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The Top 3 Benefits of Installing a Heat Recovery Ventilator in Vancouver This Year

Heat Recovery Ventilator vs. Traditional Ventilation: What’s The Difference?

Current times have transformed our way of living, making a heat recovery ventilator a crucial resource. 


A Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) is a smart solution for improving indoor air quality while maintaining energy efficiency. 


The system ensures proper ventilation, which helps prevent issues like mould, condensation, and poor air quality. 


Who needs an HRV ventilation system? And why are they preferred for air circulation for homes in Vancouver?


A heat recovery system is a ventilation system or device that recovers energy by operating between two air sources at different temperatures. 

What is a Heat Recovery Ventilator?

A heat recovery system is a ventilation system or device that recovers energy by operating between two air sources at different temperatures. 


The heat recovery ventilator provides continuous ventilation by exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. 


The HRV ventilation system works both in winter and summer. Its main goal is to ensure proper indoor air ventilation while maintaining indoor temperatures. 


A heat recovery system has various components that make it a viable solution for Canadian homes and buildings: 

- Painted Galvanised Steel Housing: 

The housing or casing keeps the components protected and in their proper positions. 


It also helps with heat and sound insulation within the HRV while allowing easy maintenance, such as changing the filters. 

- Supply and Exhaust Fans: 

How does the heat recovery fan work? There are two fans: one supplies fresh air while the other extracts the stale air. 


Various designs of fans serve different purposes; an HVAC contractor can help you choose the best one for your needs. 


The fans are also responsible for the noise made by the HRV ventilation system.

- Filters: 

Heat recovery ventilator filters serve two main uses: protecting the heat recovery ventilator components and ensuring good indoor air quality. 


You can choose between washable or disposable filters for your HRV system in Vancouver.

- Heat Exchanger: 

It's the component that gives the ventilation system its name. 


The heat exchanger is responsible for regulating the intake air temperature to ensure it maintains the present indoor temperature, whether in winter or summer. 

- Power cord: 

It connects the HRV ventilation system to the power source. 


The cord could be connected to a nearby outlet or directly hardwired to the circuit breaker in an electrical panel. 

- Controller: 

It ensures the HRV system runs at optimal efficiency, regulating the various parameters automatically. 

- Drain Pipe and Pan: 

The drain pipe carries away any water that may have accumulated during the heat exchange or defrosting cycle. The water collects in the drain pan for disposal. 

- Ducts: 

They are connected to the exterior wall, either supplying fresh air to the system or extracting stale air. 


The ducts also run throughout the building supplying and extracting air for proper ventilation. 


The heat recovery ventilator components set it apart from traditional HVAC systems. 


Older systems simply push air in and out of the home without considering energy loss. 


On the contrary, a HRV ventilation system retains the energy used to heat or cool the air making it a more efficient option. 


An HRV ventilation system in Vancouver ensures healthy indoor air quality without enduring significant energy losses. 

How Does a Heat Recovery Ventilator Work?

An HRV ventilation system in Vancouver ensures healthy indoor air quality without enduring significant energy losses. 


The first part of the mechanism of a heat recovery air ventilator is its air exchange process. 


The HRV ventilation system extracts stale air inside a building and draws in fresh air from outside. 


Fresh air is supplied using the ducts to what are termed “clean spaces” like the family room, living room and bedroom. 


On the other hand, indoor air is mostly extracted from rooms considered to release odour, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry area. 


A good design should supply air to ‘clean spaces’ and extract it through ‘dirty spaces’ (those filled with odours), resulting in an efficient system.


The genius of its energy-saving mechanism is in its heat exchange process. 


The outside air may be warm or cold depending on the summer or winter seasons. 


The heat recovery ventilation system ensures that the house's temperature remains the same regardless of outside conditions. 


For example, if it is 200C in the home and -150C outside, the HRV system will circulate the air at around 150C or even higher, saving energy costs. 


The heat exchange efficiency will depend on the HRV system installed on your property. 


The most popular systems have a crossflow heat exchanger that operates at around 70% efficiency. A rotary heat exchanger, which is more expensive, may reach 90% efficiency. 


Finally, we have the filtration process, where the air filters work to ensure a clean air supply. 

The filters are mainly located on the duct entry points in the HRV system casing and, in special cases, at the fans’ outlets.


Filters clean the incoming air from outdoor pollutants such as pollen and dust. 


Furthermore, the filters protect the HRV system components from contaminants that may reduce efficiency and longevity. 


Employing heat recovery ventilation offers a wide range of benefits, making it an ideal solution for improving home air quality in Vancouver. 

Top 3 Benefits of Using a Heat Recovery Ventilator

Employing heat recovery ventilation offers a wide range of benefits, making it an ideal solution for improving home air quality in Vancouver. 

1. Energy Efficiency 

Heat recovery ventilators provide an energy-efficient way of creating a balanced indoor climate. 


An HRV ventilation system converts existing air into usable heat, helping to lower your household's carbon footprint while saving you money on utility costs. 


The HRV systems retain up to 85% of the heat that would otherwise be lost, reducing the need for additional energy to heat or cool your home. 

2. Improved Indoor Air Quality 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is up to 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. 


Moreover, with people spending 90% of their time indoors, poor indoor air quality can be risky for human health. 


Installing an HRV heating system provides your home or office with a constant supply of fresh outdoor air while expelling contaminated indoor air. 


The heat recovery system can be especially helpful for individuals with allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues. 

3. Cost Savings 

Are heat recovery ventilators worth it?


The cost of a heat recovery ventilator may seem high at first, but in the long term, it can help reduce energy bills. 


The HRV ventilation systems reduce the strain on your heating and cooling systems (or air conditioning), lowering energy consumption. 


They also improve home air quality Canada reducing the risk of health-related issues and associated expenses.

Other Ventilation Systems vs Heat Recovery Ventilation (ERV vs HRV)

A HRV ventilation system will often be compared to an ERV system. 


An energy recovery ventilation system - or ERV for short- works similarly to HRVs with a few extra functionalities. 


The major difference between the two systems is in their core. 


The HRV ventilation system is good for extracting humidity from the house but gets tricky where the intake air from outside is humid. 


Its core isn’t made to transfer humidity from one side to the other, so the heat recovery ventilator system would have to work harder to eliminate the humidity in the air. 


However, with energy recovery ventilators, moisture can be transferred from one side of the core to the other, resulting in higher air quality. 


For example, if it is hot and humid outside, which is common in regions like Ottawa during summer, an energy recovery system would serve better than an HRV system. 

 

However, this is not a concern for residents of British Columbia or Vancouver. An HRV ventilation system would work more efficiently in a place with dry and hot summers. 


An HRV ventilation system is something every home should have, providing various benefits.

When Should You Consider Installing an HRV?

An HRV ventilation system is something every home should have, providing various benefits.


However, there are special conditions that may mean you need a system ASAP:

1. If Your Home Is Tightly Sealed

Modern homes are made with efficiency in mind ensuring they are well sealed to prevent air leakage. 


The approach helps reduce heating and cooling expenses but could be at the cost of trapping stale air inside the home, causing poor ventilation.


Such houses have little natural airflow, potentially impacting the air quality. 


A HRV or ERV system can help pump fresh air without compromising indoor conditions. 

2. High Humidity and Moisture 

One of the most common signs of poor ventilation is condensation on your windows or excessive moisture in areas like the bathroom and kitchen. 


Such conditions could lead to the build-up of mould and mildew, which could cause structural damage and health issues. 


A good heat recovery ventilator system can help regulate indoor humidity by expelling moist air and replacing it with fresh, dry air from outside. 

3. During Home Renovations or New Builds

With new builds, an HRV ventilation system can be seamlessly integrated with other air conditioning and heating systems for optimal efficiency and performance. 


Similarly, installing a heat recovery ventilator during major renovations can help improve your home’s ventilation and energy use. 


Holtop Canada is a leading manufacturer of indoor air quality solutions, from heat exchangers to air filtration systems. 

Purchase Heat Recovery Ventilation Sytems in Vancouver with Holtop  Canada

Holtop Canada is a leading manufacturer of indoor air quality solutions, from heat exchangers to air filtration systems. 


We understand the role of air quality on people's health and quality of life. 


Therefore, we have tailored solutions to address these issues, such as heat recovery ventilator systems. 


If you are interested in a HRV ventilation system in Vancouver, reach out at 604-222-2100 or visit us at 110-8828 Heather St, Vancouver, BC V5XOA8 for a consult today. 

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