HVAC Ventilator

What is a ventilator for HVAC?

When we’re talking about a ventilator, we mean a whole-house ventilator that helps circulate fresh air into your home, year-round. A ventilator is an extra component that can work with your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to provide a higher level of comfort.

Importance of Proper Ventilation

Today’s energy-efficient homes are better insulated and tightly sealed. While that’s good for your energy bills, it can prohibit fresh air circulation in your home. You might think your HVAC system brings in fresh air, but that’s a myth. 

Your HVAC system is a closed loop, meaning it does not mechanically bring outdoor air into your home. Instead, HVAC systems circulate and re-circulate the air already inside your home.

Poor ventilation can affect indoor air quality and result in:

• Lingering pet odors
• Cooking smells long after a meal
• Buildup of potentially harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
• Buildup of carbon dioxide or unsafe levels of carbon dioxide.

These odors and chemicals linger because they cannot escape. Opening a window is a temporary solution, at best. A whole-house ventilation system can help remove indoor pollutants, odors, and fumes from your home and circulate fresh air year-round.

How HVAC Ventilators Work

HVAC ventilators work with a process called positive pressure ventilation or balanced ventilation, depending on the system. The ventilators draw in outside air, pass it through a filter, and send the conditioned air through your ductwork/vent system. 

Benefits of Installing an HVAC Ventilation System

The main benefits of installing a whole-house ventilator can include:

• Removal of stale, contaminated air
• Reduced odors
• Better humidity control

A whole-house ventilator can help control the indoor humidity as well as the temperature, even when your HVAC system isn’t running. If you choose a more sophisticated energy recovery ventilator (ERV), you can see heating and cooling energy savings as well. That’s because the ERV recovers heat and moisture from the outgoing air during cold weather. During hot, humid weather, it pre-cools and dehumidifies incoming air.

By conditioning the air before it gets to your HVAC system, the ERV lowers the demand on your HVAC system, which also lowers your energy bills. In fact, according to energy.gov, an ERV can recover approximately 70-80% of the energy in the exiting air and deliver that energy to the incoming air. 

Choosing the Right Whole-House Ventilator

Choosing the right whole-house ventilator is easy with the help of an HVAC professional with experience in installing these systems. Factors to consider when selecting a ventilator to improve your indoor air quality include:

• Features – decide what features are important to you.
• Proper sizing – you want fresh air to reach every corner of your home.
• Installation – you want ease of installation and integration with your existing HVAC system. You also need to work with a qualified and experienced installer.
• Control – You want to be able to program the ventilator easily for optimal effect.
• Brand – get a whole-house ventilator from a trusted name in the HVAC industry, such as Trane. You want quality equipment backed by a great warranty.

Browse Trane ventilators.