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should i run my air exchanger in the summer

by Ona Stroman Published 2 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.

Should I open or close my air exchanger vent?

Decide on whether or not to open the air exchanger vent. 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.

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.

Why are air exchangers used in winter?

What does humidity setting mean on an air exchanger?

Is it better to leave the vent open or closed?

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What should I set my air exchanger in summer?

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.

When should you turn off your air exchanger?

Turn It Off In The Summer Your home's AC serves two purposes. First, it keeps the air in your home cool. Second, it helps control your air's humidity. During summer, the air outside naturally becomes more humid because hot air energizes water molecules and keeps them from condensing.

What does an air exchanger do in the summer?

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.

Should I turn off my HRV in the 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.

Do air exchangers use a lot of electricity?

These systems are very energy efficient and can be set to any level of humidity in your home, It simply gets connected to your existing ductwork on your furnace.

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.

Should I run my air exchanger with the windows open?

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.

Can an air exchanger increase humidity?

An air exchanger unit will not create humidity. It is used to exhaust excess humid air and replace it with dry air in winter. A humidifier may still be needed.

What setting should my HRV be on in summer?

Spring/Summer Seasons During the warm months, after your temperature has consistently remained higher than 18 degrees Celsius, you should set your system's dehumidistat to 100 percent. Alternatively, you should put it in the "off" position.

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.

Should you run an HRV continuously?

To ensure the removal of indoor pollutants and the supply of fresh outdoor air, an HRV should be operated on low speed continuously year-round, especially in airtight homes and homes with normal indoor pollutant levels.

Should I turn off my air exchanger in the winter?

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?

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 run my air exchanger with the windows open?

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 air exchanger remove humidity in winter?

An air exchanger unit will not create humidity. It is used to exhaust excess humid air and replace it with dry air in winter. A humidifier may still be needed.

Air Exchanger: What to set it at? - Canadian Woodworking and Home ...

Re: Air Exchanger: What to set it at? If you have any solid wood furniture or floors you should try and maintain a RH of around 40, window sweating is inconsistent because of outside temperature variations but your interior should be constant otherwise you will have excessive shrinkage in wood floors tables etc.

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 […]

Air Exchanger ??? - General Discussion Forum | In-Depth Outdoors

I have had an air exchanger for 10 years. Was told not to use it in the summer as don’t want to bring humid air into the house. Have never had a problem.

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.

How to make a water filter last longer?

Cleaning and/or replacing the filter as and when due, watching out for leaks, and carrying out other general maintenance will give your unit the power it needs to last longer and live out its expected lifespan.

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

Can you shut off an HRV in the summer?

This is why many people choose to shut their HRV OFF completely for the summer. The thought is that the CO2 ventilation will be accomplished by the use of the non HRV exhaust fans in the home and other means such as an open window etc. It is possible to set any HRV to a “stand by mode” which would have the HRV come on only when required such as a fan timer switch in the bathroom or manually in the evenings.

Can you leave your HRV running in the summer?

Basically it’s up to the homeowner and the needs and demands of their individual home. If you’re not the type to open their windows in the summer, perhaps leaving your HRV running and having that air exchange is a much needed thing. As for the Weatherman, I leave mine on stand by for the bathroom exhausts and open a window any chance I get!

Is it good to have a dry HRV?

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.

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 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.

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.

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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