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IAQ Works
Last Updated on January 18, 2022

Energy Recovery Ventilators

Ventilation is one of the most important aspects of a healthy home. If you have ever been in a damp, musty or moldy room, then you know just how important it is to keep your house or business properly ventilated. When outside air doesn’t circulate inside, moisture can build up causing a variety of problems.
An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is a mechanical ventilation system that provides all the fresh air you need for healthy indoor air quality. This technology has been proven to enhance indoor air quality by reducing airborne contaminants and improving humidity levels in homes and businesses.

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What Energy Recovery Ventilators Do

Your home is an oasis, and you should be as comfortable as possible when spending time there. That’s why optimizing the air you breathe is crucial to your health and comfort while at home. Luckily, ERVs were created to help you achieve that specific goal.

Upgrade your living space with the perfect residential ERV for your needs. When you install an ERV in your home, you instantly eliminate stale, harmful air and replace it with clean, fresh air from outside your home. Stuffy rooms and humidity become a thing of the past with help from the right ventilation system.

Many homeowners make use of ERVs to continuously refresh the air inside their homes with minimal effort. They are typically connected to your HVAC system or to independent ductwork in your home. Once connected, an ERV pushes old air out of your living space to make room for fresh air that enters from outside your home. To accomplish this, each energy recovery ventilation system undergoes a series of key steps. Each step plays an essential role in your comfort while spending time at home. Here’s a brief overview of the process that an ERV goes through once it’s installed in your living space.

3 Types of Home Ventilation Systems : Ventilation is the lifeblood of any home. There are three main types: exhaust-only, supply and balanced mechanical ventilation systems which all have their own benefits that you should know about before making your choice! Learn more →

Energy Recovery Ventilators for Your Home

Product Highlights

Lifebreath Residential Energy Recovery Ventilators

  • Improved living environment
  • Easier breathing
  • Cleaner air free of toxins
  • Energy efficient
  • Lower utility bill cost

How Energy Recovery Ventilators Work

It’s helpful to be familiar with the structure of a typical energy recovery ventilator unit. This device normally contains two separate fans.

Fan #1 – Collects fresh, clean air from outside your living space and pumps it into your home.

Fan #2 – Captures the stale air from inside your home and releases it out into the atmosphere.

To ensure that this process is successful every time, an ERV also makes use of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger works to transfer moisture and heat from the stale air stream to the fresh air stream. As a result, your home always remains warm or cold depending on the temperature outside and the time of year.

Q+A: Home Ventilation and Fresh Air Circulation: We want to help you understand everything about home ventilation and indoor air quality. Read our FAQ on fresh air mechanical ventilation. Read the full article →

What Is the Difference Between a HRV and an ERV?

Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and ERVs are similar devices that both supply fresh, conditioned air to the home while recovering energy from the stale, outgoing airstream. Both provide excellent ventilation for your home, but they do have their differences.

A HRV only transfers heat while an ERV transfers moisture as well. HRVs ensure that incoming air is as warm as outgoing air. ERVs ensure that incoming air is as warm or cool as outgoing air. These systems give homeowners control over the quality of airflow, rather than relying on inherent leaks or other deficiencies from building construction. In other words, you’ll be comfortable at all times and experience a decrease in utility costs.

What Ventilation System Is Right for My Home, ERV or HRV? When you’re looking at whole-home ventilation systems, which is better, ERV or HRV? This article will help guide your decision. And, we always recommend consulting a local IAQ expert before making any final decisions. Learn more →