What Is the Purpose of a Heat Recovery Ventilator?

Québec homes are built and insulated to retain heat during the winter and cool air during the summer. The downside of this setup is that stale air remains longer inside the home. To breathe fresh air indoors, natural ventilation has given way to mechanical ventilation.

Indeed, to ensure a circulation of fresh air, the heat recovery ventilator (HRV) has become essential in houses and condos. For many years, the National Building Code has required the presence of such a system in new constructions under 600 m² or for any renovation affecting more than 50% of the residence.

There is greater control over indoor air quality in private residences. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of having this type of system.

Heat Recovery Ventilator: Why Ventilate the Rooms of Your Home?

First, ventilating the rooms of your home allows occupants to fully enjoy their residence. The expelled air often contains pollutants from cooking odors, tobacco smoke, cleaning products, and humidity. It is worth noting that humidity can create mold on walls over time.

Ventilating spaces prevents cooking smells or cigarette smoke from lingering indoors and absorbing into fabrics such as clothing. In confined spaces, odors are more likely to spread quickly to neighbouring rooms. It is therefore all the more necessary to regularly remove stale air.

Using the Heat Recovery Ventilator in Winter

In winter, this device is very useful, as natural ventilation is not an option. To use it effectively, regular maintenance of ducts and grilles is necessary. Also, check whether the humidity level in your home is adequate. If you begin to feel discomfort in your residence, it is possible that the air quality is reduced.

In this case, either there is too much humidity or the air is too dry. Moreover, you can adjust your HRV so that it operates at full capacity each hour. You also have the option to leave it running all day at low capacity. In this way, you will have greater control over the air quality in each room.

It is worth noting that it can be installed with a central system. The latter includes several additional systems, such as a heat pump, an air filter, a fan coil unit, a coil, a humidifier, and a control system.

It is most often installed in a strategic location in the home so that the ducts can easily reach the rooms. Of course, it always provides access to the outdoors.

Which Heat Recovery Ventilator Should You Choose?

To choose the right device for your home, start by identifying your needs. Indeed, certain factors might reasonably prompt you to choose a more efficient device. These include:

• The room being occupied by more than one person

• The presence of smokers or allergy sufferers

• Faster accumulation of humidity

• The habit of cooking frequently

With all this information in hand, a professional can determine the type of device that suits you. Be sure to get information regarding the maintenance required to keep your equipment in good condition (how often the filter must be changed), as well as the warranty offered by the manufacturer.