How to Change Your HRV to Summer Mode

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A heat recovery ventilation (HRV) unit pumps stale, humid air out of your home and brings in fresh air from outside. While you’ll normally use HRVs in winter to prevent dry air inside your home, you can also use it to help keep your home feeling cool and comfortable during the summer. Every HRV will have a different controller, but most will use similar ventilation and humidity settings. Just be sure to readjust the settings as temperatures drop back down in the winter.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Adjusting the Settings

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    The HRV unit is a large unit connected to your ventilation system, but you’ll use a small controller to turn it on and off. Check on the wall in a main room of your home near your thermostat. The controller will either have a dial, touch-screen, or buttons to control the humidity and fan speed in your home. [1]
    • Controllers vary between brands, so check the instruction manual that came with your specific model.
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    Look for a label that reads “Relative Humidity” or “RH” so you can change the settings. You may need to tap through a menu to find the option if you have a touch-screen controller. Raise the humidity to the highest setting possible.
    • Your HRV unit will start running if the relative humidity in your home goes above the setting.
    • Avoid using a low humidity setting since your HRV will pump in humid air and make your home feel damp and muggy, which could lead to mold.
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    Look for a fan symbol on a button or find a switch that changes the unit’s fan speed on the unit’s wall controller. The minimum setting will vent slowly so fresh air cycles through your home to eliminate any stale odors. Leave the fan set on low so you don’t bring hot air into your home from the outside. [2]
    • You can switch to the highest setting to quickly vent air from your home. You may use this if you have a lot of guests, someone’s smoking indoors, or if there are strong odors from cooking.

    Variation: If you’re not at home and you want to be more energy-efficient, check if your HRV has an intermittent setting where it turns on for 20 minutes before shutting off for 40 minutes.

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    While outdoor air cools as the sun sets, it may stay warm and uncomfortable inside your home. Switch the ventilation to the highest fan setting so the HRV pumps in the cool air. When you wake up, be sure to change it back to the lowest setting so it doesn’t warm up your home throughout the day.
    • You may be able to set a ventilation schedule on more advanced HRV controllers. Check the instruction manual to see if your model has these capabilities.
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    Some models of HRVs have bypass vents, which direct incoming air away from the unit’s heating chamber. Read through your unit’s instruction manual to see if you have a summer bypass option. If the temperature and humidity are lower outside than they are inside your home, switch to the bypass mode instead. [3]
    • You may be able to hire an HVAC specialist to add bypass vents to your HRV.
    • Normally, the heat from the inside air gets trapped in the unit’s chamber and warms up the outside air being drawn in. The bypass tubes are on the outside of the chamber so the air stays the same temperature as it comes in your home.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Reducing Humidity during Summer

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    Locate the power button or switch on the HRV controller, and change it to the Off position. Open up as many windows in your home as you can so the fresh air blows through your home and cools down your space. Keep your eye on your thermostat and the outside temperature and close the windows when it starts heating up again.
    • If you try running your HRV, the cool outside air will warm up as it pumps in and make your home feel uncomfortable.
    • Opening your windows will let in more pollen and dust, which may make allergies worse.
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    Keep all of your windows closed and set the air conditioner to your desired temperature. Leave your HRV on the lowest fan setting while the AC runs. The cold air will get trapped inside of the unit and help cool warm air as it filters into your home. That way, you avoid having stale air in your home since it filters out through your vents.
    • You can use any type of air conditioner with your HRV.
    • Using your HRV and air conditioner together also helps you save energy since the air conditioner won’t have to work as hard.
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    HRVs don’t remove moisture from the air, so the fresh outside air may still feel damp or muggy when it enters your home. Set up a dehumidifier in one of the main rooms of your home and run it throughout the day. Keep your windows and doors closed so outside air doesn’t come in. The dehumidifier will collect moisture so the air feels drier. [4]
    • Air conditioning naturally dehumidifies the air, so you do not need a dedicated dehumidifier.

    Tip: Dehumidifiers collect water, so you may have to empty a reservoir or setup a drain hose so it doesn’t overflow.

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    The steam from your bathroom adds humidity to your home and can raise the temperature inside. Most HRVs have exhaust fans added to bathrooms to filter moist air out of your home immediately. Start the exhaust fan as soon as you start bathing and allow it to run for about 1 hour after you finish. [5]
    • If you don’t have an exhaust vent, then open a window in or near your bathroom so the humidity can escape. Otherwise, mold could grow in the room.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can an HRV be used as an air conditioner?
    Victor Belavus
    Air Conditioning Specialist
    Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems.
    Victor Belavus
    Air Conditioning Specialist
    Expert Answer
    No—HRV systems are not designed for cooling, but rather for providing fresh air and improving indoor air quality. If you require air conditioning, you should install a separate air conditioning system instead.
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      Warnings

      • HRVs do not remove moisture from the air.
        Thanks
      • Your home may feel warmer when you run your HRV if you don’t have air-conditioning and the temperatures are higher outside than there are inside.
        Thanks


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      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about dealing with appliances, check out our in-depth interview with Victor Belavus .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_home/resources/8_indoor_air_quality_and_ventilation.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/oee/files/pdf/publications/HRV_EN.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.titon.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/03/DO-5666-Iss-01.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_home/resources/8_indoor_air_quality_and_ventilation.pdf
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/vJ9PGn3vYgw?t=178

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