DIY Network

Heating Up and Cooling Down, Pt. II: Ventilation From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-119

The final aspect of the heating-and-cooling system (HVAC) to consider is ventilation. Now that we're building homes that are better insulated and air-tight, it can cause the home to be like a "plastic bag," which means that if any pollutants do penetrate the home they stay in the home. And this is why it's vital that your home have a good ventilation system.

Another reason for ventilation is for odor control, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms, where you need good exhaust ventilation.

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Figure A

What Is V.O.C.?

Volatile Organic Compound (V.O.C.) is what you smell when paint is drying, fresh carpet (figure A), upholstery, etc.

Although not toxic, V.O.C.'s can lead to discomfort and should be extracted from the home via ventilation or windows. But note that windows aren't always reliable, and for several reasons (debris, noise, etc.) many homeowners choose not to open windows these days. This is another reason why a good ventilation system within the home is important.

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

What Is an ERV?

Following the experts advice, our homeowners (Brad and Lynn Oberg) are putting in two separate ventilators called Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV -- figure B). What an ERV does is pull in outside air and it exhausts the stale air from within the home. It will typically change out the air in the home 15 to 20 times per day!

The ERV was installed in the basement of the Oberg home. There are two fans on the inside (figure C) that draw the air through the ducts and extracts the air out the other side. The core (in the center) is where the heat and moisture are exchanged -- air flows through it in one direction and is extracted in the opposite direction. One duct will contain the flow of cold air in the winter coming into the ERV, it flows through the exchange core where the heat and moisture are transferred and draws it through the other duct where the air is discharged up to the return-air furnace.

Another duct draws air from the bathrooms and the laundry room, and it also goes through the core of the ERV where its heat is given up to the incoming outdoor air that enters via the previously mentioned duct. The air is exhausted through the fan and into a pipe to the outdoors via a vent (figure D).

Note: By using the outgoing air to warm the incoming air the furnace "won't" have to work as hard if there were not ERV system installed in the house, which leads to saving money on utility bills! For more information on ERVs, be sure to click on the "Energy Recovery Ventilators and Air Conditioning (Carrier)" entry under Resources, below.

In the final segment see how our homeowners added ambience and heat to their home with the use of fireplaces.

RESOURCES :

For more information on the topics contained within this article please reference The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Building America Program

The Building America program works with members of the home-building industry to produce quality homes that use less energy without costing more to build.

Website: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/

Heat-N-Glo Fireplaces (Hearth & Home Technologies)
Hearth & Home Technoligies, Inc.
20802 Kensington Blvd.
Lakeville, MN 55044
Toll-free: 888-427-3973
E-mail: info@heatnglo.com or globalinfo@heatnglo.com
Website: www.heatnglo.com

Heating (White Heating)
White Heating
3467 Babcock Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Toll-free: 800-800-4328
Fax: 412-364-3632
E-mail: white@stargate.net
Website: www.whiteheating.com

Energy Recovery Ventilators and Air Conditioning (Carrier)
Carrier Corp.
7310 W. Morris St.
Indianapolis, IN 46231
Phone: 317-240-5219
Website: www.global.carrier.com

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Anthony Grisolia
Building Performance Specialist
IBACOS, Inc.
Website: www.ibacos.com

Eric Newhouse
Systems Integration Designer
IBACOS
Website: www.ibacos.com

John Holton
Senior Architect
Ibacos
Website: www.ibacos.com

Gary Gressang
White Heating, Inc.
3467 Babcock Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Toll-free: 800-800-4328
Phone: 412-364-5003
Fax: 412-364-3632
E-mail: white@stargate.net
Website: www.whiteheating.com

Kevin Waldo
Product Manager
Carrier Corp.
7310 W. Morris St.
Indianapolis, IN 46231
Phone: 317-240-5219
E-mail: Kevin.waldo@carrier.com
Website: www.global.carrier.com

Jeff Thayer
Vice President, Sales
Hearth & Home Technologies™, Inc.
20802 Kensington Blvd.
Lakeville, MN 55044
Phone: 952-985-6577
Fax: 952-985-6777
E-mail: thayerj@hearthnhome.com
Website: www.hearthnhome.com