Ventilation, IAQ and HRV Systems

Indoor air quality and HRV

Not many years ago little time or money was spent on building houses 'tight' which meant that outdoor air easily leaked inside and kept air quality at least as good as it was outside. It did not matter very much that heat also leaked out of the house in the winter and into the house in the summer. Gas and electricity were cheap so the furnace and the AC unit did their job for pennies. And who had ever heard of global warming?

Today we are continually striving to build 'tight' new houses and to seal the leaks on our older homes as energy prices soar and concern over burning fossil fuels rises. BUT although the maxim must now be 'Build tight and ventilate right', we still need fresh air in our homes to live healthily. The dangers of living in 'stale', polluted air are widely publicized. Breathing related illnesses are known to be exacerbated by poor air quality. Although our dry Colorado air tends to limit problems such as mould growth this can still be a problem in damp basements or in rooms with indoor pools or hot tubs. But how do we avoid these risks and save energy? We must exhaust stale air from our homes and bring in fresh air.

For a more detailed description of Indoor Air Quality refer to the following publication by the Government Environmental Protection Agency together with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
»EPA Indoor Air Quality Info [download .pdf - 120k]

Waterfurnace also provides a good introduction to the subject in their Indoor Air Quality Journal [dowload .pdf - 366k]. Their solutions to the problem are described in their AlpinePure Brochure [download .pdf - 240k].

Air Quality Options to consider for your new or retrofit home

Filters and Air Cleaners
Various types of filter and air cleaner are available depending on your heating system and your family's needs. Do you need a disposable filter, an electrostatic filter, an electronic air cleaner or a top-of-the-line HEPA filter system? Waterfurnace provides a concise description of the alternatives in their Indoor Air Quality Journal [download .pdf - 366k]. Take a look at these and then discuss with us which would be best for you.

Air Humidifier
We install high performance humidifiers which use water only when necessary and use very little power. They fit into the forced air system and can be set to desired humidity levels.

Heat Recovery Fresh Air Ventilation System
A heat recovery fresh air ventilation system is designed to expel stale air and pull fresh air from the outdoors while minimizing heat loss. The fresh air is circulated through your home via the duct system. The unit is mounted in the mechanical area with the exhaust pulled from a central location of the home and the fresh air delivered to the return air.