HVAC Contributor
A properly ventilated home can quickly remove pollutants and humidity while maintaining a comfortable atmosphere in your living spaces. We have all you need to know about using a ventilation system to create a healthier and cozier home here.
To receive fresh air inside your home, it needs to be adequately ventilated. Although there are numerous options, installing a device known as a heat recovery ventilation is the most advised one (HRV). It is made to allow in fresh air while maintaining the heat within your home.
Other strategies include:
- Micro-ventilation
- Run the fans in the kitchen and restroom
- Put the winter setting on ceiling fans.
A good ventilation system is essential for every home, especially in the chilly winter months. You have the right to feel at home in your own home as a homeowner. Fortunately, we are here to support and direct you while you establish a reliable ventilation system.
How To Ensure Your Home Is Properly Ventilated During Winter
Nobody wants stale indoor air, especially in the winter when it’s difficult to just throw open the windows and let in some fresh air. You won’t be able to tolerate the chilly winter gusts inside your house. You have a variety of ventilation options to select from (all of them are good), but some of them can’t keep your space warm.
The Operation Of An HRV System
In wet areas like bathrooms, utility rooms, and the kitchen, a heat recovery ventilator system removes moisture and stale air. Additionally, it is designed to deliver and retain clean air in your living, dining, and bedroom spaces. An HRV will utilise the heat from the emitted stale air to warm the chilly fresh air from the outside.
This appliance’s energy efficiency can help you reduce your power bill costs. The HRV is proven to be a big help in maintaining your indoor temperature comfortable and comfy, so your heat pumps won’t have to work as hard to preserve the warmth inside your home.
Filters in HRV systems prevent dirt, dust, and pollen from entering your home. Additionally, because of this device’s capacity to lower condensation, your home is heated more effectively during the winter. This effectiveness helps you save money on future heating costs while also ensuring that your home is properly ventilated.
It’s crucial to understand that two fans are used to power the heat recovery ventilation system. In order for the first fan to work, heated, stagnant, and polluted air inside your home must be drawn out and released outside.
The second fan then releases a steady stream of cold, fresh air through the system, distributing it around your home.
During this cycle, the second fan’s cool, fresh air is sucked through the warm, stale inside air. Here, heat is transferred from the warm air that is leaving to the fresh air that is coming in. The system is made up of a number of small tubes through which both incoming and leaving air is sent.
Other Strategies For Winter Ventilation In Your Home
Micro-Ventilation
Opening a window is the most typical approach to allow fresh air into your house. Micro-ventilation, on the other hand, just entails cracking open one window in each room to allow a small amount of fresh air to enter without fully opening the window.
Run The Fans In The Kitchen And Bathrooms
Utilizing the exhaust fans that are set up in your kitchen and bathroom is another option. By doing so, you can prevent mold and mildew from growing in your bathroom due to an accumulation of excess humidity. Running fans in the kitchen can improve your health because they expel potentially harmful vapors from the stove and oven.
Winterize Ceiling Fans By Switching Them On
Nowadays, the majority of ceiling fans come with a “winter mode” setting. On the side of the fan is where you’ll find the switch. The blade reverses direction when turned on. In this phase, the warm air is pushed lower while the cold air is pushed upward.
Should An HRV Be Operated Continuously?
To guarantee that your home is well-ventilated while keeping the warm and comforting temperature inside your home, it is advised to run your heat recovery ventilation system continuously. Many HRV instruments can operate at low, medium, or high rates.
Running the HRV constantly at low or medium speed and switching to high speed when a larger ventilation rate is needed is a universal method for controlling your machine.
Energy is required to run HRVs. Heat may be contained indoors in airtight homes with heat recovery ventilation systems, which reduces the amount of work your furnace and HRV need to do. As a result, these types of homes have reduced annual electric bills.
How To Care For And Keep Your Heat Recovery System Clean
Your HRV system needs to be cleaned and maintained in order to function at its best. Additionally, routine maintenance makes sure that your system won’t break as quickly and that it will last longer.
Clean Or Replace The Air Filters
The most crucial step in maintaining your HRV system is routine cleaning or air filter replacement. Filters that are clogged and dirty will decrease the machine’s effectiveness and pollute the air that is returning to and entering your home.
Your HRV device must be turned off and unplugged before you start. Remove or open the front door of your appliance to find the location of the air filters. Once you have located it, carefully remove the filters by moving them forward from their current position inside the device.
Use a vacuum to remove any significant debris and dust accumulation, and then soak the filters in a solution of warm water and dish soap. Put it back inside the HRV after letting it set for a time, after which you may rinse it off and let it completely dry.
To keep the air filters operating at their best and to prevent dust, pollen, and other pollutants from entering your home, remember to clean them every two months. Additionally, if your filters exhibit significant symptoms of wear and tear, it is advised to replace them once or twice a year.
Clean The Exhaust Hoods And The Outdoor Intakes
Making ensuring the HRV system’s exterior vents are clear is another crucial cleaning procedure you must perform. To make sure that the airflow is not impeded, you must remove any obstacles like garbage, leaves, or other objects. Your device will operate correctly if you do this.
Make sure to remove any snow or ice buildup that could obstruct the vents throughout the winter.
Condensate Drain Inspection
You must determine whether water flows easily from the bottom of the unit if your HRV has a condensate drain. Fill each drain pan with a minimum of two liters of warm, clean water. Cleaning the drain is necessary if water is not flowing freely in order to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
Sanitize The Heat Exchanger
Cleaning the core with soapy water and a vacuum will assist get rid of dirt and dust accumulation.
You can follow the instructions for cleaning the heat exchange core in your HRV’s owner manual to ensure optimal maintenance.
Grilles And Ductwork Should Be Cleaned
You also need to clean the grilles and the ducting on your HRV. At the very least once per year, check the ducting leading to and from your HRV.
The duct ends’ covering should be taken off and examined. The interior of the ducts can be cleaned with a vacuum. You must contact a nearby service expert if a deeper cleaning is required.
Maintain The Fans
The fan is the final item to be cleaned. Brush the blades gently to get rid of dust and grime. Once you’ve done that, see if your HVR is an older model. If this is the case, you must add a few drops of lubricating oil to make sure the fan will function properly.
Conclusion
Your living spaces must have adequate ventilation to remain comfortable. You can be confident that your heating recovery ventilation system will help to bring in fresh outdoor air without allowing the warm temperature inside your home to be affected by the chilly breeze.
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