Insufficient ventilation is a problem that plagues most homes and leads to issues with both poor indoor air quality and decreased comfort. Older homes sometimes have sufficient passive ventilation because there are numerous gaps in the exterior. Air can then flow in and out of the house. Newer houses, on the other hand, tend to be very airtight and can significantly benefit from some type of mechanical ventilation. This includes a heat recovery ventilator. In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to know about heat recovery ventilators and why having adequate ventilation matters.
Why Having Adequate Ventilation Is Important
Inadequate ventilation is among the biggest contributors to poor indoor air quality, especially in newer buildings. By improving your home’s ventilation, you can help keep the air smelling fresher and the concentration of airborne pollutants lower.
All houses have a wide variety of sources of indoor air pollution, including numerous things that continually release or “off-gas” harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Formaldehyde and other common household VOCs are used in the production of furniture along with wood glues, adhesives, varnishes, carpets, and other items found in most every house. They’re also given off by cleaning products, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets.
Without proper ventilation, the concentration of these pollutants just continually increases. This leads to stale and bad-smelling air. It can also result in headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, and various other short-term health issues. Even worse, many common household VOCs have been shown to lead to an increased chance of developing cardiovascular and respiratory problems as well as certain types of cancer.
Understanding Types of Mechanical Ventilation
There are three types of mechanical ventilation. This includes exhaust, supply, and balanced. Exhaust ventilation means using things like the hood in the kitchen and the exhaust fans in the bathroom to pull air out of the building. The only problem with this form of ventilation is that it creates negative pressure inside the house.
This results in air from outside getting pulled in through any gaps, such as around windows and exterior doors. This incoming air then increases the workload on the HVAC system by causing the house to get hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. In the winter, exhaust ventilation also forces the heating system to do more work as it draws heated air out of the building.
Supply ventilation involves actively pulling air in from outside, which can again create issues with keeping the building sufficiently comfortable. It also doesn’t really tackle the issue of indoor air pollution. There’s still no effective way for the stale, polluted air to escape.
A balanced ventilation system provides both exhaust and supply ventilation in one. This means it draws the polluted air out of the building while at the same time bringing fresh air inside. The result is that the air in the house regularly gets exchanged to improve air quality and keep the pressure inside consistent.
How Heat Recovery Ventilators Work
Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) are specifically designed to provide effective, balanced ventilation without impacting the temperature inside the building and forcing the HVAC system to do additional work. HRVs have two fans, one that provides supply ventilation by bringing fresh air in and another that provides exhaust ventilation by pulling the indoor air outside. What makes this type of unit unique is that it also has a heat exchanger inside it that allows it to capture and transfer heat between the two different streams of air.
When running in warmer weather, the heat exchanger pulls much of the heat out of the incoming air to essentially pre-cool it before it gets blown inside. This heat then continually flows into the air that’s being exhausted outside. In colder weather, this heat transfer process is reversed so that the unit preheats the incoming air instead of just pulling heat out of the house and bringing cold air in.
HRVs are usually set on a timer so that they only run for around 20 minutes per hour. The concern is that running an HRV too much during the summer can still lead to decreased comfort and lead to the AC system running more and not working efficiently. That’s partly because it can’t fully cool the incoming air and because the incoming air can make the house much more humid. The latter issue is why an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is usually a better option than a heat recovery ventilator if you live in a place with humid summers.
ERVs work the same way as HRVs in terms of transferring heat and exchanging the air in the building. The difference is that an HRV can only transfer heat, whereas an ERV can also pull moisture out of the incoming air to prevent it from increasing the indoor humidity as much.
Other Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Ensuring your house has sufficient ventilation is just one part of the equation when it comes to preventing issues with poor indoor air quality. An HRV or ERV will keep the air fresher, but it can’t tackle other issues like allergens and germs. This is where effective air filtration and air purification come into play.
Most homeowners just use standard pleated air filters in their HVAC system. While these filters help prevent damage to the HVAC system and cut down on the amount of dust it circulates around the house, they aren’t very effective at filtering out pollen, pet dander, and other allergens. That’s why you may want to consider having your ductwork adapted so you can use a thicker media filter. Media filters are far more efficient than standard filters and will greatly reduce the number of allergens and other airborne particulates in your house. This makes them a great choice for people with asthma or who suffer from seasonal allergies.
A high-quality air purifier can make an even bigger difference in your indoor air quality. Options like a true HEPA filter purifier can eliminate over 99% of airborne particles along with odor-causing chemicals, bacteria, and VOCs. An air purifier that includes a carbon filter is also a great choice for eliminating odors and keeping the air in your home smelling fresh and clean. Another great option is to install a UV purifier in your ductwork. This will destroy bacteria and viruses to help keep your family healthy.
Contact Us Today
If you’re searching for premier cooling, heating, and indoor air quality services in the Springfield, MO, area, Queen City Heating & Cooling is the company to call. We serve residential and commercial clients and can expertly manage all your indoor comfort and air quality needs. From ventilation, filtration, and air filtration to humidification and dehumidification, we have a range of solutions to ensure you breathe easily and always stay comfortable.
We offer professional air quality testing and can identify any issues in your home or business and come up with the right solution to tackle them. We can also use advanced air balancing techniques to ensure effective HVAC performance and a clean, healthy indoor environment. If you’re concerned about insufficient ventilation or poor indoor air quality, give us a call at Queen City Heating & Cooling in Springfield to get the expert assistance and advice you need.
