All homes both new and old have ventilation requirements as outlined in residential and mechanical codes. A steady supply of fresh outdoor air can increase indoor air quality and improve occupant comfort, reduce odors and dilute indoor pollutants like VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). Historically, residential homes have not had specific requirements for ventilation because natural air leakage and natural ventilation was considered adequate. As envelope construction practices have improved and the envelopes of residential homes become tighter, the need to ensure air quality through the installation of mechanical ventilation has become necessary. Balanced equipment such as ERV’s and HRV’s are suitable for modern construction and controlled negative fresh air units work well in older homes.
An ERV is designed to deliver the fresh air required to your home. When fresh air is delivered into a home, conditioned air is exhausted back outside to equalize the pressure. The air leaving a home has energy in it – warm energy in winter and cool energy in summer. ERVs capture about 80 percent of the energy from the air leaving the home and puts it back into fresh air entering the home.
Designed to introduce fresh air to return air of your HVAC system. Damper opens during a call for heat, cool and fan operation to deliver required air volume for ASHRAE Code 62.2.2010. Suitable for older homes that are not as tight as new construction. These ventilation systems are not as efficient as a balanced ERV or HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) units but are less expensive.
Works in the same way as the negative fresh air damper unit but is fan powered. Similar to the negative pressure unit both will force ventilation if there is not a call for HVAC operation in order to achieve ventilation requirements. All of these ventilation systems introduce air to the central HVAC system resulting in a greater distribution of fresh air to all areas of the home and occupants.