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Frequently Asked Questions - Performance
Review our FAQ's. If you don’t
find what you’re looking for, send your questions to us.
How
much electricity does the RecoupAerator use per month?
The RecoupAerator uses about the same amount of energy as two light
bulbs.
This unit uses the least energy and recovers the most.
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What makes the RecoupAerator
so energy efficient?
The RecoupAerator uses a brushless GE ECM variable speed motor.
The fact that the motor is brushless (i.e., it doesn’t touch
anything as it turns) means that there is less friction, which reduces
heat production and increases energy efficiency. The GE ECM motors
(two) in each RecoupAerator are 40 percent more efficient than a
standard induction motor. Also, the ECM motor’s permanent
magnet, DC design and high power factor allow it to maintain its
efficiency over a wide speed range.
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What is balanced
airflow?
Balanced airflow is the term used to describe when the incoming
and outgoing air streams are equal.
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What is balanced
pressure?
Balanced pressure is when the air pressure inside your house is
equal to the air pressure outside of your house. When your home
is properly pressurized, it guards against air leaking in or out
of the house, ensuring you the highest level of air quality inside
your home. When your home is negatively pressurized (meaning the
air pressure inside your home is lower than the air pressure outside),
unfiltered air leaks in around windows, doors, and through other
cracks that you probably don’t even know exist. In many climates,
experts recommend that your house be slightly positively pressurized
to keep from bringing in outdoor pollutants. Your installer can
help you determine whether you need to positively pressurize your
home.
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How is the balancing
being controlled?
The two GE ECM brushless motors in the RecoupAerator®
ensure that the air is being pumped in and out at the same
rate, no matter what the duct configuration is. This means
that even when the heat transfer/filtration material is loaded
up (i.e., ready for washing), the unit will still deliver
the desired flow rate.
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What
is the noise level for the 200DX?
The RecoupAerator is quiet, partially because we removed 75 moving
parts when we redesigned its current incarnation. Also, the GE ECM
motors operate at whisper levels.
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How
does the RecoupAerator effect indoor humidity?
The RecoupAerator uses a patented rotary energy transfer core to
transfer humidity. The energy core is a rotating wheel containing
an energy transfer material. As a moisture laden air stream passes
through the core, the core absorbs a percentage of the moisture
from the air. The wheel, constantly rotating, transfers that moisture
to the opposite air stream where the core “dries out’,
or releases moisture, into the drier air stream. This process can
be labeled as diffusion. Diffusion always transfers moisture from
a moister medium to a less moist medium.
This means that in the hotter seasons, the RecoupAerator will keep
the excess moisture outside, maintaining a cooler, more pleasant
temperature inside. In the colder months, the RecoupAerator helps
keep moisture inside the house, preventing dry uncomfortable air.
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Does the RecoupAerator use a condensate drain?
Because the moisture never condenses, the RecoupAerator has no need
for a drain. The energy transfer core of the RecoupAerator acts
as a sponge, as it gathers moisture from one air stream and transfers
it to the other. Just as a sponge can hold moisture without dripping,
the RecoupAerator can transfer moisture without a condensate drain.
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How does the automatic
frost prevention work?
This unit is programmed to sense when weather conditions are close
to frost temperatures and changes the way the heat is exchanged
to prevent it from frosting. (Some other manufacturers’ units
continually cycle warm air through the unit, mixing it with the
cold to prevent frost, which lowers the amount of fresh air that
is brought in.)
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How does the EconoCool™ feature work?
The EconoCool™ feature on the 200DX works somewhat like using
a whole-house attic fan or opening your window to bring in cool
night air — only better. When the EconoCool wall switch is
“on,” the RecoupAerator brings in cool outside air (when
the temperature outside is cooler than inside), filtering the incoming
air and saving on A/C costs. When the inside temperature reaches
the thermostat set point, the unit restores its energy recovery
function, turning away warm, humid air and keeping the cool air
indoors. In some regions, such as the Southwest, EconoCool can greatly
reduce or even eliminate the need for air conditioning.
Therefore, unlike simply opening a window, the RecoupAerator ensures
that the air inside your home is filtered. Using a RecoupAerator
is also safer than opening windows at night.
Every 200DX ships with the EconoCool™ feature programmed into
the control board. To enable this feature, all an installer needs
to do is to wire the unit to a low voltage, on/off toggle switch
in a single-gang light switch box (UltimateAir sells an inexpensive
version for under $30). Turning the switch on during appropriate
times of the year activates the temperature sensors which then automatically
provide the benefits of night cooling
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How does CO2Guard™
work?
With CO2Guard™, your RecoupAerator is wired to a remote sensor(s)
inside your home. When CO2 levels rise (e.g., when the family gathers
for dinner, when you’re entertaining, or when you’re
exercising), the sensors ramp up the airflow to dilute the carbon
dioxide. When CO2 returns to an acceptable level, the unit returns
to your previously set flow rate.
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Why are CO2 levels
so important?
Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is often used as an indicator of ventilation,
and it’s related to the number of occupants in a building
or space. CO2 is one of the byproducts of human respiration and
human metabolism and is associated with poor productivity and concentration
as well as headaches and loss of mental acuity. A building should
not exceed 800–1000 parts per million (ppm), yet we have routinely
found that the average home’s concentration of CO2 can reach
more than 2500 ppm. When your home (where you spend 65% of your
time) is properly ventilated, you’ll feel better, more alert,
and more productive.
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How does PressureGuard™
work?
PressureGuard™ continually samples air pressure both in your
home and outside and adjusts your RecoupAerator’s airflow
balance accordingly. For instance, suppose that your home’s
kitchen fan, bathroom fan(s), and dryer exhaust are on simultaneously,
and that one or more windows in your home are open. This can easily
happen, even in one- or two-person households. The result is that
your home becomes depressurized and therefore more likely to uptake
moisture and gases present in the environment. What’s more,
as outdoor air pressure changes with climate, season, and weather,
your house needs to respond accordingly. You can breathe easier
knowing that PressureGuard™ is taking care of you, your family,
your house, and your possessions.
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Does the RecoupAerator accept indoor air
quality input devices such as humidistats, timers, and boost controllers?
The RecoupAerator does accept all types of indoor air quality
input devices, and UltimateAir offers a wide variety of them.
Visit our online store for a complete list.
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How can
I calculate air exchanges per day in my home?
The rule of thumb for many years was 0.35 Air exchanges per hour
(ACH). To calculate ACH multiply the square footage by ceiling height
to arrive at the volume, multiply by 0.35 to arrive at the volume
of air to be exchanged each hour and then divide by 60 to arrive
at the cubic feet per minute. Using this method, 116 cfm of fresh
air is required for a 2500 sq. ft home.
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What
is the recommended standard for residential ventilation?
Ventilation and indoor air quality has been the subject of much
research, both in the US and overseas. The US remains one of a few
highly industrialized countries that does not mandate ventilation
rates for single-family dwellings.
While the necessity of ventilation indoor spaces is not in dispute,
the amount of fresh air required for the health, safety and comfort
of those living in today’s tight homes continues to remain
somewhat of an open question. It is probably prudent to discuss
a variety of viewpoints, standards and methods of calculation.
ASHRAE 62.2- Ventilation recommendations
for low-rise single-family dwellings, recommend a minimum of 1 CFM
per 100 sq ft of floor space, plus 7.5 CFM per bedroom, pus 1 bedroom.
For a 2500 sq ft home with three bedrooms, this would translate
into 55 CFM of fresh air continuously (1(2500/100) +(7.5x4) = 55
CFM).
The Canadian Code, CSA F-326 –
Residential Mechanical Ventilation Systems meet or exceed the ASHRAE
62.2 codes. CSA F-326 requires that fresh air be delivered into
all rooms in the home at the rate of 10 CFM per room, 20 CFM for
an unfinished basement and 20 CFM for the master bedroom. For the
same 2500 sq ft (three bedroom, unfinished basement, kitchen, dining,
family room) home would require 90 CFM of ventilation.
The rule of thumb for many years was 0.35 Air exchanges per hour
(ACH). To calculate ACH multiply the sq foot by ceiling height to
arrive at the volume, multiply by 0.35 to arrive at the volume of
air to be exchanged each hour and then divide by 60 to arrive at
the cubic feet per minute. Using this method, 116 CFM of fresh air
would be required for a 2500 sq ft home.
Calculating the amount of fresh air that is delivered to a home
is one of a number of additional factors to consider when installing
a good ventilation system that insures the equipment interacts correctly
with the existing heating/cooling sustain and is distributed throughout
the home. Some of these include: pressure control (preventing the
home from going negative), capacity (capable of being able to increase
ventilation rate when desirable), contaminant removal, distribution,
duct sizing, (properly located and installed) and control systems
(easy to understand by the user).
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How
good is the RecoupAerator’s filtration?
The RecoupAerator is unique among heat recovery ventilators (HRVs)
and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) in its extraordinary ability
to filter the incoming air. Larger particles are trapped by the
aluminum pre-filter (which is easily removed for cleaning). Our
patented heat exchange material catches the rest. It traps 95% of
particles 5 microns and larger and 72% of particles .22 microns
and larger! To get an idea of the size of particles filtered, read
this list:
- Human hair 70-100 microns
- Human sneeze 10-100 microns
- Pet dander .5-100 microns
- Pollen 5-100 microns
- Spores from plants 6-100 microns
- Mold 2-20 microns
- Smoke .01-1 microns
- Dust mite debris .5-50 microns
- Household dust .5-100 microns
- Bacteria .35-10 microns
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How
often do the filters need replaced?
We suggest that the filters are replaced every six months.
It’s a good idea to have a spare set of filters on hand,
so there’s no unwanted down time in your ventilation
cycle.
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Will
particles like mold cause a problem in my RecoupAerator once it
is trapped by the filters?
There has never been an instance of trapped mold particles becoming
an issue in the heat exchange material. However, if this ever were
to happen, adding Chlorine to the solution in which the heat exchange
material is would both kill and prevent spore growth. Also, there
is continuous air movement within the cabinet preventing moisture
from accumulating. Air circulation creates an inhospitable environment
for mold growth.
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How
much other maintenance is required?
Besides the filters, there are no other user-serviceable parts
in our unit. The motors are permanently lubricated and all
the bearings are sealed. If possible, clean the inside of
your RecoupAerator once a year with a vacuum cleaner and a
brush attachment to remove any particles that may be trapped
in the unit housing.
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What is the
warranty for the RecoupAerator®
We offer a 5 year limited warranty. Click here
for a detailed outline of our warranty.
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How
can I purchase a RecoupAerator whole house energy recovery ventilation
system?
To purchase a RecoupAerator energy recovery ventilator click here..
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800.535.3448
(toll free) 740.594.2277 740.592.1499 (FAX)