Are Commercial ERV and HRV Interchangeable?

If you are considering your options for ventilation in your industrial or commercial building, both energy recovery ventilators (ERV) and heat recovery ventilators (HRV) are options. The question is, are they interchangeable? The simple answer is that they can be, but often one is better than the other for certain applications and efficiency. Understanding the difference can help you determine which will work best with your commercial HVAC system.

Energy Recovery Ventilators

For most commercial buildings, ERV systems are the recommended option. This is because the design of the ERV allows for latent (moisture) air recovery, not just sensible (dry) air recovery. For regions that experience high humidity during the summers, this makes it more energy efficient for cooling the air. ERV will remove humidity from incoming outdoor air during the summer and add moisture to the drier indoor air during the winter.

Heat Recovery Ventilators

While ERV is usually the best solution for commercial buildings since it can handle humid air better, HRV can be beneficial in some circumstances. Dry climates where humidity is not an issue can use either system, since HRV only uses sensible air recovery. Also, industrial applications that create high humidity inside the building may be better served with an HRV, when the inside air is always higher in moisture content than the air outside.

If you are not sure which ventilation system will best suit your needs, contact your local commercial HVAC service provider to get recommendations. They can inspect your building and perform an efficiency analysis to determine which is the best option for controlling the air quality of your building while providing the best efficiency for your HVAC system.

Posted on behalf of:
JS Thomas Service, Inc
4085 Nine McFarland Dr
Alpharetta, GA 30004
(770) 475-2600