What Does “Heat Recovery Efficiency” Refer To?
A heat recovery ventilation system (HRV), also known as mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) recovers heat that would normally be wasted, while at the same time providing freshly filtered air to the indoor environment. The heat is recovered via an air to heat exchanger and the filtered fresh air is distributed throughout the property via a network of ducting.
The purpose of the system is to conserve energy by minimising heat wastage – useable heat that would otherwise be expelled in the atmosphere can instead be put to good use.Hence, many homeowners have chosen to install the system in order to improve the energy efficiency of their home, helping to save the planet whilst saving money on their energy bills at the same time. The system is also beneficial in improving indoor air quality by providing a healthy living environment and preventing condensation by keeping moisture levels low.
So what does “heat recovery efficiency” mean?
Heat recovery efficiency is a term that’s used to describe how effectively a heat recovery unit does its job. This refers to the proportion of waste heat that is usefully recovered by the process (this is usually expressed as a percentage). The Energy Savings Trust best practice recommendation for heat recovery efficiency is 85% or higher. The Aircycle 3.1 Heat recovery ventilation system currently achieves up to 93% efficiency, making it one of the market leaders in the industry.
What Factors Affect Heat Recovery Efficiency?
Make & Model Of The Unit
The efficiency of the ventilation system will vary depending on the make and model of the unit, as each have their own properties that influence how effectively they are able to recover heat. For example, market leaders Aircycle 1.3 and Aircycle 3.1 have a heat recovery efficiency of 92% and 93% respectively. This Is due to their advanced features,such as a programmable 25%+ boost setting, 4 airflow modes and status and airflow mode indication.
Insulation
The insulation levels of a property will also play a big role. This is because buildings that lack insulation will have larger amounts of heat loss. Properties with good insulation on the other hand will have a lower level of heat loss, and less cold air able to get into the property. The better insulated the property, the more effectively the heat recovery unit will be at doing its job.
Size & Layout Of The Property
The size, layout and acoustics of the property will also influence the heat recovery efficiency. For example, a large open plan building will create different requirements than a smaller home which has smaller, contained rooms. The type of property will play an important role in determining the unit’s effectiveness . Our team at Pipelife can advise you on how a heat recovery unit may operate efficiently in your individual building.
If you’d like more details on installing heat recovery ventilation in your own property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Pipelife team.