HRV System: How To Use Humidifies And Dehumidifiers

It is very wrong to run simultaneously both the humidifier and dehumidifier. This is the main reason you see condensed water dripping from the walls to the floor during cold seasons. Too much humidity indoors makes homeowners get confused on how to operate their Heat recovery ventilation and this guide enlightens homeowners about when to run humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

 

• Dehumidifiers

When the weather is cold, running dehumidifier becomes expensive and inefficient. They are best suited for spring season and during the fall when your AC is not operating. Occasionally, it can be used in summer because outdoor air becomes too hot and humid, making the AC overwork. The dehumidifier therefore comes in to help the AC when the air is quite clammy. If the house is new, it is advisable to run the dehumidifier for longer sessions to facilitate complete drying of the hoe structures.

 

• Humidifiers

Humidifiers are mostly found in older homes which experience drafty conditions. Windy situations create an extremely dry indoor environment especially in winter months hence the need for humidifying the air. But the modern homes are constructed with air-tight envelops that guaranteed almost zero loss of heat or humidity. Humidifiers are highly discouraged unless the house feels too dry.

 

• HRV Ventilation Systems

These are the most eco-efficient mechanisms for lowering humidity inside a house during a colder season. The system becomes more effective as the outdoor weather gets colder. It is the best dehumidifying mechanism during winter and it also ensures quality indoor air throughout the day and night. A better version of HRV is the ERV which combats extreme dryness in cold seasons and lowers humidity during hot days thereby assisting the air conditioning system to operate cost effectively.

 

• Winter

During this period, the best thing to do is set the humidity level of heat recovery ventilator system to 30% and keep an eye on the moisture condition. One indicator of excess moisture is watery drops on the windows, and this should tell you to lower humidity settings. This type of control is enables by the humidistat which is centrally located in the living room. HRV comes in to bring drier and fresher air inside the house hence reducing humidity.

 

• Summer

During warmer periods of the year, the AC is always on the run. The outdoor air is usually warmer and probably more humid than the indoor air. Contrary to the expectations, HRV ventilation brings in warmer but humid air inside the house and takes out drier air. This caused the AC system to work harder and consumes more energy in the process. For this reason, it is advisable to turn off HRV and run a dehumidifier.

 

• Controlling the humidistat

The main idea is to regulate the humidistat to a functional RH level to enable the system get activated when the level exceeds the set limit. At extremely cold outdoor temperatures, running HRV for long periods could bring in excess cold inside, making the furnace get overworked. You might be tempted to shut off the system but it is not a good idea. The best setting for the humidistat is 25% - 40% in winter so as to stimulate the system when RH goes past this range. The settings should be adjusted to lower levels as the outdoor temperatures drop. This will prevent the warmer indoor air from condensing and further leading to moisture problems like mold growth.

 

The most probable cause of high running costs is not the furnace or the thermostat but the humidistat control. If the system is runs endlessly throughout the year, it will end up letting in too much warm and humid air during summer; and excess coldness during winter, making the HRV air exchanger work too hard. Learning how to control the humidistat in winter and avoiding running the system in summer are the secrets to keeping house energy bills at economical levels.