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Balanced Ventilation in Single-Family Homes
Bringing in Fresh Air
Ventilation systems play a crucial role in maintaining indoor air quality and comfort. Two primary approaches to ventilation include fully dedicated and simplified systems, each with its own set of characteristics and benefits.
Fully dedicated ventilation systems are designed to provide separate and independent ventilation for each space or zone within a building, ensuring precise control over air quality and temperature. These systems are complex and typically more expensive to install and maintain but offer maximum customization and efficiency.
On the other hand, simplified ventilation systems provide centralized ventilation for multiple spaces, often using a single set of equipment or ductwork to supply fresh air and remove stale air. While simpler and more cost-effective, these systems may offer less precise control and may not be suitable for certain applications requiring specific environmental conditions.
The choice between these approaches depends on factors such as house size, budget, and desired level of control over indoor environments.
Balanced Ventilation Scenarios for Single-Family Homes
Simply fresh air
We help you see what solution gets you clean air and where you might want to go beyond that to achieve a healthier home and ensure your customer's health and comfort.
Clean Filtered Air for the Entire House with HEPA Filtration
Whole-House Filtration
This simple package provides clean filtered air for the entire home and it doesn't restrict the central system's airflow.
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HS300
Whole house HEPA filtration, 3-stage (prefilter, carbon, HEPA), captures 99.97% particles ≥0.3 microns, up to 2000 sq ft, mounts on return air plenum or uses 8” round collars for ducted install.
Clean Filtered Air Brought from the Outside
Simplified Installation
The fresh air appliance cycles fresh outdoor air while expelling indoor pollutants, ensuring continuous filtered air circulation. It efficiently removes indoor pollutants and recovers heat from exhaust air in winter for energy savings.
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HERO® 120H
This Fresh Air Appliance has a 6” duct connection, airflow up to 112 cfm, SRE up to 81% (heat recovery), front access for maintenance, multi-speed, ENERGY STAR® Certified, EC Motors, optional MERV 8/13/HEPA filters.
COM5P Supply and Exhaust Hoods
These supply & exhaust air vents feature a low-profile design with a built-in pest guard and bug screen for enhanced protection. Made from UV-resistant plastic, these vents ensure durability while maintaining effective airflow for both supply and exhaust applications.
Dedicated Ductwork with a Simplified System
Partially Dedicated Installation
A partially dedicated system integrates both dedicated exhaust ducts and fresh air supply through the return duct, offering a balanced approach to ventilation. In this setup, the exhaust air is directly removed from key areas like kitchens and bathrooms, while fresh, filtered air is supplied into the home via the HVAC system's return duct. This method ensures efficient air circulation, enhancing indoor air quality without the need for entirely separate supply and exhaust duct systems, making it a cost-effective solution for improved ventilation.
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ATMO™ 300E-EC
This Fresh Air Appliance has a 6” duct connection, airflow up to 300 cfm, SRE up to 77% (energy recovery), front access for maintenance, multi-speed, ENERGY STAR® Certified, EC Motors, optional MERV 8/13/HEPA filters.
Balanced Ventilation, TVOC Sensing & Bathroom Exhaust
Fully Ducted Installation
The fresh air appliance boosts ventilation by simultaneously bringing in outdoor air and expelling stale air, incorporating balanced ventilation controlled by a VOC sensor, HEPA filtration, and bathroom exhaust. It maintains a steady supply of fresh, filtered, and tempered outdoor air, efficiently removing indoor pollutants and recovering heat in winter.
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ATMO™ Fresh Air Appliance
This Fresh Air Appliance has a 5” duct connection, airflow up to 200 cfm, SRE up to 75% (heat/energy recovery), multi-speed, air-balancing taps, automatic defrost, ENERGY STAR® Certified, EC Motors, optional MERV 8/13.
ECO-Touch® IAQ
TVOC sensing controller, multi-function, touchscreen, 4 wires
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Harness TVOC Sensing for Ultimate Home Comfort
Wall controls with a TVOC sensor
Gain full command over your ventilation system using the ECO-Touch® IAQ, designed specifically for single-family residences. Meanwhile, the ECO-Feel® comes pre-equipped with an ECO-mode, making it well-suited for multi-family or commercial settings where adjustments are discouraged.
A controlled ventilation solution ensures energy-efficient airflow in single-family homes, addressing the specific needs of builders and contractors for optimal home ventilation.
IAQ Product Manager, Fantech
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Regulations and Factors
Important to know
International Residential Code (IRC) mandates ventilation in key areas with rules for both natural and mechanical systems, specifying exhaust fan sizing, ducting, and termination for airflow efficiency. Balanced ventilation systems must meet makeup air requirements, with a minimum 4% openable area to the outdoors per floor area. Indoor air quality ventilation required at 0.35 air changes per hour or 5 CFM per 100 square feet, often using HRV/ERV systems.
CSA F326 establishes performance requirements for residential ventilation systems, covering airflow rates, equipment efficiency, installation, and commissioning. It addresses noise concerns and system controls for user comfort, with HRV/ERV systems typically providing 0.35 air changes per hour or 5 CFM per 100 square feet of floor area for continuous indoor air quality.
ASHRAE 62.2 sets minimum ventilation rates based on building size, occupancy, and climate zone, guiding the design, installation, and operation of mechanical ventilation systems. Local exhaust ventilation targets contaminants at their source, with specific demands for bathrooms (50 CFM) and kitchens (100 CFM range hoods).
Knowledge and Awareness of IAQ: Growing recognition of indoor air quality (IAQ) importance prompts demand for balanced ventilation systems.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: Balanced ventilation, especially those with heat or energy recovery, offers energy-efficient solutions, aligning with sustainability goals and reducing costs.
Market Demand for Comfort and Wellness: Rising consumer demand for comfortable and healthy living spaces makes balanced ventilation systems a sought-after feature in new construction and renovation projects.
Wellness Value Explained
Videos
What are Defrost Options?
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Supply Fan Shut-down
The supply air fan shuts down when the outdoor air temperature drops to 14F (-10C) or lower. During the defrost cycle, the supply air fan (pulls the cold air into the appliance) shuts down.
The exhaust air fan (pulls air from the indoors) switches to high speed maximizing defrost effectiveness.
Advantages:
Simple and robust defrost prevention system.
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Recirculation
The motorized damper temporarily closes and blocks the incoming fresh air stream. The return air circulates through the core while defrosting it.
The exhaust air fan shuts down while the supply air fan switches to high speed to maximize defrost effectiveness.
Advantages:
Doesn’t depressurize livable space during the defrost cycle.
Ideal for higher humidity outdoor conditions or colder outdoor conditions.
Supporting Assets
Using an ERV in a Tight Home
Catalyst Construction from Prairie Village, KS built a tight home. In this video, they share their experience using a Fresh Air Appliance with energy recovery.
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E1991 HERO & ATMO Brochure
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HERO & ATMO Presentation
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Fresh Air Appliance Selection
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IAQ Solutions for Single-Family Homes
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Whole House Ventilation for Builders
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Fresh Air Explained
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Specifying Made Simple
We make it easy to add products to your architectural drawing with BIM objects and CSI specifications on our product pages.
Achieving Success with Balanced Ventilation
Successful projects
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Sammon Passive House - East York, ON
The Sammon House is designed to withstand blackouts while providing a healthy indoor environment. The retrofit of the 1940s house targets EnerPHit Certification from the Passive House Institute and is fully electrified.
Our HS300 HEPA filtration system provides full-spectrum air cleaning throughout the entirety of the house
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Bay View House – Musquodoboit Harbour, NS
The buyers of the Bay View House, aptly named for its waterfront locale, were seeking a perfect home to retire in, one with a smaller footprint that meshed with their creative leanings, all while staying within a set budget.
A HERO Fresh Air Appliance (HRV) provides mechanical ventilation for the home.
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Tudor Modern – Newton, MA
This amazing renovation of an existing 1920’s brick Tudor, plus a 4’x20’ addition, completely reconfigured the existing stair and all circulation.
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Aspen Residence – Aspen, CO
Anchored on the steep slopes of Red Mountain with panoramic views, this project is unique in the sense that it offers a new prototype for speculative real estate in Aspen, Colorado.
Indoor Air Quality Optimized
TVOC Controllers work together with Fresh Air Appliances to reduce the contamination to safe levels. Watch a quick video about that.
