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.
It’s Good for Cooling, Too
One thing you should know upfront is that an ERV is also great for cooling. But first, let’s take a look at how it works.
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.
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.
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.
What Are the Benefits?
The benefits that an ERV can offer your home are:
- Better energy efficiency – your heater won’t have to work as hard to generate warm air because it is working with pre-treated air.
- Better ventilation – an ERV allows you to have continuous fresh air all winter long.
- Reduces stress on your HVAC system – your heating and cooling system will do less work.
Call the pros from DuAll Heating & Cooling today and see how an ERV can help you!
