Installing a Single Room Energy Recovery Vent (ERV) - Page 2

Daox · 11-17-14, 09:31 AM

I like using the idea of water. You would just have to be careful about it freezing up. Perhaps an antifreeze solution would be a good compromise?

Daox · 11-17-14, 09:44 AM

Also, the company does make an HRV called the Micra 60.

HRV MICRA 60

Quote:

Features
Efficient heat recovery ventilation for separate rooms
Energy recovery efficiency is 79%
EC-motor
Three operating modes
Silent operation (0.38 - 1.0 Sones)
Air cleaning with two G4 built-in filters
Easy mounting
Suitable for continuous operation

A quick google search shows that it costs $665 at home depot though.

ecomodded · 11-17-14, 12:33 PM

Its $100 more than the ceramic one so thats not so bad, but still pretty expensive for a DIY kind of Person..
I am going to look into grants for a HRV , I know in B.C the Gov was given grants for them a few years ago it may still be in effect.

MN Renovator · 11-20-14, 10:34 AM

Another small ERV unit that has caught my eye was this one.
23 watts for 40 CFM. Can be run at 20 or 10CFM too.
Panasonic FV-04VE1 - WhisperComfort Spot ERV Ceiling Insert Ventilator

$348.22 on Amazon

I've put tons of efforts into sealing my house up and can see the results, mostly with the dew point not dropping as quickly over winter and with it not rising as fast in the summer and the temperatures inside remaining more stable and consistent in the house. I'm still not ventilating but I'm on the edge of needing to because on the days that I'm not heating the house as much the moisture level gets a little high from showers(with the fan on too) and some from sweat/respiration. I'm thinking of going exhaust only using a Panasonic whisper green set to 30CFM and using that as needed. Usually when I fire up the furnace and need more heat on the colder days it seems I'm infiltrating enough air to keep the air quality up and moisture content down.

Edit: On second thought, it seems the micra is a better unit on paper than the Panasonic ERV. Less wattage for the air flow, more flexibility with air flow quantity, and higher exchange efficiency. Seems to be worth its price.

Daox · 11-20-14, 11:41 AM

Interesting find. I wonder about the efficiency though? I think this might be the rating?

Quote:

Heating % 66% @ 30 CFM
Cooling % 36% @ 29 CFM

Seems low.

gasstingy · 11-20-14, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecomodded

If a person ran 2 of them inline it would recover more of the lost heat increasing its efficiency 2 fold (or more)

If it acts like a car radiator {as I suspect it does}, to run two inline would increase efficiency, but by less than double. You lost some of your temperature differential going through the first one, so you can't have as much performance from the second one.

ecomodded · 11-20-14, 06:17 PM

Ah thats right , If its 66% efficient now there is no way it would become 140% efficient.
I am thinking it would scavenge the remaining 34% making the unit 100% efficient

ecomodded · 11-21-14, 12:43 AM

I may of made a error in my above calculations as well.

could be the longer length ceramic induces a "unforeseen to me" problem with the heat recovery cycle.

gasstingy · 11-21-14, 08:03 AM

Even when I resist the urge to chime in, I really enjoy considering the possibilities when someone suggests something I never thought of.

I had considered doing an ERV when we replaced our central unit in July of '13, but my home energy auditor said in my circumstance it would not make a huge difference. The HVAC guy wanted substantial money to put one in, so I chose not to install one at that time. Our house has a crawl space that in the worst weather I have ever checked it, it was never below 40 degrees. The ridiculous thing is, when we did the blower door test on the house, most of the replacement air came from under the house. We put a drip pan under our HWH and that pan has a 3/4" 90 degree elbow and pipe running though the floor in case of leaks. That pipe is where most of my replacement air comes from. And yes, I am aware that the quality of that air leaves plenty of opportunity for improvement.

ecomodded · 11-21-14, 09:13 AM

I think I have got it figured out NOW .. possibly.

I was using the specs from the HRV and not the ceramic vent for the calculation

In a double pipe system the first pipe would scavenge 79% the second length would scavenge 79% of the remaining 21% leaving about 4.4% unaccounted for.

I am still unsure what if any looses would be incurred by a double pipe Ceramic Vent.

11-17-14, 09:31 AM	#11
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I like using the idea of water. You would just have to be careful about it freezing up. Perhaps an antifreeze solution would be a good compromise? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-20-14, 10:34 AM	#14
MN Renovator Less usage=Cheaper bills Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 939 Thanks: 41 Thanked 116 Times in 90 Posts	Another small ERV unit that has caught my eye was this one. 23 watts for 40 CFM. Can be run at 20 or 10CFM too. Panasonic FV-04VE1 - WhisperComfort Spot ERV Ceiling Insert Ventilator $348.22 on Amazon I've put tons of efforts into sealing my house up and can see the results, mostly with the dew point not dropping as quickly over winter and with it not rising as fast in the summer and the temperatures inside remaining more stable and consistent in the house. I'm still not ventilating but I'm on the edge of needing to because on the days that I'm not heating the house as much the moisture level gets a little high from showers(with the fan on too) and some from sweat/respiration. I'm thinking of going exhaust only using a Panasonic whisper green set to 30CFM and using that as needed. Usually when I fire up the furnace and need more heat on the colder days it seems I'm infiltrating enough air to keep the air quality up and moisture content down. Edit: On second thought, it seems the micra is a better unit on paper than the Panasonic ERV. Less wattage for the air flow, more flexibility with air flow quantity, and higher exchange efficiency. Seems to be worth its price. Last edited by MN Renovator; 11-20-14 at 11:36 AM..

11-21-14, 09:13 AM	#20
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	I think I have got it figured out NOW .. possibly. I was using the specs from the HRV and not the ceramic vent for the calculation In a double pipe system the first pipe would scavenge 79% the second length would scavenge 79% of the remaining 21% leaving about 4.4% unaccounted for. I am still unsure what if any looses would be incurred by a double pipe Ceramic Vent. Last edited by ecomodded; 11-21-14 at 06:32 PM..

11-17-14, 12:33 PM	#13
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	Its $100 more than the ceramic one so thats not so bad, but still pretty expensive for a DIY kind of Person.. I am going to look into grants for a HRV , I know in B.C the Gov was given grants for them a few years ago it may still be in effect.

11-20-14, 06:17 PM	#17
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	Ah thats right , If its 66% efficient now there is no way it would become 140% efficient. I am thinking it would scavenge the remaining 34% making the unit 100% efficient

11-21-14, 12:43 AM	#18
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	I may of made a error in my above calculations as well. could be the longer length ceramic induces a "unforeseen to me" problem with the heat recovery cycle.

11-21-14, 08:03 AM	#19
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	Even when I resist the urge to chime in, I really enjoy considering the possibilities when someone suggests something I never thought of. I had considered doing an ERV when we replaced our central unit in July of '13, but my home energy auditor said in my circumstance it would not make a huge difference. The HVAC guy wanted substantial money to put one in, so I chose not to install one at that time. Our house has a crawl space that in the worst weather I have ever checked it, it was never below 40 degrees. The ridiculous thing is, when we did the blower door test on the house, most of the replacement air came from under the house. We put a drip pan under our HWH and that pan has a 3/4" 90 degree elbow and pipe running though the floor in case of leaks. That pipe is where most of my replacement air comes from. And yes, I am aware that the quality of that air leaves plenty of opportunity for improvement.