Choosing a recovery ventilator
I’ve done some reading and understand that there’s not a huge difference between HRVs and ERVs when it comes to moisture removal. That said, I’m leaning toward an HRV because of the excessive indoor humidity we’re dealing with during winter, especially now that the house is so tightly sealed.
Currently, I’m considering two models:
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Panasonic Intelli-Balance FV-10VEC2
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Broan HRV160TE
My focus is on these two units because of their reasonable price points, solid energy efficiency ratings (SRE), ECM motors, and general availability.
I’m curious to hear thoughts or experiences with either of these models. Or—do you have any recommendations for other units that would work well in this situation?
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Replies
You generally want an ERV in most climates (few places in the PNW an HRV is better).
The reason for the ERV is to retain more moisture in the winter time and to reduce latent cooling load in the summer.
The Panaonic unit is excellent value for the money. About the only drawback is that it is pretty small.
Another option is the RenewAir EV Premium series. The larger (L and XL) units don't cost all that much more and when run at low CFM you get excellent efficiency. They also take closer to standard air filters.
You might want to consider a dedicated dehumidifier if you're issue is indoor humidity.