It exhausts unpleasant odours (“new furniture” aroma bathroom, garbage, cooking, and pet odours, musty or dusty smells) together with the stale indoor air.Removes Bad Odours And ContaminantsĪ new ERV system will improve indoor air quality for you in two practical ways: Overly moist indoor conditions can lead to mould, mildew, and possibly structural weakening, while excessively dry air may cause wood floors and furniture to split or crack. Installation of an ERV system will help to keep your indoor relative humidity (the amount of moisture in the air, expressed as a percentage) at a desirable level, approximately 40 to 50 percent in summer or 30 to 40 percent in winter.īesides enhancing indoor comfort, optimal relative humidity also prevents damage to your furnishings and possessions. What Are The Benefits Of Installing An ERV System? Controls Indoor Relative Humidity In the wintertime, the warmth and humidity of your interior air are transferred to the inflow of exterior air. In hot, humid summer weather, unwanted heat and moisture are transferred from indoors to outdoors. However, there is one significant difference: along with the heat, ERVs also transfer moisture. They are both systems whose purpose is to transfer heat. Natural Resources Canada explains that ERV and HRV (heat recovery ventilation) systems are very similar. The type of buildings that usually need a mechanical ERV ventilation system the most are well sealed and well insulated, built from the early energy-conscious era of the late 1970s to the end of 2016.
The Ontario Building Code was revised to include this ventilation requirement as of January 1, 2017.įor homes and businesses that predate 2017, you will not be required to install an ERV system, but you may choose to do so in order to enjoy the energy efficiency and comfort it provides. You will need an ERV or HRV system if you own a new building or have one constructed in Ontario. As the airstreams travel through the ERV, heat and moisture are transferred - from the outgoing air to the incoming stream in summer and vice versa in winter.Īpproximately 99 percent of the heat energy is transferred by means of this process. The first pulls fresh outside air into a building, while the second draws stale, polluted air out. How Do Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) Systems Work?Įnergy Recovery Ventilation Systems work using two fans, which in turn create two airstreams. Here is your complete guide to the what, why, and how ERV systems installation for your Ontario building. You have two main questions: “How do Energy Recovery Ventilation systems work?” and “Why are they necessary for Ontario homes?” You’ve probably read about ERV systems and the fact that they are beneficial for many homes or commercial premises.