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What Is an Energy Recovery Ventilator?

Today’s homes are some of the most energy efficient around – but sometimes homes can be so air-tight that having good ventilation becomes an issue. So how can you improve your ventilation but maintain, or even improve, your energy efficiency? Consider the installation of an energy recovery ventilator.

How It Works

An energy recovery ventilator, also known as an ERV, is a ventilation system that brings fresh air into your home while using the latent heat energy of your stale indoor air to pre-treat the incoming air. For example, during the winter months, the ERV expels your stale, warm air to the outdoors; at the same time, it draws in fresh, cool air from the outdoors. At the core of the ERV is a heat exchanger that takes the latent heat energy and moisture from your outgoing air and applies it to the incoming air. The result is fresh, pre-treated air that lessens the work load your heating system has to do because it has been warmed before entering the air flow of your heating system. In the summer months, the opposite happens: the cool, stale air pre-cools and dehumidifies the incoming moist, warm air, helping to reduce the stress on your AC. The pre-treating process helps reduce the workload of your heating and cooling systems, and helps balance moisture.

Why Consider the Installation of an ERV?

  • Better energy efficiency – the pre-treatment of the incoming air means your heating and cooling system can do less work; when they do less work, they consume less energy.
  • Less stress on your system – less work for your system also means less stress, which can help reduce repairs and prevent premature aging.
  • Continuous, fresh air – with an ERV, you will have a continuous stream of fresh air coming into your home, which can improve your indoor air quality and create the right amount of ventilation.
  • Balances moisture levels – because the ERV can humidify and dehumidify incoming air, your home’s indoor moisture level will be more balanced.

An energy recovery ventilator in your Cary home can help you achieve better indoor air quality while also improving your energy efficiency.

If you are interested in seeing what an ERV can do for your home, contact Ideal Services Heating & Cooling today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts.