What is an air exchanger?

How does an air exchanger work?

Because the houses are sealed, the air is laden with moisture and pollutants created from the daily activities of its inhabitants. The installation of an air exchanger inside the house will remove stale and polluted air from the house to the outside and replace it by an equivalence of fresh air. Generally, an air exchanger system installed properly will renew the air of all the important parts of the house.

How? Through a ductwork system installed in the walls; those ducts ending with fresh air distribution grilles and stale air exhaust grilles. Fresh air distribution grilles are located in each room of the house needing fresh air (which are, among others, bedrooms, kitchen and living room). The stale air to outside grilles are generally located at the highest level of the house, where the excess humidity and pollutants build-up.

The fresh air distribution and stale air exhaust ducts are connected to the air exchanger. To other ducts are also connected to the unit: one for gathering  fresh air from outside and the other one to exhaust the stale air to outside. The air exchanger manage the ventilation for the whole house.

 

Ventilation and filtration for a better quality of life!

Good ventilation can renew the air of the house at a controlled rate. The filtration of this air will allow to significantly reduce the presence of pollutants and thereby reduce the risk of disease.

The maintenance of the filtration system remains the guarantee of proper operation and optimization of the air exchanger system. To learn more about the maintenance of filters depending on the model, see Advice and Solutions section.

 

Equalizing Indoor Air Pressure

If an air exchange unit does not expel and intake equal amounts of air, a negative or positive air pressure imbalance occurs.

It is important not to neglect the impact of an unbalanced ventilation system.

 

Positive air pressure

Pushes hot and/or humid air into walls and insulation; condensation can lead to mold, mildew and rot

 

Heat loss

 

Negative air pressure

Infiltration of unconditioned air increases risks of mold and higher energy costs

 

Potential backdraft from combustion appliances

 

Equal air pressure

Supply airflow is equal (CFM) to stale air exhaust

 

Balancing is required on all units unless specified otherwise

 

 

Before choosing a vänEE air exchanger model, there are a few things homeowners and builders must consider, such as the importance of maintaining neutral indoor air pressure and how climate plays a crucial role in determining which type of air exchanger will provide the most benefit to a home’s indoor air environment.

You can also refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section and the Advice and solutions section to learn more about Indoor air pressure.

 

What are the possible types of installations

Any vänEE unit can be installed with multiple air intake and air exhaust grilles that bring exceptional ventilation into every room. They can be easily integrated with an existing forced-air system or can be installed independently using the fully ducted system installation.

 

Fully Ducted System

Primarily for homes with radiant flooring, hot water or electric baseboard heating. This fully ducted system is effective because unit captures pollutants at the source and distributes fresh air to living areas.

 

 

 



Exhaust Ducted System

For homes  with forced air heating systems or air handlers (furnace). This exhaust ducted system is effective because unit captures pollutants at the source.






Simplified system

For homes with forced air heating systems or air handlers (furnace). This simplified system is easy to install as unit uses existing furnace or air handler ducting.

 

 

 

 

 

You can also refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section and the Advice and solutions section to learn more about the types of installations.