What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Heat Recovery Systems?
With energy bills sky-high and a need for sustainability dominating the headlines, finding ways to conserve heat and energy is more important than ever. Heat recovery systems are one example of the technology emerging as a promising solution. These clever systems capture and reuse waste heat as warm air throughout the home, promoting a greener and more cost-effective approach to energy consumption.
Heat recovery units offer many benefits alongside their energy efficiency. However, if you are considering adding this kind of ventilation to your home, it’s important to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of heat recovery systems before you make a final decision. That’s why we have summarised everything you need to know in this blog post.
Advantages Of Heat Recovery Systems
Energy Savings
The primary advantage of heat recovery systems is their ability to save energy. By capturing and recycling waste heat from stale air and transferring it to your home as fresh air via a heat exchanger, a heat recovery system reduces reliance on conventional energy sources. Not only does this significantly reduce your home’s carbon footprint, but you can also expect to benefit from cost savings on your energy bills.
Improved Home Ventilation
Heat recovery systems also enhance ventilation and improve the air quality within homes. The recovered air supplied by the system keeps moisture low which reduces condensation and therefore makes the living environment a healthy one. With a consistent supply of clean and filtered air, you can expect a generally more pleasant and comfortable space, regardless of which room you are in. The likelihood of mould will also be reduced, helping you to keep your home in tip-top condition.
Suitable In New & Old Homes
Unlike some innovative home heating technologies which are only suited to newly built homes, heat recovery systems can be integrated into both new and existing homes. Other than the system itself, minimal additional equipment is required which makes setup relatively simple and non-invasive.
Can Be Used In Summer
When choosing a new heating system for the home, the focus is often on heating during the colder months. However, one of the most significant advantages of a heat recovery system is that it can also be utilised during the summer months. During warmer spells, a summer by-pass function can be activated. This feature ensures that fresh and filtered air continues to be distributed throughout the home while the heat recovery aspect of the process is switched off to ensure that temperatures remain comfortable.
Disadvantages Of Heat Recovery Systems
High Initial Cost
One of the primary disadvantages of heat recovery systems is the upfront cost. The cost of purchasing and installing a heat recovery unit is initially high, which can be a deterrent for some homeowners. However, it is important to weigh up the one-off costs with the potential long-term savings. As we have already covered, the efficiency of a heat recovery system can help to reduce your energy costs and most homeowners find that these long-term benefits exceed start-up costs.
Require A Large Space
Though heat recovery systems typically require no extra equipment, the physical space required to house the unit itself can be a limiting factor. This is more likely to be a problem in cases where you wish to retrofit a heat recovery system into an existing home where space is at a premium.
Find Out If A Heat Recovery System Is Suitable For Your Home
If you are keen to further understand how the advantages and disadvantages of a heat recovery system may apply to your home or wish to find out if your home is heat recovery unit compatible, the team here at Pipelife can help. We are able to offer two exceptional Aircycle heat recovery ventilation systems – the Aircycle 1.3 and the Aircycle 3.1 – and will talk you through the best option for your home. Simply get in touch to find out more.