What Is An ERV System? Fresh Air For Your Home
An ERV system stands for Energy Recovery Ventilator System. ERV systems provide fresh air while recovering energy from the exhaust air. This helps keep the air fresh, while minimizing the energy loss. This system helps to improve indoor air quality without sacrificing too much in the ways of lost cool or heated air.
Keeping the air in your home fresh and clean is the most important aspect of healthy indoor air quality. It’s estimated that the air in your home is 2-5X more polluted that the fresh air outside. It makes it that much more important to find a way to introduce fresh air into your home. During the spring and fall it’s a bit easier, and the windows are open more often. But in the summer when the AC is running the windows are closed. Same in the winter. These seasons it becomes tougher to replace the stale air with fresh air indoors. This is where an ERV system comes into play.
We’ve been installing different indoor air quality systems in homes for years. We have been working in Havertown for 60+ years, and we know the homes in our community inside and out. Along with installing new HVAC systems, we take pride in making sure the air inside your home is healthy and clean. That means installing air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ERV systems that will help improve the air quality.
If you are interested in improving your home’s indoor air quality, give us a call at (610) 446-7877, or contact us online. The team here at John Cipollone Inc. would love to help you clean up the air in your home or business!
How Does An ERV Work?
An ERV brings in fresh air from outside, while expelling stale air from inside the home. During the exchange, the air from inside transfers some of the energy to the incoming air, so that it doesn’t throw off the heating or cooling.
For example, in the winter, the cool air coming in from outside absorbs some of the heat from the air inside that is being expelled. In the summer, the warm air from outside is cooled by the air that is being pushed outside. Moisture is also exchanged to ensure the home’s humidity is well maintained too.
The Benefits Of An ERV System
Now that you know how an ERV works, here are some of the benefits to using an ERV system:
Healthier Air In Your Home
The exchange process in an ERV system allows you to get fresh air into your home without sacrificing the energy your HVAC system is producing. This fresh air raises the level of your indoor air quality, and makes your home a healthier place to live.
Fewer Temperature Swings
An ERV system will help you maintain the temperature in your home without any big temp swings. If you were to open a window to get fresh air, you’d be letting the house get too hot or cold depending on the season, and make your HVAC system work harder.
The ERV system insulates this exchange of energy and helps keep the air in your home fresh and clean! This fresh air plus no big fluctuations in the temperature make your space healthier and more comfortable.
Energy Savings
Your ERV is conditioning the incoming air, so that your AC or heating system doesn’t have to work as hard to condition this new fresh air. This pre conditioning of the new air reduces the workload for your HVAC system and can save you energy.
Humidity Control
Along with heating or cooling the incoming air, an ERV will also exchange moisture that will help maintain the humidity of your home. Your house should be between 30-50% humidity at all times, and if it’s too high or low, it could cause issues. And ERV making sure the new air is at the right humidity level is great for comfort and health as well.
Installing An ERV In Your HVAC System
An ERV plugs right into your HVAC system, and it goes to work right away. If you think you want more fresh air in your home without sacrificing comfort, an ERV is right for you. Give us a call at (610) 446-7877 to schedule an appointment for an ERV estimate. We’ll look at your HVAC system and match you with the right ERV system that will fit your needs. We can also go over any other indoor air quality appliances that could help improve your home!
