6 Most Frequently Asked Questions about ERV

Natural ventilation (NV) refers to ventilation that uses pressure differences to create airflow. It can be done quickly by opening windows or doors to initiate circulation. However, there are some downsides to NV in our modern era. It is not always easy to open doors or windows in urban areas due to security, privacy, and noise concerns. Furthermore, air pollution is one of the significant factors that hinders occupants from natural ventilation. In addition to these factors, another reason occupants reluctant to undertake natural ventilation, especially in the cold season, is energy loss. Occupants can usher fresh air into the building with mechanical ventilation while reducing energy loss.

There are three types of mechanical ventilation; supply ventilation, exhaust ventilation, and balanced ventilation. Supply ventilation creates an additional air exchange by using a fan to draw air into the indoor space. The fan increases the average indoor air pressure, increasing the forces that tend to push air out of the room. Rooms such as those used as intensive care units use supply ventilation to prevent the introduction of contaminants from the adjacent spaces. Exhaust ventilation creates additional air volume by using a fan to blow air out of the room. The fan lowers the average indoor air pressure, increasing the force that pulls air into the room. The pollution level is not the same everywhere within the building. In some rooms, such as toilets, exhaust ventilation is used to prevent the spread of odors.

As its name indicates, balanced ventilation uses two fans; one drawing air in and another pushing an equal volume of air out. The average air pressure of the house is unaffected. Balanced ventilation offers the location control advantages of both exhaust and supply ventilation.

Additionally, balanced ventilation provides an opportunity to include a heat exchanger between the outgoing air and the incoming air to precondition the incoming air. A balanced ventilation system with a heat exchanger usually comes in either a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy-recovery ventilator (ERV).

The ERV has a heat exchanger mechanism that saves cooling and heating energy during ventilation. Not only the heat exchanger but LG ERV’s differentiated functions (Night Time Free Cooling, Automated Seasonal Operation, Suspended Operation. CO2 Auto Operation ) make it more energy-efficient. Using LG ERV can result in up to 40% more energy savings than natural ventilation.

*Based on an LGE internal simulation of an LG air conditioner and a LG ERV operating together, the heat exchanger saves up to 24% more energy than natural ventilation and works with other LG ERV features to provide total energy savings up to 40%. Results may vary depending on the environment. Simulation Conditions: Based on ERV (1,000CMH) + Multi V 5 (12hp) / 455m2 office space, Cooling 26℃ / heating 21℃, e Quest 3.65 / Daily operation in winter conditions.
*‘Automated Seasonal Operation’ ‘Night Time Free Cooling’, and ‘Suspended Operation function’ on remote control.

The ERV comes packed with many nifty functions that help regulate temperature and air quality by integrating inherent climate conditions to deliver an optimal user experience while enhancing energy efficiency. Night-time Free cooling mode is one such feature that exploits air temperature differences by funneling cool evening air indoors during the summer months. Likewise, in the Automated Seasonal Operation mode , LG ERV senses the outdoor temperature and changes the operation mode automatically following the weather condition. This mode enables a bypass operation during the mild spring and autumn months, where the outdoor air temperature and humidity are adequate. The fresh outdoor air is introduced directly to the indoor space without exchanging heat with the outgoing indoor air – leading to cost-cutting.

The ERV works in tandem with other devices such as air-conditioning units to overcome abrupt transitions between extreme temperatures. With such functions and by interlocking the ERV with the air conditioning system, it is possible to save energy while heating/cooling and ventilating the indoor space.