Anyone have ERV or HRV systems installed at home?

[Kolyan2k]

I was looking at getting EVR installed, but not sure which brand to pick

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I was looking at getting EVR installed, but not sure which brand to pick

I know a little about them. It really depends on whether you're talking new construction with separate dedicated ventilation ducts or something like a through-wall retrofit.

Zehnder is possibly the best but they are also the most expensive. They're located in New England.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

I know a little about them. It really depends on whether you're talking new construction with separate dedicated ventilation ducts or something like a through-wall retrofit.

Zehnder is possibly the best but they are also the most expensive. They're located in New England.

I was looking for separate dedicated ERV. I did see Zehnder units but no pricing for them. Also checked out Carrier, Panasonic, and S&P. Not sure what to get. For bathroom ventilation I use Panasonic fans and was planning to get Panasonic ERV, but they don't come with controllers, so my next choice was Carrier maybe.

[bayarea328xit]

We have one installed in our house - works quite well. Keep in mind that you need to replace the air filters every 6-8 weeks depending on the quality of your outside air.

I was surprised that the unit we have did not include a well designed air filter. The original air filter is just a sponge that is super flimsy. Instead, I ordered a set of custom air filters that matched the size of the inlet area.

I wish our unit was better integrated with our HVAC system. Currently, our ERV operates independently of the HVAC unit. I wish our unit was designed so that when the ERV is on, the HVAC fan turns on by itself (to recirculate the air throughout the house). This was an oversight on my part - I was coordinating the components for our contractor.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by bayarea328xit

We have one installed in our house - works quite well. Keep in mind that you need to replace the air filters every 6-8 weeks depending on the quality of your outside air.

I was surprised that the unit we have did not include a well designed air filter. The original air filter is just a sponge that is super flimsy. Instead, I ordered a set of custom air filters that matched the size of the inlet area.

I wish our unit was better integrated with our HVAC system. Currently, our ERV operates independently of the HVAC unit. I wish our unit was designed so that when the ERV is on, the HVAC fan turns on by itself (to recirculate the air throughout the house). This was an oversight on my part - I was coordinating the components for our contractor.

Which brand is the unit?

Yeah I read about 3 different installation methods and think separate of HVAC is better (its more expensive to install) When its integrated to HVAC like you say, you waste electricity to run HVAC fan. There are hybrid systems, but i still think separate could be better. I am planning to draw air from bathrooms and dump fresh air in bedrooms (2nd floor only)

[bayarea328xit]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Which brand is the unit?

...

Lennox ERV3-200

Controller:

Lifestyle MAX Programmable Control, 24/7 Day Programmable Ventilation, 5 Speed, 4 Mode Unit
Cat # : Y2172
Model/Part # : 99-GLS01

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by bayarea328xit

We have one installed in our house - works quite well. Keep in mind that you need to replace the air filters every 6-8 weeks depending on the quality of your outside air.

I was surprised that the unit we have did not include a well designed air filter. The original air filter is just a sponge that is super flimsy. Instead, I ordered a set of custom air filters that matched the size of the inlet area.

I wish our unit was better integrated with our HVAC system. Currently, our ERV operates independently of the HVAC unit. I wish our unit was designed so that when the ERV is on, the HVAC fan turns on by itself (to recirculate the air throughout the house). This was an oversight on my part - I was coordinating the components for our contractor.

It's actually better to not have the system integrated with your HVAC ducts. Dedicated duct system for ventilation is ideal. Sometimes calibrating the system can be difficult.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I was looking for separate dedicated ERV. I did see Zehnder units but no pricing for them. Also checked out Carrier, Panasonic, and S&P. Not sure what to get. For bathroom ventilation I use Panasonic fans and was planning to get Panasonic ERV, but they don't come with controllers, so my next choice was Carrier maybe.

Zehnder will design and perform the install. It's not cheap but they are the experts.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Zehnder will design and perform the install. It's not cheap but they are the experts.

I was planning to do it myself mostly I am having a guy do AC system and will ask him to run several extra pipes, then install unit and controls myself

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by bayarea328xit

Lennox ERV3-200

Controller:

Lifestyle MAX Programmable Control, 24/7 Day Programmable Ventilation, 5 Speed, 4 Mode Unit
Cat # : Y2172
Model/Part # : 99-GLS01

Thanks. I'll take a look at Lennox products

[Kolyan2k]

Decided to go with soler & palau, with their new model w/ DC fans

[Kolyan2k]

So I installed the unit. It sucks air from bathrooms fine, but i pretty much dont feel any air coming in from the vent. To people who have EVRs, is that supposed to be this way? Or am I supposed to feel the air coming in? I mean I don't expect it to blow like air handler blows cold ac air, but i almost feel nothing at all

[bayarea328xit]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

So I installed the unit. It sucks air from bathrooms fine, but i pretty much dont feel any air coming in from the vent. To people who have EVRs, is that supposed to be this way? Or am I supposed to feel the air coming in? I mean I don't expect it to blow like air handler blows cold ac air, but i almost feel nothing at all

Our unit collects from multiple sites and pushes fresh air into a single vent in the living room. Near that living room vent, I can certainly feel the air flow coming in when the unit runs.

[Kolyan2k]

I am pretty sure HVAC guys connected it wrong, I figured it out yesterday. They will come to fix it. It wasn't blowing air probably because it was trying to spread it through huge duct to 7 different vents on supply side. And with air handler kicking in, it wasnt working at all.
They will connect it to return now, so instead of 7 vents it will have 4. Also will have to check if there is any restriction on outdoor air supply side.

[Kolyan2k]

Its supposed to dump air to return when hvac is off and when hvac kicks in, it sucks it to air handler and dumps air though supply vents