendar each season, or more often if you live on a street with a lot of car and truck traffic.

Nick

We've recently moved into a newly built two-floor home with forced air heating/cooling and an air exchanger. We're running our air handler fan and air exchanger continuously to provide fresh air.

MechAcc

Is this an energy recovery ventilator contact the manufacturer. If it isn't then contact your HVAC contractor and see about getting a thermostat that has dehumidification capabilities. Carrier/ Bryant has one called a thermidistat.

David Andersen

Comfort is something no one seems to be able to put a specific number to.

What is the difference between an ERV and an HRV?

What about HRVs? If you have an HRV (heat-recovery ventilator) rather than an ERV, the only difference is that the humidity in the outdoor air will pass through the HRV core without any moisture transfer, and the cooler indoor air may feel damp (because cold air has less ability to contain water vapour than warm air).

How to tell if you have an Aldes HRV or ERV?

How can you tell if you have an Aldes HRV or ERV? Just have a look at the model number: if it starts with an “E”, you have an ERV; if it starts with an “H”, it’s an HRV.

Why run an ERV instead of windows?

Running your ERV to get fresh air instead of opening the windows will have the added benefit that the incoming warm air will be partially pre-cooled and dehumidified thanks to the energy-recovery core. The air conditioner will not have to work as hard to bring the fresh air to your desired temperature.

How does an ERV work?

An ERV works by exchanging your indoor air with fresh outdoor air, while recovering part of the heat and moisture difference in the airstreams. Simply put, your ERV keeps the heat and humidity where they are. In summer, the heat and humidity are outside and your ERV will keep most of it from getting inside with your ventilation air.

Can you run an ERV intermittently?

However, if you have air conditioning and the indoor air is cooler and dryer than the outside air, it is generally a good idea to run your ERV intermittently throughout the day. Assuming you keep the windows closed while the AC is running, you’ll be needing fresh air to prevent CO2 buildup and to avoid that stale “airplane cabin” smell. You can run your Aldes ERV intermittently depending on your wall control:

How Does a Heat Recovery Ventilator Work?

Ventilation takes care of a couple of things, exhausting unwanted air from the home and bringing in more desirable air. This could mean exhausting excess humidity, smells, or simply ridding the home of (CarbonDioxide) CO2, and replacing that air with drier, fresh smelling, oxygen enriched air.

How do you balance a heat recovery ventilation system?

To balance an HRV means to ensure the amount of air being exhausted and the air being introduced into the home is equal. This is done with specialty tools and dampers within the HRV duct system. The problem with this equation is that it changes every time the pressure in the home is affected.

Does running your HRV cost a lot of money to run?

Running your HRV does use electricity to operate but the larger cost of running an HRV would be conditioning the air that it brings into the home. Introducing ice cold air in the winter and having to heat and humidify it as well as winter air is usually dry. Sometimes, being dry is a desirable quality as one of the jobs of the HRV is to remove excess moisture caused by showering, baking, cooking, plants, hanging laundry, or simply from people living in the home, and replacing it with this dry air is how it mitigates the humidity problem.

Why is HRV mandatory in Manitoba?

Because our homes are getting increasingly more efficient and tighter with regards to the construction and doors and windows being installed, these needs listed above are amplified and no longer being mitigated through loose construction and drafty door frames. So much so that here in Manitoba, an HRV is mandatory with new home builds and even large renovations to existing dwellings.

How many air changes per hour for HRV?

Sizing the HRV for the home as a rule of thumb is air changes per hour. For the most part, this can be done without running your HRV 24hrs a day. That’s why the newer style of digital controllers are getting installed. Much like the setback digital thermostats, they save energy/money by turning off the system and only running it at intervals needed to accomplish its task.

How is an HRV sized?

Any given HRV, if installed properly, will be sized according to the type and size of home it serves as well as the ‘load’ it will have. The load would have to do with the number of occupants, or other variables that would necessitate an HRV.

What is the problem with the equation of pressure?

The problem with this equation is that it changes every time the pressure in the home is affected. For instance, if a kitchen range hood is turned on and increases the negative pressure within the home. Or if the gas water heater starts up and pumps combustion air from the home up the chimney.

What does humidity setting mean on an air exchanger?

The humidity setting tells the air exchanger to automatically switch to high after the humidity level has reached the point you set it to. Warning. Setting the humidity dial too low will make the air excessively dry. Advertisement.

Why are air exchangers used in winter?

Many times, air exchangers are used during the winter because they are designed to not only maintain the room's temperature, but also bring in fresh air from outside.

Where did Bryant Harland live?

Bryant Harland wrote for "The Michigan Times" for two years before moving to Chicago. As a professional writer, he has covered topics ranging from video games to heating and cooling systems.

Is it better to leave the vent open or closed?

During the summer months, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Leaving the vent open allows more fresh air in, but also draws more heat and makes your air conditioner work harder. Leaving the vent closed won't bring as much heat in, but you would be relying more on filtered air.

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