Single Room HRV in north america?

Posted by bob smith on October 20, 2006, 11:56 am

Do single room, quiet (<30dB) HRV units exist in North America?

I have a single finished room in my basement that requires fresh air
ventilation. My house has no existing ductwork (hot water heated, no central
air). I seems outrageously expensive to install a whole house HRV with
ductwork to the room.

I notice in the UK there are many examples of equipment like this, for
example:

http://www.vent-axia.com/awwebstore/products/vacas/hr25.asp
http://www.vent-axia.com/awwebstore/products/vacas/hr100s.asp

Is anyone aware of a solution available here? I'd prefer a non-window based
unit since I dont want to block the only window in the room with the HRV.

Thanks!

Posted by dantheman on October 20, 2006, 12:44 pm

> Is anyone aware of a solution available here? I'd prefer a non-window based
> unit since I dont want to block the only window in the room with the HRV.

Those links look really interesting... but FYI, the Venmar units that
are very common up here where I am have optional instructions of
installation that do not use ductwork--you simply put the return at the
higher level of the home and the supply at the bottom (ie. basement)
from the HRV (using flex. duct) and it's "proper". Very easy to
install--I did one myself (though I used a separate return but fed the
supply into the ductwork). Why not put the return upstairs (you can
use the space between two studs in the wall as a "duct") and ventilate
the whole house? It wouldn't cost any more--save for some extra flex.
duct to the wall and a cap for the wall exterier upstairs...

Peace, Dan

Posted by bob smith on October 20, 2006, 2:22 pm

>> Is anyone aware of a solution available here? I'd prefer a non-window
>> based
>> unit since I dont want to block the only window in the room with the HRV.

> Those links look really interesting... but FYI, the Venmar units that
> are very common up here where I am have optional instructions of
> installation that do not use ductwork--you simply put the return at the
> higher level of the home and the supply at the bottom (ie. basement)
> from the HRV (using flex. duct) and it's "proper". Very easy to
> install--I did one myself (though I used a separate return but fed the
> supply into the ductwork). Why not put the return upstairs (you can
> use the space between two studs in the wall as a "duct") and ventilate
> the whole house? It wouldn't cost any more--save for some extra flex.
> duct to the wall and a cap for the wall exterier upstairs...

Hi Dan,

The problem with not using ductwork is that the unit would have to be in the
same room.
Fine for a small quiet unit like the links I gave but for Venmar or any
whole-house unit they
are quite large and noisy to put in a finished room.

You are right that it wouldnt cost much more to ventilate the rest of the
house, but its
an old home that doesnt require active ventilation whereas this newly
finished room is
extremely airtight (by design - its designed to be soundproofed).

Plus, I want it to cost a lot less :-) (like less than a grand for parts and
labor)

> Peace, Dan
>

Posted by Bob Pietrangelo on October 20, 2006, 3:35 pm

> Hi Dan,
> The problem with not using ductwork is that the unit would have to be in
> the same room.
> Fine for a small quiet unit like the links I gave but for Venmar or any
> whole-house unit they
> are quite large and noisy to put in a finished room.
> You are right that it wouldnt cost much more to ventilate the rest of the
> house, but its
> an old home that doesnt require active ventilation whereas this newly
> finished room is
> extremely airtight (by design - its designed to be soundproofed).
> Plus, I want it to cost a lot less :-) (like less than a grand for parts
> and labor)

If the rest of the house is leaky, why not just use a n inline bathroom type
fan so the motor is downstream, and just install a passive return to the
first floor

Posted by bob smith on October 21, 2006, 2:19 pm

>> Hi Dan,
>> The problem with not using ductwork is that the unit would have to be in
>> the same room.
>> Fine for a small quiet unit like the links I gave but for Venmar or any
>> whole-house unit they
>> are quite large and noisy to put in a finished room.
>> You are right that it wouldnt cost much more to ventilate the rest of the
>> house, but its
>> an old home that doesnt require active ventilation whereas this newly
>> finished room is
>> extremely airtight (by design - its designed to be soundproofed).
>> Plus, I want it to cost a lot less :-) (like less than a grand for parts
>> and labor)

> If the rest of the house is leaky, why not just use a n inline bathroom
> type fan so the motor is downstream, and just install a passive return to
> the first floor

Thats definitely an option. The problem is that that will defeat the
soundproofing
of the room to a great extent to whatever rooms upstairs are connected.

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 > last >>

Similar Threads	Posted
Wake up North America	March 23, 2009, 12:33 pm
HELP I need 2 new furnaces!! Single or dual 80% or 90% single or variable speed fan	September 10, 2006, 7:57 pm
Data Aire 277V Single Phase running on 240V Single Phase?	September 10, 2007, 7:34 pm
OT North Korea Nuclear Issue...	October 14, 2006, 8:12 pm
Computer Room AC	February 11, 2008, 11:22 am
Portable Room A/C	April 25, 2008, 1:40 pm
Room Air Conditioner Odors	July 18, 2006, 12:06 am
best budget ptac for 200 ft-sq room	April 9, 2007, 6:42 pm
Furnance Room in Attic	August 5, 2009, 3:36 am
Need advice for computer room cooling	July 7, 2006, 5:03 pm