The answer depends on your home's air conditioning system, your
HRV is usually used in the winter months because it warms the cold air coming in using the furnace heat. You turn it off in the hot humid summer months to stop hot humid air from coming in, which is counterintuitive as the AC is trying to cool and dry the air.
The HRV and furnace fan should not be running continuously 24/7. The furnace fan should only run continuously if the thermostat fan is set on instead of auto. The HRV should only run anytime the main control or touch timers are turned on, in which case the furnace fan will also run.
Your HRV can enhance your home's air conditioning system during the summer. Again, run it all the time so fresh air can enter your home without the need to open windows and doors.
The main purpose of an air exchanger is to vent moist air from the dwelling during the cooler months of the year. It is perfectly fine to turn it off in the summer months.
There are different schools of thought on this subject, but as a general rule of thumb, it's best to only turn your HRV system off completely during the summer if you have your windows open.
The cooler indoor air cools the heat exchanger core, which subsequently cools the incoming warm outdoor air. This results in less reliance on your air conditioning system, translating into lower energy usage.
The HRV Summer Kit is an optional accessory that helps cool your warmer rooms, by taking air from the eaves on the cooler side of your home and delivering it where it's needed via your HRV system's ducts and ceiling outlets.
Operational & Energy Consumption Costs
Running an HRV system is not expensive. Typically, an Energy Star-certified HRV running at a low setting (around 30 to 90 watts) can cost approximately $2.75 to $10 in Ontario, depending on local electricity rates.
It fluctuates greatly throughout the day, from one day to the next, and from one person to another. People often wonder “What should my HRV be?” and “How does my HRV compare to others?” Younger people tend to have higher HRV than older people, and males often have slightly higher HRV than females.
A common control strategy is to have the HRV run continuously at low or medium speed, and switch to high speed when a higher ventilation rate is needed, such as when the bathroom is in use or during high occupancy periods.
Your ERV/HRV may run continuously on high speed if: The main control is set for high speed. A timer has been pressed for high speed override. The set point for RH (Relative Humidity) is below the actual relative humidity of your home.
The HRV exhaust fan removes humidity, odours, and carbon dioxide, while the HRV supply fan replaces the exhausted air with fresh outdoor air. Filters in the HRV prevent dust, air pollutants, and other contaminants from reducing the performance of your HRV.
Spring, Summer, Autumn: Lower ventilation levels (1 – 3) Winter: Higher ventilation levels (3 – 6) To activate: Turn off system (press Power button). Hold the Down arrow for 3 seconds or until display is lit. Press Power button to adjust between 1 and 6. To exit, press the FUNC button.
HRVs are set apart from other mechanical ventilation devices. Their ability to exchange heat between the supply and exhaust air streams reduces the cost of heating or cooling the healthy fresh air circulating through the home.
Some experts suggest that it is better to turn the system off in very humid weather to keep indoor humidity levels low. You can also set up the system so that it only runs when the air conditioning system is running, or use pre-cooling coils.
Some people believe that HRV systems should only be used in the winter, while others think that they should be used all year long. Technically, neither answer is wrong. That said, we suggest using your HRV system anytime all of your windows and doors are closed.
An HRV is a controlled ventilation system that recovers and recycles energy from an Exhaust Air Stream. In winter the HRV recovers available heated energy, and in Summer, if your home is air conditioned, the HRV recovers cooled energy.
Always leave trickle vents open and unblocked, even in winter. You will use a little more energy to heat your home, but have fresh air to prevent illnesses.
Cold air supplied by the HRV
Ventilation system with heat recovery has nothing to do with air conditioning, and an air conditioning system is not ventilation. Therefore, these two terms cannot be used interchangeably. However, this does not change the fact that both systems can complement each other perfectly.
While every HRV system is slightly different, most are fairly easy to use. We recommend setting your HRV to “minimum” or “vent”, then set it to “20/40”.
High Temperature: The coolant is too hot when you see a red thermometer submerged in a liquid. If the light remains on, pull over to allow the engine to cool. Driving slowly can also help prevent overheating.
As long as you are using your air conditioner, switch off your air exchanger. To keep your home's air fresh in the summer, consider turning off the AC at night when the temperature outside is cooler and opening the windows to complete a manual air exchange.
Similarly, fan speed significantly affects energy consumption. At low speeds an air purifier uses minimal power, costing just a few cents daily. Medium and high speeds increase energy use, with costs rising accordingly. Running at high speed continuously can double or triple the electricity bill.
The answer depends on your home's air conditioning system, your ERV wall control, the outdoor temperature and, most importantly, the outdoor relative humidity. As a rule of thumb, if you are more comfortable outside than inside your house, you should run your air exchanger in the summer.