HRV vs Whole House Dehumidifer

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by cwatkins

The local code requires we have a hard-wired bathroom fan running 24/7.

This is something I would personally fix if I were you, if dig into it you'll find that this particular feature isn't really because your house is that air tight, after all if it were that tight you would experience negative pressure issues from a 24/7 exhaust fan, chances are you even got some extra holes somewhere to let the house breath. The reason you have such a feature is a result from large insurance claims in the area back in the 80s after new Canada wide building codes were released from CMHC but they weren't up to par with your area and resulted in poor building practice and eventually mold issues leading to those insurance claims. Now you do require a ventilation system by code as do many other areas throughout Canada which is good. What's bad however is the fact the builders in the area are still cheaping out and selling houses with what they label as bathroom fan feature to enhance airflow in the house to prevent mold and mildew. Realistically this "feature" is more of a shortcut and even saves money as you no longer need a switch Nothing more than a cheap fix/gimmick to barely pass code and help sell houses. At the very least it needs to be on a timer or even better a humidistat.

[mark]

well this is embarrassing.

Downstairs looking how to run things and thought "never have looked at the a/c unit's A-coil". Pull off the cover for the humidifier on the side of the furnace and see the tray is full of water and water is dripping from the float!!!

I know I turned the water off like 6 years back. Try to turn the piercing valve but it's already screwed down tight and can't go tighter. Looks like it's been running a while from the deposits, maybe not 6 years but some.

Had a spare JG valve so installed that after the other valve.

[wingedfish]

Don't lose sleep over it, even if it had it's guts, those humidifiers didn't do anything anyways.