An energy recovery ventilator, referred to as an ERV, works like a heat pump to extract air from one place and transfer it to another. However, the unique purpose of an ERV is to bring warm air away from those stale corners of your home and into areas where that heat can be felt and enjoyed. In the summer, it works just the same with cool air.
Stale air can become a breeding ground to physical contaminants or microorganisms that can affect you and your family as well as your HVAC system. By providing additional air circulation to hidden corners of your home, an ERV can help you get the most out of your home’s resources, make better use of insulation, and save energy and money.
Fewer Contaminants in Your Home
Image via Flickr by bildflut85
Stale air breeds contaminants that are not always easy to see or identify. Because air can get trapped in smaller areas and tends to linger without circulation, contaminants can build up. You may notice that a certain area of your home requires dusting more often or that you always find a pile of dirt or debris in certain corners. An energy recovery ventilator works to create better airflow throughout your home by moving air out of these potentially stale areas and preventing air from idling. When contaminants don’t get stuck in a particular location, they are eventually brought through your HVAC’s filtration and/or purification systems.
Better Energy Efficiency
Your home could be more efficient with an energy recovery ventilator. Once contaminants are picked up by filtration systems, fewer harmful irritants are able to survive. Without a quiet, stagnant corner to linger in, dirt and debris are efficiently removed and may not even need to go through the HVAC filter. If your filter is not overwhelmed by excessive pollen, dander, and particles, your system will work more efficiently. This efficient use of energy leads to lower utility bills and other reduced expenses.
Longer Life for Your HVAC System
An ERV can help reduce and delay is the replacement of your HVAC system in its entirety. If your filters are not clogged and the air is able to regularly circulate through your home with the use of an ERV, your air conditioning and heating system is less likely to be overworked, especially in extreme weather conditions. When compounded over several years of efficient operation, the life span of your HVAC system could even increase with the use of an energy recovery ventilator.
If you’re ready to spend more days feeling happy and healthy in your home, extend the life of your home’s heating and cooling system, and reap the rewards of reduced utility bills, then it’s time to talk to an HVAC service provider with ERV experience. These experts can evaluate the structure and current systems in your home to determine if installing an ERV could be the ideal option for you and your family to be able to enjoy fresher, cleaner air throughout your home.