Air exchangers: Give yourself the gift of clean air!

When you hear “pollution,” you probably don’t think of the air inside your own home, but poor indoor air quality can impact your health just like city smog. Modern homes are extremely well insulated and tightly sealed, which means they keep stale and polluted air trapped inside, making air exchangers a necessity. In fact, in cities that have adopted the most recent version of the National Building Code, air exchangers are required in all new constructions. But how exactly do air exchangers work? How can they improve your quality of life? What’s the best model for you? We’ve got all the answers right here!

 

What do air exchangers do?

Evacuate stale air and bring in fresh air: Unlike older buildings, which can be leaky as a sieve, modern homes are tightly sealed and don’t let air cycle through. Air exchangers help your home “breathe” by evacuating stale air and pollutants outside and drawing fresh air inside.
 
Regulate humidity: Air exchangers eliminate excess moisture, which helps keep your home comfortable—not too humid and not too dry.
 
Eliminate odours: Air exchangers evacuate pet odours, cooking odours and other household odours as they circulate the air.

 

How can poorly regulated humidity levels impact your health?

If your home’s air is too dry
In the wintertime, your heater can cause your home’s air to dry out. You may even need to use a humidifier to compensate.
Common symptoms include:

• Dry skin
• Itchy skin
• Dry, itchy eyes
• Chapped lips
• Nasal congestion
• Nosebleeds

Air that’s too dry can also aggravate symptoms of respiratory conditions, like asthma, and skin conditions, like eczema. And some viruses, like the flu, can even survive longer in dry environments.
 
If your home’s air is too humid
Sustained high humidity levels may cause mould to appear in your home and have negative impacts on your home’s structure and your health.
Common symptoms include:

• Colds
• Sinus congestion
• Coughing
• Mucus build-up
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Asthma symptoms
• Allergic reactions

Symptoms may be more severe in vulnerable populations, such as children, seniors and people who are ill.
Source: Health Canada

 

Fresh air, at a fresh price!

Save money and energy with our range of air exchangers designed with heat-recovery (HRV) and energy-recovery (ERV) technology.
 

• HRV: These systems transfer heat from evacuated air to incoming air while keeping fresh and stale air from mixing.
• ERV: These systems work the same as HRV systems, plus they limit the amount of moisture that enters your home. ERV systems are perfect for people living in humid climates!

 

Which air exchanger is right for you?

When deciding on an air exchanger, consider your needs and your home’s square footage. The first two models below are easy to install yourself and are available in hardware stores near you.

HRV5.1: This air exchanger features a heat recovery core and warms air as it enters your home, improving the comfort of your indoor climate. This product is best suited to homes with up to 2,700 sq. ft. of living space. For more information, click here!

HRV7.1: Not only does this model recover heat, it’s also equipped with a HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of allergens and other microscopic airborne particles. If you’re looking for optimal air quality, look no further—this model is ideal for people suffering from allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues. This product is best suited to homes with up to 3,000 sq. ft. of living space. For more information, click here!