An air exchanger consumes about 0.1-0.15 kWh per hour of operation, equating to 2.4-3.6 kWh per day and 72-108 kWh per month if it is left on all the time.
That’s based on a medium-sized house of roughly 2,000 square feet, with a ceiling height of around 9 feet, and assuming you run the air exchanger throughout the house to replace the air in the house between 6 and 8 times each day, with a 75-100 CFM rating.
As previously stated, real usage may vary from one home to the next depending on the employment and the necessity to replenish the indoor air on a regular basis.
What does it cost to operate an air exchanger?
The cost-effectiveness of an air-to-air heat exchanger built in a residence with low infiltration levels in Fargo, N.D. is shown in the following set of calculations. For the sake of computations, the following conditions are assumed to exist:
0.1 air exchanges per hour (ACH) infiltration rate, or 10 hours for a complete air exchange
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers has established standard recommended ventilation rates (ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007). Special conditions, such as specialized sensitivities or hobbies, that cause air quality difficulties are not taken into account by these criteria. The number of inhabitants, the type of building, and the usage of the structure all influence the standards (ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007). NOTE: Fuel and electricity utility rates vary, and must be adjusted for local costs, as well as the floor space and number of bedrooms.
Is it necessary to have the air exchanger running all of the time?
Because modern homes are so highly insulated, toxins, allergies, and moisture are trapped within. Installing an air exchanger is a good approach to get rid of stale air and bring in fresh air. Continue reading to learn more about the advantages of these necessary equipment.
Pet hair, dust, cleaning product odors, cooking smoke, dampness, CO2 from gas heaters
We pollute the air within our homes just by going about our daily lives. Modern homes are designed to keep warm air warm in the winter and cool air cool in the summer, trapping pollutants inside. As a result, the Building Code mandates the installation of a mechanical ventilation system in all new projects, with a few exceptions. The new rules are designed to improve new house comfort and energy efficiency. An air exchanger can, of course, be installed in any structure.
Replace natural ventilation with improved air circulation.
Summer and winter, air exchangers should be running at all times. Energy-efficient air exchangers can cycle through all of your home’s air in just a few hours, depending on the size of your home.
- Remove pollutants (tobacco smoke or cooking smoke, hazardous chemical fumes, etc.) as well as dust and allergies from the air and replace it with fresh air.
- Remove odours that can become trapped in garments (tobacco, wetness, cooking, etc). (clothing, rugs, couch cushions, etc.).
- By removing stale air and moisture and bringing in fresh air, you can improve respiratory health and reduce health risks (asthma, lung disorders, allergies, and so on).
- Allow for enough ventilation and the removal of excess moisture to avoid the growth of mold, which can be harmful to one’s health. Condensation does not form on walls or windows when air exchangers are used. Many variables can cause your home’s humidity to rise (showers, condensation from breath, plants, cooking, etc.).
- Improve the efficiency of your heaters and air conditioners. Models with heat recovery filters heat and recover air, decreasing energy expenditures when compared to typical air exchangers.
Looking for more ways to keep the air in your house clean and fresh? Read our post Seven Ways to Improve Your Home’s Air Quality. Do you need to purchase an air exchanger? Find the ideal match for you! From purchase through installation, our experts are here to assist you.
What is the energy consumption of a heat exchanger?
To fully comprehend heat exchanger sizes, it is necessary to first comprehend how they are rated. Heat exchangers are not rated in BTUs like air conditioners, but rather in watts per degree F. If the exchanger is rated at 10 watts per degree F, a 1-degree rise above ambient will remove 10 watts, while a 10-degree rise will remove 100 watts. When sizing a heat exchanger for a specific application, EIC suggests allowing for a minimum temperature rise of 5 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient.
Heat exchangers will also work better if there is no insulation inside the enclosure. When utilizing an air conditioner, insulation is highly useful because the temperature inside the enclosure is lower than the ambient temperature. The lack of insulation allows part of the contained heat to be released via the enclosure walls when the internal temperature rises above ambient (like with a heat exchanger).
Pros
HRVs and ERVs offer a clear advantage: they provide a warm, well-ventilated home while also preventing you from “emptying your money” into the atmosphere every time you open your windows. They can help you save money on your heating expenses in the winter and minimize the demand for air conditioning in the summer. They’re better for your building, your furnishings, and your health because they keep excess moisture out of your home (properly ventilated homes that are neither too hot nor too damp are less likely to harbor dust mites, a common asthma trigger.) and they help to keep the “climate” inside your home at a more consistent level. They often hold two-thirds to three-quarters of the heat that would otherwise be lost through ventilation in your home (some manufacturers claim 8595 percent), so they truly do save energy. How much power do you have? HRV may safely reduce the number of air changes per hour in a “leaky house” by roughly 50%, reducing the energy wasted through ventilation by about 65 percent, according to British environmental auditor Nicola Terry’s findings. Although a tiny portion of this energy is utilized to power the HRV system’s electric fans (usually about 50100 watts, but as high as 300 watts in some circumstances), there is still a significant energy savings.
Is it necessary to turn off my air conditioner in the winter?
Whole-house ventilation is provided via a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). It allows you to choose when and how stale air is removed from the house and fresh air is brought in. During the heating season, the HRV recovers and transfers some heat to the incoming outside air before it is pushed outside.
You can use a basic HRV control to turn your HRV on or off, but installing an advanced HRV control is the most efficient solution. An sophisticated control gives you more options for tailoring the HRV to your home’s ventilation requirements. It can help you save money on energy by tailoring your ventilation requirements to your lifestyle.
- Set the machine to run as needed, based on the instruction booklet and your level of comfort.
- Continuously running HRVs can lead to higher heating/cooling expenses and uncomfortably high humidity levels.
- Seasonally adjust the humidity control. When the weather is warm, put the control to the maximum setting; when the weather cools, lower the setting. Set the dehumidistat just low enough to prevent condensation on the windows in the winter.
- Do not unplug or turn off your HRV. High humidity levels can develop, which can lead to mould and mildew growth, as well as dangerous living conditions.
Does a radon air exchanger help?
An air exchanger, also known as a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV), is a large box in a home’s furnace room that exchanges the air. These systems usually have four ducts: one brings stale air from the house into the unit, another brings stale air from the unit to the outside, and the other two do the opposite. They bring fresh air in from the outside and then fresh air out of the unit into the house.
A heat exchanger is located inside the air exchanger to recuperate some of the lost energy. While an air exchanger isn’t commonly built as a radon mitigation device, it will lower radon levels in the home* by replacing stale interior air with fresh outdoor air.
In 2004, I attended a radon class where the speaker claimed that an air exchanger working at maximum speed, 100% of the time, has the ability to cut radon levels in half. I’m not sure how he came to this conclusion, but it sounded reasonable to me at the time.
This material has corroborated my own personal experiences. About halfway through a home inspection, I accidently tripped a basement GFCI receptacle, which caused the HRV to turn off for the last hour of the radon test, resulting in a massive jump in radon levels for that hour. This is the graph from that experiment:
When should I turn off my air conditioner?
You’re already aware of our feelings toward air exchangers. One of the greatest methods to keep your home’s air fresh and clean is to utilize this very simple, easy-to-use equipment. But how do you use an air exchanger once you have one? Is it really best to just switch it on and leave it alone? Is there anything further you can do to improve it?
We want you to get the most bang for your buck with your air conditioner. That’s why we came up with this list of air exchanger best practices after putting our heads together. If you follow these easy guidelines, you’ll notice a significant improvement in your home’s air quality almost immediately.
SET TO COMFORT, NOT A FIXED NUMBER
Your air exchanger’s manual most likely recommended a setting to keep your unit on for best efficiency. There’s a reason the manufacturers recommended it, but keep in mind that they didn’t know your house. If the air in your home feels blocked with allergies or dirty, don’t be afraid to adjust the settings on the air exchanger.
If you keep turning up your air exchanger and it doesn’t help, you may have a more serious problem on your hands. However, keep in mind that air quality varies. It’s usual to need to adjust your air exchanger settings from time to time to stay current. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong just because you have to turn it up now. When you need to, turn up the volume on that dial. Remember, you purchased your air exchanger to make yourself at ease. Make use of it!
REPLACE THE FILTER
Air filters provide the same function regardless of where they are put. Pollutants become trapped inside the filter as filthy air passes through it… while the air continues to flow. The air that emerges from the other end is clean and safe to breathe.
So, where do the pollutants go after they’ve been released? They’re stuck within the filter! Filters fill up with the nasty contaminants they catch in the air over time. Filters become less effective when they load up. They may eventually make the air dirtier rather than cleaner. Replace the air filter in your exchanger once every three months to keep it operating at peak efficiency.
KEEP IT SWITCHED ON
This one may seem self-evident, but you must use your air exchanger to receive any benefit from it! When your air exchanger is running continually, it is most effective. Your exchanger will continue to filter polluting air and bring in clean air as long as it is turned on.
Pollutants might build up in your interior air if you switch your exchanger off. Even if you switch your exchanger back on, it will take some time for the contaminated air to escape. You won’t have to worry about stale air buildup if you keep your exchanger running at low settings all the time.
TURN IT OFF IN SUMMER
In the summer, air conditioning your home accomplishes two goals. For starters, it keeps your home’s air cool (obviously). Second, it aids in humidity regulation in your home. The air outside becomes more humid during the summer because heated air energizes water molecules and prevents them from condensing.
To compensate for the humid summer air that is drawn into your home, your air conditioner must work harder. As a result, your air conditioner will work harder and cost you more money. Consider turning off your air exchanger while you’re using your air conditioner. Turn off the air conditioning and open the windows instead to keep the air in your home fresh.
Is it worthwhile to invest in air exchangers?
It’s impossible to prevent it.
Some contaminants will naturally find their way into the air in your home. The average home emits a variety of contaminants into the air. Pollutants are released into the air every time you cook, shower, use heating or cooling, clean, or even breathe. In fact, even in big cities, interior air is often more toxic than outdoor air, according to the EPA! Indoor air pollution is usually unpleasant, but it can become a health hazard if your home isn’t properly ventilated. Air exchangers aid in the ventilation process.
Home air exchangers assist in the most direct way possible in resolving indoor air pollution issues. One of the exchanger’s two fans suctions interior air outside through your ventilation shafts. Before air has a chance to become stale, the exchanger literally pushes it away. Meanwhile, the other half of the exchanger is constantly pumping fresh air right into your ductwork from the outside. As a result, you’ll breathe cleaner, fresher air for as long as your exchanger is running.
Is it possible for an air exchanger to enhance humidity?
Humidity is not produced by an air exchanger. In the winter, it is used to expel damp air and replace it with dry air. It’s possible that a humidifier is still required.
Are heat exchangers cost-effective?
The fact that heat exchangers need much less energy to run is one of their main cost-cutting advantages. Unlike standard air conditioning, which uses refrigeration equipment to cool the air, a heat exchanger concentrates on removing the heat produced by electric equipment. Heat exchangers maintain a temperature inside an electrical enclosure that is slightly higher than the ambient temperature outside. Heat exchangers do not chill the air; instead, they keep it cool enough for electrical equipment to function properly.