Air Exchanger Types

All air exchangers serve the same purpose. Fortunately, there are a few options on the market, all coming with their own set of pros, cons and price points. Before you purchase any air exchange system, make sure you understand the differences between the following three air exchangers:

Standard Air Exchanger

The most affordable air exchanger on the market is the standard model. As you’d expect, it filters our dirty air and brings fresh air inside. In addition to dust, standard air exchangers also remove odors like smoking, cooking and humidity.

Standard models also help avoid condensation around windows or other related issues like mildew. If your town is humid, a standard air exchanger will certainly help.

Heat Recovery Air Changer

Moving one step up, both in terms of price and perks, is the heat recovery air exchanger. Also known as the heat recover ventilator (HRV), this is the most popular air exchanger on the market. In addition to all the benefits of a standard exchange system, a heat recovery air exchanger can hold onto the heat that occasionally leaves the home with the polluted air. Essentially, it recovers the heat and keeps it in the home. This type of system greatly reduces your energy costs since your heating system won’t have to work as hard.

Energy Recovery Air Exchanger

Finally, the most expensive and most refined air exchanger is an energy recovery air changer (ERV). In addition to recovering all the heat leaving your home with the contaminated air, an ERV system recovers the humidity as well. If your city does not see a lot of humidity, this is the system for you. While the upfront costs are more, you’ll easily save more on utility bills (hence the name) over the lifespan of your heating and AC systems.