Tightened construction practices and enhanced insulation have made homes more energy-efficient than ever, but they’ve also created a new challenge: limited air exchanges. Without the right mechanical ventilation, this can result in stagnant indoor air and a host of health concerns along with it. Fortunately, energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) offer a solution to help improve indoor air quality in even the tightest homes.
What are energy recovery ventilators (ERVs)?
ERVs are mechanical ventilation systems designed to exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while recovering heat and moisture in the process. Unlike traditional HVAC systems, which simply expel used air, ERVs recycle energy from the exhaust air and transfer it to the incoming fresh air. This makes the heating and cooling process more efficient, as less energy is required to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
Perhaps more importantly, ERVs effectively balance the humidity in your home by transferring moisture from humid air to drier air as the air streams pass in the ERV core. The result isn’t just better home comfort, but better indoor air quality.
How ERVs improve indoor air quality
Not only do ERVs take a load off your HVAC system — they also play a vital role in improving your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ). Without regular air exchanges, indoor air becomes trapped, along with mold spores, viruses, bacteria, dust, pet dander and other airborne particles. The results can put tremendous stress on your family’s health. Mild reactions to poor indoor air quality can include allergy and cold symptoms, but those issues can become severe. Over time, untreated indoor air pollution can cause respiratory diseases, heart disease and even cancer.
Those risks make ERVs even more important as part of your HVAC system. With constant air exchanges from these always-on devices, ERVs help:
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Reduce the concentration of indoor air pollutants, such as VOCs emitted from cleaning products, paints and building materials.
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Remove allergens, including dust mites, pollen, and pet dander, which can otherwise become trapped indoors.
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Exhaust stale air that carries odors, moisture, and pollutants, and replace it with filtered outdoor air, ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment.
Panasonic Intelli-Balance 100 ERV, photo courtesy of Panasonic Eco Systems
Mitigating indoor air contaminants for a healthier home
ERVs are particularly effective at removing common household contaminants. Here’s how they tackle specific air pollutants:
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VOCs (volatile organic compounds): These chemicals are released from products like paints, cleaners, and furniture and can potentially cause respiratory issues. ERVs help by continuously removing VOC-laden air and replacing it with fresh, filtered outdoor air.
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Mold spores and humidity: ERVs regulate indoor humidity, a key factor in mold growth. By balancing moisture levels, ERVs reduce the likelihood of mold thriving in your home, especially in areas like basements and bathrooms.
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Airborne particles and allergens: During allergy season, outdoor pollen levels rise, making indoor air a refuge from allergens. ERVs ensure that incoming fresh air is filtered and clean, reducing the buildup of airborne particles and allergens inside your home.
Maintaining optimal indoor humidity levels
In addition to improving air quality, ERVs help maintain optimal indoor humidity. This helps preserve comfort year-round and is crucial for protecting health — especially during cold and flu season- and for family members with respiratory issues at any time of year.
Humidity in colder months. In winter, naturally low humidity can dry out skin, eyes, and sinuses, making people more susceptible to viruses like colds, flu, and Covid-19. Ken Nelson, ventilation and IAQ expert for Panasonic, says particles in the air are either “ballistic,” meaning heavy enough to fall to a surface, or “buoyant,” meaning they’ll float on air currents until they contact a surface or collect enough moisture to become ballistic. “Without enough moisture in the air (humidity), bacterial and viral particulates can be buoyant for up to 16 hours,” Nelson adds.
Humidity in warmer months. “People often think the bulk of moisture in their home comes in from the outside, but the reality is that we typically have more moisture inside,” Nelson says, explaining that indoor moisture comes from activities like cooking, bathing, and simply breathing. This naturally occurring indoor moisture is exacerbated in humid spring and summer months. As moisture in the air settles on surfaces like wood furniture, drywall, upholstery or your kitchen table fruit bowl, you’re now living in an environment that fosters mold growth.
In all seasons, people spending time indoors are at risk of breathing in viruses, bacteria, allergens, and mold spores if indoor humidity isn’t addressed. “ERVs help homes find that balance between indoor and outdoor moisture levels, and there are a lot of benefits to that,” Nelson says, noting that the ideal indoor humidity level is 30-50%.
“Through the heat- and moisture-transfer process, ERVs will help dilute water vapor in the air as it moves in and out of the house,” he explains. “If there’s more humidity outside, the ERV will knock down the moisture from the incoming air as it passes within the core exchanger and joins with the air in your home. If indoor moisture is higher than outdoor, the drier incoming air will reduce the humidity level inside your home through the same process.”
ERVs make IAQ easier
With so many indoor air pollutants to contend with — and so many unwelcome consequences — improving your home’s IAQ is essential in keeping yourself and your family healthy. ERVs are an excellent tool for this job, not just because of their ability to balance humidity to optimal levels, but because they do it in a hands-off, set-it-and-forget-it way.
“ERVs are wonderful because you install them, and you just let them work,” Nelson says. “One thing I love about Panasonic ERVs is that their motors last forever. The only maintenance that’s really critical is to make sure your supply-side air filter is changed as needed.”
If you’re ready to improve your home’s indoor air quality and energy efficiency, Panasonic is ready to help. Reach out today to learn about all the benefits of adding an ERV to your HVAC system and to consult with a ventilation expert to find the right system for your home.
