GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

New House Ventilation

AsimM | Posted in General Questions on

I am thinking of this setup for whole house ventilation for my new home and would appreciate any insight or critique.

The house is in Minnesota. 
Energy efficient and air-tight construction.
Current HVAC setup:
I have G96VTN Furnace with variable speed blower installed.
An Ultra-Aire 70 ventilating dehumidifier is ducted into HVAC supply and a fresh air duct is connected into Ultra-Aire return.

I am looking at SelectCycler® Whole House Ventilation Solution
with the following setup:
1. Install SelectCycler motorized damper in Fresh air supply duct, which is ducted into Ultra-Aire return as stated above. 
2. use WhisperGreen Select already Installed in master bath.
3. System controller that controls the fan via FanConnect wall switch as well as the damper. – I am sure that it will need some playing around with and fine tuning to come up with optimal control.

one other piece of information that may be relevant: I will also be installing a 900CFM kitchen hood interconnected with Fantech 1200 CFM makeup air unit. Any other important piece of information that I may have missed?

Did I miss any other important piece of information?

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. Expert Member
    Akos | | #1

    That are a lot of passive vents in the cold climate of Minnesota. In cold climate the ROI on energy recovery ventilation is pretty short. I would look at that option before spending money one more passive venting.

    If energy recovery is out of the budget, I would use either the makeup air unit or the venting dehumidifier for fresh air intake. There is really not difference between using these or the Panasonic unit. One less hole to the outside and one less filter to change. You can also look at simply a timer on bath fan.

  2. AsimM | | #2

    Thanks Akos.
    Just to clarify, my proposed plan does utilize the venting dehumidifier, which is already installed, for fresh air intake. So it's not passive.
    The Panasonic Selectcycler is used to tie everything together and provide adjustable control.
    If I were to go with this setup, the only question in my mind that needs to be answered is that where would the Aircycler motorized damper go? In the Fresh air duct to the venting dehumidifier ? or between the dehumidifer and the HVAC supply.

    This setup lets me skip adding standalone ducting that seems to be the best practice for installing an ERV.
    What additional value would adding an ERV provide over this setup?

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |