Fresh Air Technology

What is a Ventilator and Why do I Need One?

When Labrador Services insulates a home or building, the structure loses very little energy to the surrounding environment.  This is the primary goal of any energy efficiency project, but this “energy advantage” also requires that careful attention be paid to indoor air quality.  The problem is that very little air is lost from a truly efficient structure. Over time there is the potential for odors, carbon dioxide and airborne contaminants to build up.  The solution?  Ventilators.

Ventilators force stale air out of homes and buildings and replace it with fresh air from the outdoors.  The key to success is to accomplish this exchange without substantial energy loss.  Ventilators achieve this by utilizing heat from the exhaust to warm incoming fresh air in the winter.  Conversely, in warm weather the air entering from the outdoors is cooled by the exhaust.

Two types of ventilators are readily available: heat recovery ventilators and energy recovery ventilators. Heat recovery ventilators send exhaust air over one side of a metal plate and direct the incoming air to the opposite side of the plate.  On cold days the exhaust air warms the plate and this warmth is transferred to the incoming air.  Energy Recovery Ventilators go one step further and transfer heat and moisture between the entering and exiting air.  These units keep the indoor humidity higher in winter and introduce fresh air without too much moisture in the summer.

In theory, Energy Recovery Ventilators are ideal.  However, Labrador Services’ extensive experience in installing and servicing these systems has led us to realize that they are far from perfect.  Specifically, the media that is used to transfer water between the entering and exiting air has a tendency to get dirty quickly.  The media is not easy to clean and is quite expensive to replace.  Additionally, when energy recovery units are not meticulously cleaned on a regular basis they can become susceptible to mold growth.  As a result, in practice Labrador Services only endorses the use of heat recovery ventilators.  We find units manufactured by Fantech to be functional, durable and economical.

From Experience:

One final note on the use of ventilators for bathrooms.  Our experience has shown that all ventilators have a difficult time handing air that is extremely high in moisture content.  A long list of problems can surface if ventilators are used to draw off humid shower exhaust/steam, so we recommend using exhaust fans specifically designated for bathrooms with showers.