How Does Heat Recovery Ventilation Work In Summer?
It’s a common misconception that Heat Recovery Ventilation systems are only good for cold climates because their main function is to transfer heat from exhaust air going out of a building to the fresh air coming into a building. However, many homeowners are surprised to find out that these systems have several positive effects in the summer.
With this in mind, let’s discuss the operation of MHRV (Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation) systems in the summer, describe their importance in the ability to control indoor temperatures, and help determine whether a heat recovery ventilation system would be beneficial to you during the warmer months.
What Is A Heat Recovery Ventilation System?
A heat recovery ventilation system is a mechanical ventilation method used to reduce indoor air pollution while increasing thermal efficiency in the building.
HRV continuously removes stale indoor air and replaces it with outside fresh air. The fundamental component of heat recovery ventilation is its heat exchanger, which enables the heat energy to be transferred between the air stream leaving the building and the new outside fresh air stream without allowing the two air streams to mix. By transferring the heat energy from one air stream to another, the temperature within the building remains at a comfortable level while there is always a constant flow of fresh air in the building.
How Does HRV Operate During The Summer?
During cooler summer evenings or nights, when the outdoor temperature drops below the indoor temperature, the system can bypass the heat exchanger entirely. Instead of transferring heat between the outgoing and incoming air streams, fresh outdoor air is delivered directly into the home. A heat recovery ventilation summer bypass allows homeowners to take advantage of naturally cooler outdoor conditions without adding unwanted heat from the exhaust air.
Why Use HRV In The Summer?
There are four major advantages to using an HRV in addition to maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature:
Enhanced Indoor Air Quality – Since modern homes are extremely well-sealed to save energy, these buildings are capable of trapping pollutants such as dust particles, gases, smells, pollen, as well as excess CO2, odours, and pollutants inside the home.
Lower Cooling Bills – Using a heat recovery ventilation summer bypass means that your AC unit or heat pump doesn’t need to expend as much energy to lower the temperature of fresh ventilation air.
More Even Comfort Levels Inside Your Home – Without sufficient ventilation, individual areas of your home may become unacceptably warm and stuffy, particularly when it’s hot outdoors.
Controlled Ventilation Without Needing to Open Windows – While opening windows can bring fresh air into your home, they can also admit pollutants from outside, including allergens, insects, and noise. HRV provides continuous fresh air circulation while preventing unwanted pollutants and noises from entering your home.
If you have any questions about MHRV, you can always come straight to the experts. The Pipelife Eco team is always ready to help, so feel free to get in contact with us to find out more and determine whether installing heat recovery ventilation is the right move for your home.