Quote:
Originally Posted by GordonBlue
This is a good example of why I like when people start a thread instead of just trying to get answers from google.
I learned something useful that I can use going forward.
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It's pretty crazy how much houses have had to change as they get more and more efficient and the challenges that are a result. Over my adult life, I have experienced 4 completely different HVAC setups with new builds and the evolution of how they deal with getting fresh air in and the negative pressure that results from them getting more efficient and sealed up. Depending on the houses you live in and move to, one may go up or down these (and probably more) types of setups.
Mid 90's (parents new build) - Literally a vent and pipe to the furnace room that allowed fresh air to enter the furnace room whenever.
Early 2000s (parents house retrofit) - An electronic baffle on the vent that opened when the furnace fan activated to provide outside air.
Late 2000s (My first house) - An electronic baffle that was interlocked with exhaust fans and the furnace fan to provide outside air and deal with the negative pressure of the exhaust fans.
2017 ( My second house) - An HRV that is interlocked to the furnace fans and exhaust fans that provides fresh air, balances negative pressure, and recovers the heat from all he air that is exhausted so the house is no longer pulling in cold air directly to the furnace.
If you think about it, now that we are mostly home all the time, a household with 4 people home will add 4 liters of water to the air just from breathing a day. Add in showers, running the washing machine and dishwasher, cooking, pets and a crappy builder grade humidistat you can very quickly get to the point were there is too much water in the air and no system to deal with it other than the HRV in all but the newest of homes and even then, the moisture pulled from the air is a result of the heat exchange and not a primary function of the HRV.