DIY Heat Recovery Ventilator ?

[bassman]

The canopy I have now is sealed off, when it's closed. I anticipate air flow through when it's open. I can shut the fan off if it became an issue.

[Doug]

IMO,
If you live in a cold climate and not on the coast, save yourself a headache and install an HRV. If you search them on here, you will find a couple of dandy threads on them and all the happy aquarists that installed one.

Of course if one lives in an older leaky house then its another story but if the house is well sealed, it requires ventilation.

I,m not sure, how running a dehimidifier is cost effective, esp. when compared with an HRV. They must be one of the most non cost effective ways of removing humidity, although, yes, they work good.

I do know of several aquarists who vent their hoods outside. Some in colder climates have dampers on them to redirect heat into the house on cold days but not sure how that removes the moisture, unless its not a problem. I think if vented out as you described, just some form of air replacement into the room that can be dampered is fine.

Still say in the long run, a HRV is the best way to remove humid stale air and bring fresh air back, {in a cost efficient manner} into a house, in the cold season. With central air, no problems in the hot season.

[bassman]

Originally Posted by Doug

IMO,
If you live in a cold climate and not on the coast, save yourself a headache and install an HRV. If you search them on here, you will find a couple of dandy threads on them and all the happy aquarists that installed one.

Of course if one lives in an older leaky house then its another story but if the house is well sealed, it requires ventilation.

I,m not sure, how running a dehimidifier is cost effective, esp. when compared with an HRV. They must be one of the most non cost effective ways of removing humidity, although, yes, they work good.

I do know of several aquarists who vent their hoods outside. Some in colder climates have dampers on them to redirect heat into the house on cold days but not sure how that removes the moisture, unless its not a problem. I think if vented out as you described, just some form of air replacement into the room that can be dampered is fine.

Still say in the long run, a HRV is the best way to remove humid stale air and bring fresh air back, {in a cost efficient manner} into a house, in the cold season. With central air, no problems in the hot season.

You are probably right. I do live in a older home that is far from sealed but I intend to remedy that soon.

It will be a little while before I get to the HRV step so I still have lots of questions to ask and things to learn.

If I know me I will just bite the bullet and buy one when the times comes, I like sleeping at night. LOL I am just poking around to see if any one has come up with a cheaper solution.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by bassman

You are probably right. I do live in a older home that is far from sealed but I intend to remedy that soon.

It will be a little while before I get to the HRV step so I still have lots of questions to ask and things to learn.

If I know me I will just bite the bullet and buy one when the times comes, I like sleeping at night. LOL I am just poking around to see if any one has come up with a cheaper solution.

If your climate is warm enough there to just vent, which is basically an air exchanger, {w/no heat recovery}, some of the west coast guys with large systems had some really good venting designs with pics. And if you're interested in some good HRV threads, I believe I mentioned we had a few dandys.