Install-It-Yourself HRV
By Steve Maxwell
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Understanding the System
An HRV is a fan-equipped box about the size of a mechanic’s tool chest. It directs a supply of fresh, outdoor air into your house while exhausting stale indoor air outside. This dual-flow system is the ventilation part of the equation. An HRV also reclaims most of the heat from stale air before shooting it outside. This is the heat recovery part of the deal. You’ve got to understand these functions in order to choose the best possible location for your unit. That’s the first step towards a successful installation.
The location of any HRV needs to satisfy these conditions:
as close as possible to an exterior wall suitable for intake and exhaust ports
access to a drain to accept condensed water from the unit
a nearby source of electricity to power the internal fans
proximity to any existing duct that could be used to distribute fresh air throughout the house
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