Ensure optimal air quality and energy efficiency in your timber frame home with these key systems that enhance ventilation, manage moisture, and maintain comfort.
When you hear HRV, perhaps “heart rate variability” or Honda’s petite crossover SUV comes to mind. But for timber frame designers, builders, and owners, HRV and its cousin, ERV, mean Heat Recovery Ventilator and Energy Recovery Ventilator, respectively. When you have a home as airtight as a timber frame home (read: highly energy efficient) you’ll want to make sure you’re consistently circulating any stale air out and bringing fresh air in, which is why Woodhouse highly recommends these systems for most clients. These ventilators act as an accessory to your HVAC system and allow you to circulate (and condition) more air while still saving energy. Ready to learn more? Here’s a primer on how these essential systems contribute to a superior home design.
Credit: Adobe Stock, VectorMine
How Do HRVs and ERVs Work?
At the core, both HRVs and ERVs are designed to ventilate the home by pulling in fresh air from the outside while expelling stale air from the inside. These systems also have a built-in mechanism to exchange heat between the incoming and outgoing air, which is what makes them so energy efficient. This process happens in a heat exchanger, where the two airstreams never mix but still share thermal energy. As a result, you get fresh air in your home without losing the warmth in the winter or the coolness in the summer, which reduces the load on your HVAC system.
An ERV does the same thing as an HRV, but it also transfers moisture in addition to heat. This humidity control makes ERVs useful in climates with particularly high or low humidity levels, as they can help maintain an optimal level of humidity.
In short: both systems maintain indoor air quality and enhance energy efficiency but differ in how they handle moisture. For Woodhouse homeowners, choosing an HRV or ERV can be key to ensuring your home is both efficient and comfortable. The right system will ultimately depend on your climate and energy goals.
A Perfect Match for Timber Frame Homes
Choosing the right system ensures long-term energy savings and fresh, healthy air, making your airtight timber frame home more sustainable and comfortable for years to come.
Take for example Woodhouse homeowner John Fisher who invested in a high-end ERV for optimal mechanical ventilation in his home in Rome, Georgia. (Check it out above.) He explains that, while the upfront cost was significant, the long-term energy efficiency is worth it:
“I would say that we put a great deal of money, time, and effort into some of the systems in the house, particularly the HVAC systems and the ERV… We went a little bit overboard, and I have no qualms about what we did to get a very, very high-end ERV and to make the house, geothermally, very, very cost-effective and efficient. It required a great deal more money upfront, but that’s going to have a period of payout over the [coming years] in terms of making it cost-effective,” Fisher says.
While this client opted for a high-end ERV, Woodhouse can help you find the right solution for your custom home. A whole spectrum of HRV and ERV options exist; the average cost is around $1,500 but some models are as little as $500. Our team can connect you with the right experts and products for your unique project.
Build Your Dream Timber Frame Home
We can help you achieve a home that is truly superior. Browse our galleries for inspiration and to discover the possibilities. Then reach out to a Woodhouse team member to discuss making your dream home come to life.
