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Would a HRV need to be re-balanced if you replace a naturally aspirated hot water tank with direct vent?

  • 17 Sep 2021 5:05 PM
    Message # 11097807

    Trying to wrap my head around this one:

    I have a client with an older domestic hot water system (naturally aspirated) and an HRV. If they replace the model with a direct vent, will that put the HRV out of balance? 

    Thanks,


  • 20 Sep 2021 12:46 PM
    Reply # 11104165 on 11097807

    Is the HRV simplified meaning it is installed using the ductwork from a furnace to distribute the air through out the house?  Generally the HRV balancing is not dependent on any hot water heaters.

  • 22 Sep 2021 11:22 AM
    Reply # 11110328 on 11097807

    Yes, the HRV is tied into the furnace. I assume that the existing HRV would bring in a bit more air to compensate for the air needed for combustion for the existing hot water tank, although my assumption could be wrong!


    If the homeowner replaced the old tank with a direct vent, would the HRV become unbalanced? I may be overthinking this. 


  • 27 Sep 2021 9:04 PM
    Reply # 11125824 on 11097807

    I think you are overthinking it. Only a very skilled installer would be thinking about that. I think you'd be lucky to see an HRV that was balanced, or remained balanced in an existing home.

  • 28 Sep 2021 7:51 AM
    Reply # 11126469 on 11097807

    The HRV is a "balanced" system.  Fresh air in and stale air out.  The flows are established through the dampers and motors and not dependent  on the hot water heater.  The hot water heater acts all on its own.  Direct vent is good as it would then have no combustion air.  What Toby is getting to is either way the HRV should be checked and balanced because most have not been balanced even though they should be by code.

  • 3 Nov 2021 9:02 AM
    Reply # 12095899 on 11097807

    Many things could potentially change the balance of an HRV, even doing air-sealing on a home.  Moving to a fan driven venting system will likely change things a bit and technically speaking the HRV should be re-balanced. I would say an independently-ducted HRV is more susceptible than one tied into a forced air furnace.

    In independent systems even opening a window will also change the balance of a system, so it comes down to how much change is too much.  The company that installed my HRV likes to slightly over pressure intake to keep a positive pressure environment in the house... but only slightly.  It would certainly be interesting to see some data on this. 

    And yeah... it might be overthinking but, with houses getting tighter all the time, this might be more important than we think.

    Last modified: 3 Nov 2021 9:15 AM | Jeffrey St-Pierre
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