An Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) are air exchange systems that help to enhance indoor air quality and minimize heating costs. They keep existing heat and balance the moisture content in the air. These mechanical systems use fans to maintain airflow into the house while releasing the stale indoor air. By bringing fresh air in, an HRV/ERV can also greatly improve indoor air quality when the air suddenly becomes undesirable or contaminated from sources such as cooking vapours, bad odours, mold or smoke.

HRVs and ERVs are similar devices in that both supply air to the home and exhaust stale air while recovering energy from the exhaust air in the process. The main difference between the two is that an HRV transfers heat while an ERV transfers both heat and moisture. Because less energy is required to lower the temperature of dry air compared to moist air, an ERV can reduce the work your air conditioner needs to do and save you money.

In the winter, an HRV/ERV allows the warm air leaving your house to warm the outside air that’s coming in. In the summer, the cooler air leaving your house will lower the temperature of the air coming in. Less stress on your core HVAC system. Using an ERV system is equivalent to having your windows open without actually having them open so that you can enjoy a fresher stream of air coming into your house for a healthier living environment all year long.

The most common reason a heating and air conditioning system breaks down is because of a dirty filter. Dirt and particles collect over time on the filter and this film restricts the airflow for normal heating cycles in the winter. The blower in your furnace has to work extra hard to overcome the reduced airflow and repeated shutdowns can cause premature failure. Your air conditioner will also stop working properly and eventually start to freeze up. When the unit thaws, the condensate drain may not be able to handle the amount of water, causing water damage to the furnace and surrounding areas.

All filters come with a MERV rating. The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) indicates how well an air filter can collect particles in your home’s air and still move the air efficiently through your HVAC system. if you have allergies or have someone who suffers from asthma living in your home, you might want to go with a MERV 13 or higher. A MERV 13 filter will effectively remove about 75% allergenic contaminants down to 0.3 microns, like pet dander, smog, bacteria, some viruses and tobacco smoke. MERV 16 is the best, removing up to 95% of harmful particles and bacteria.

Is it time to upgrade your basic furnace filter? If you want to better purify the air quality in your home, the simple answer is yes!

Exhaust fans can quickly cool down areas of your home that have become too hot from activities like cooking or showering. Hot air, moisture and odors are vented outdoors, reducing the temperature of the space without using the air conditioning system. Condensation from hot water use can also build up on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces, leading to mold growth. Exhaust fans are either vented directly to the outdoors or connected to the ventilation system.

It is also essential to have proper ventilation in any commercial operation. Breathing in clean air, especially in food establishments, is essential to keeping your customers, but ventilation is not just for the comfort and convenience of your customers. Without proper ventilation, you’re establishment may not be in compliance with health and safety codes.

Trust us to install your exhaust fans correctly. If the exhaust fan is not installed properly, heat and moisture may be escaping into other areas of the home or commercial space or cause the exhaust fan to be noisy when operating, leading to people not using them when they should be.

Make-up air is designed to “make up” the air in your interior space that gets exhausted from kitchen, bathroom and or dryer exhaust systems as well as old and stale air. The building ventilation and the Make-up air system need to work together to ensure the building pressure is maintained. Fresh, tempered air is pulled from outside your building, heated and cooled, before replacing existing air.

Make-up air systems are the preferred HVAC and indoor air quality solution in industrial spaces because all industrial spaces use ventilation and exhaust, so make-up air is always needed. Incorporating heating and/or cooling into the make-up air system reduces or eliminates the need for additional building heating and cooling, reducing the need for more HVAC equipment and lowering energy costs while still meeting safety standards.

Your air conditioner does a great job of cooling air and removing circulating particles, however, alone, it isn’t always enough to renew the indoor air or fix the lack of proper air in the building. That’s why you should consider installing a whole-house ventilation system. There are three systems in widespread use:

Exhaust Ventilation Systems – Uses a roof-mounted exhaust fan to suck air from the interior of a home and blow it outside. Fresh air is pulled in through the microscopic pores and crevices of the home. As a result, air moves across, up and out of a home.
Supply Ventilation Systems – Instead of pulling air through a roof-mounted vent, supply systems pump air into the home. This forces air through the walls from the inside to the outside. Supply systems have the ability to filter incoming air through the roof-mounted supply fan.
Balanced Ventilation Systems – A balanced whole-house ventilation system is the best solution. It uses both exhaust and supply fans to provide an even mixing of air inside the home.

Did you know that homes with low humidity will feel colder than homes with moister air? We all know that during the winter, the air in our homes can be very dry – we can suffer from dry skin, itchy eyes and nose irritation. Many illnesses are also affected by indoor pollutants. Air that is moist makes it easier to breathe and we feel more comfortable. Indoor relative humidity should be kept below 60% — ideally between 30% and 50%.

There are two main types of humidifiers:

1. A bypass humidifier uses the airflow created by your furnace to deliver moisture through your home. They typically mount out-of-sight in the basement and require very little maintenance.
2. A fan-powered humidifier (non-bypass humidifier) uses an electric fan to move the air, making it work extra-efficiently when adding moisture across a larger square footage, making it an ideal choice for larger spaces.

A steam humidifier is widely considered to be the best type of whole-house humidifier. A small device that is low maintenance and low mold risk is attached to your heating system, and it moistens the dry, warm air in your home, making it more comfortable to breathe.

Installing a smart thermostat in your home is a clever way to save money on heating and cooling expenses.

Unlike a manual thermostat or a digital thermostat, a smart thermostat picks up on your activities and knows when you are away from home. Apps made available on your smartphone give you the power to monitor your home remotely and fine-tune temperature settings from almost anywhere. This allows it to modify heating or cooling accordingly. Enjoy the ability to control your heat or AC through your phone on your way home from work or on your way back from the cottage.

In general, a smart thermostat is the preferred option of those interested in greater energy efficiency, as well as home automation and practical technology. A smart thermostat can be paired with most any HVAC system. Essentially, everything is easier and works better.