Energy- Recovery Ventilators ( ERV’s)

An energy-recovery ventilator, or ERV, is a special type of HRV that tempers the extremes of humidity in the incoming fresh air. Like and HRV, an ERV transfer heat between the two streams of air passing through the ERV core. But an ERV also transfers some of the moisture from the more humid stream of air to the drier stream of air.

In winter, when outdoor air is usually dry, an ERV increases the humidity of the incoming air, while in the summer, when outdoor air is usually more humid, and ERV can lower the humidity of the incoming air, as long as the house is air-conditioned. (In a house without air conditioning, the humidity levels of the indoor and outdoor air are essentially the same, so an ERV can’t help lower humidity).

ERV’s are recommended for air-conditioned homes in hot, humid climates. In cold climates, where winter indoor air can be humid enough to cause window condensation, one of the main goals of a ventilation system is to lower indoor humidity levels. For that purpose, and HRV makes more sense than an ERV. For the same reason, ERV’s are not recommended for pool or spa rooms, where HRV’s are more appropriate.

An ERV core, sometimes called an enthalpic core, can be either a fixed core or a rotary-wheel core and is usually made of treated paper or polyester fiber. Rotary ERV cores are often impregnated with a desiccant to improve moisture transfer.

NOTE: All Optima series and commercial models of HRV’s are available with the ERV core.

Nu-Air Ventilation Systems
P.O. Box 2758
Windsor , Nova Scotia
Canada, B0N 2T0
Tel.: (902) 798-2261
Fax: (902) 798-2557
Email: nuair@nu-airventilation.com

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See also our Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication Division: www.nu-fab.com

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