Recover the Heat You’re Losing

“Close the door, you’re letting all the heat out!”

Sound familiar? Certainly we’ve all heard that phrase growing up. But nowadays more modern homes are built with energy efficiency in mind. Buildings have become more airtight which means they have a greater need for ventilation allowing fresh air to come in without letting heat escape. Opening a window can make the air feel less stuffy, but this isn’t suitable for when you’re trying to keep heat in.

Heat recovery ventilation is not a new technology but has become a popular solution for providing fresh air while also retaining heat and adequate humidity levels in a tightly sealed, energy efficient home. Let’s take a look at what heat recovery ventilation is and how it works.

What is Heat Recovery Ventilation?

Heat recovery ventilation (HRV) is an energy recovery ventilation system which works between two air sources at different temperatures. It is designed to work within a ventilation system capturing heat from stale outgoing air and transferring it to cold incoming air.

How Does Heat Recovery Ventilation Work?

Enthalpy. /ˈenTHalpē,ənˈTHalpē/

It’s a fancy word engineers like to use to describe the process in which energy is transferred – or in this case heat that is absorbed or released. As stale, humid air is exhausted from the house it passes through the exchanger core of the heat recovery ventilator and while doing so warms the exchanger plates. Clean, fresh air is being drawn into the house and is heated by passing over the warmed exchanger plates. Both processes are happening simultaneously. The two air streams never mix but heat energy is constantly being exchanged between the two.

Benefits of Heat Recovery Ventilation

Continuous Fresh Air

With a heat recover ventilation system, clean air is continuously brought in from outside throughout the day and night. Since the air is never recycled within the house, the system removes indoor pollutants and odors and removes moisture lowering the indoor humidity. This creates a healthier indoor environment for you and your family.

Eliminates Condensation

Condensation occurs when there is too much moisture in the air. Moisture can collect on windows and other surfaces causing dampness, rot, and mold growth. The heat recovery ventilation system removes all water vapor as it is produced which eliminates condensation.

Energy Efficiency

The heat recovery ventilation system recycles heat energy by removing it outgoing air and placing it back into the fresh incoming air. This reduces the energy requirements needed to warm your home and reduces costs. Some manufacturers claim their systems perform with 85-95 percent efficiency. The system is also designed to operate continuously at a low rate to reduce energy consumption.

Bradley Mechanical is proud to have been serving the heating needs of Central Richmond homeowners for over 50 years. Our highly trained heating experts provide service backed by decades of experience. We offer the latest heating system technologies that are certain to make your home energy efficient and comfortable during the winter. Call Bradley Mechanical today at (804) 748-6728 to schedule an appointment.