What is a Mechanical Ventilator, and why it is important in my HVAC system?

Today’s energy efficient homes trap stale air indoors, causing poor air quality and potential health problems for you and your family.  What can you do?  Rejuvenate your home with fresh, clean outdoor air.  The compact, electrically powered Ventilator moves stale, contaminated, air from inside the house to outdoors. At the same time they draw fresh oxygen-laden air from outside and distribute it throughout the house. Stale, polluted air is constantly being replaced by an equal quantity of fresh clean air, while retaining energy and reducing homeowner utility costs.

What is the difference between Ventilation types, and how do I know which one to use in my area?

HRVs are recommended for most regions of North America, where the heating season is longer than the cooling season.  In winter, HRVs retain heat from outgoing air and transfer to incoming air.  In summer HRV’s work in reverse, retaining cooler air conditioned air and transferring to incoming fresh air.  [NOTE:  As defined by AHR standards, only areas of the SouthEast U.S. subject to significant outdoor humidity for extended periods throughout the year should consider an ERV.  Many Lifebreath ERV models are available.]

ERVs are recommended in regions where high outdoor humidity is cause for operating air conditioning/ dehumidification for an extended period of the year, and much more frequently than a heating system.  The ideal geographic area of use defined by AHR standards is the Southeast U.S. – Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Carolinas only.  ERVs are NOT recommended in any region of Canada, or in the United States where temperatures fall below 25F (-4C) for more than five days, where freezing of the internal core can occur. The Lifebreath ERV core uses a highly efficient counterflow core to reduce humidity in the incoming air stream by transferring water molecules to the exhaust air stream. And because it utilizes a non-cellulose membrane that allows water to pass through but not air, it will not deteriorate with constant exposure to moisture.  It is the only water-washable ERV core available.

How does it work?

Lifebreath Ventilation products (HRV/ERV) move stale, contaminated, air from inside the house to outdoors. At the same time they draw fresh oxygen-laden air from outside and distribute it throughout the house. Stale, polluted air is constantly being replaced by an equal quantity of fresh clean air.

As the two air streams pass through the unit they do not mix. They pass on either side of our exclusive and patented aluminum heat-exchange (HRV) or enthalpic (ERV) cores which transfers heating/cooling energy from the outgoing air to the incoming air. The efficiency of the Lifebreath HRV and ERV is so great that virtually none of the warm/cool air collected from your home is lost to the outside. In summer, HRV and ERV’s work in reverse – removing heat from the incoming air and transferring it to the outgoing air, to keep your home cool and fresh.

Lifebreath’s unique dual-stream airflow design, keeps outgoing stale air separate from incoming fresh air and completely rejuvenates the air throughout the entire home – up to eight times a day.  Lifebreath’s balanced ventilation technology replaces indoor stale air with an identical amount of fresh air.  This balanced ventilation is critical to prevent moisture build-up in your home during the heating season which can lead to expensive rot damage and hazardous mold.

Because of the unique ability of a Lifebreath HRV and ERV to transfer the temperature of indoor stale air to the incoming fresh air, you’ll realize lower heating and cooling costs year round while enjoying all the benefits superior indoor air quality delivers.  In fact, the efficiency of the Lifebreath HRV is so great that virtually none of the warmth collected from your home during winter months is lost to the outside.  During summer months, the HRV works in reverse by removing heat from the incoming air and transferring it to the outgoing air, keeping your home cool and fresh.

What’s makes Lifebreath the most advanced Ventilation product available?

Lifebreath ventilation products efficiently transfers heating/cooling energy from outgoing stale air, to incoming fresh air.  Lifebreath lets you enjoy an energy efficient home without breathing harmful indoor fumes from paint, plastics, carpets, adhesives, and household products without lingering pet odors and moisture that causes mold.

• Only Lifebreath has a patented aluminum core, proudly manufactured by Airia.  This makes the Lifebreath core so reliable, we offer a lifetime warranty.
• Lifebreath offers the only five speed HRV and ERV available
• All MAX series HRV products (and all Lifebreath ERV products) include a Digital Wall Control, enabling homeowners to customize ventilation specific to their family
• For over 25 years, all Lifebreath products have been proudly manufactured to a worldwide customer base from our ISO 9001 registered plant in Ontario Canada.

Airia Brands offers numerous Lifebreath residential ventilation units across two product series – MAX and RNC, to meet a wide variety of customer needs.  Commercial products are also available.

MAX Series HRVs/ERVs are the only five speed ventilation units available.  The MAX Series is most popular with consumers and builders alike for both new and retrofit construction.  Plus, MAX Series products include a digital wall control at no extra charge.

RNC Series HRVs offer the same technology and warranty as MAX, but with two speed operation, and allow customers to select the wall control of their choice.  All RNC products are backed by the same warranty as MAX series, including lifetime coverage on the patented aluminum core.

Consult the product tables for more information, and to find the best product for your specific region and lifestyle needs.