8 differences between recuperation and gravity ventilation

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between mechanical ventilation with heat recovery – recuperation – and traditional gravity ventilation?

(each of the following first case is gravity ventilation (standard) and the second case is mechanical ventilation with a recuperator)

#1

no constant air exchange in the rooms, as a result of which you breathe air with a high carbon dioxide content

effective replacement of used air with fresh air with a low CO₂ content

#2

airing out, we lose thermal Energy

by replacing the air with fresh, we recover energy, which means big savings on heating

#3

no air filtration

filtration of the supplied air from dust, pollen, insects and other pollutants and the possibility of equipping the recuperation with advanced filtering (elimination of viruses, bacteria)

#4

it is not possible to regulate the amount of air admitted into the house

the ability to control the amount of supplied and exhausted air

#5

it is not possible to equip gravity with any energy-saving solution

the system can be equipped with a ground heat exchanger that recovers energy from the ground

#6

no service costs

power consumption by the recuperator (~ PLN 0.30 / day) + filter replacement + service once a year

#7

no possibility to manage the level of humidity

można do pewnego stopnia sterować wilgotnością w powietrzu

#8

by airing in winter, we cool the rooms

airing in winter, we maintain a high temperature comfort

The advantages of recuperation – or why it is worth having a recuperator

✔️ Exhaust air exchange: in a house with recuperation, you always breathe fresh air

Regardless of weather conditions, the air in the house with recuperation is constantly exchanged 24 hours a day, regardless of the season. With the windows closed and even when the outside temperature reaches extremes. After passing through the heat exchanger in the recuperator, the outside air is initially processed: cooled in summer, warmed in winter. Only then does it go to the premises.

In a house with recuperation, the air always has a low carbon dioxide content, comparable to the outside air, and its hygienic quality is high. The supplied air is devoid of excessive humidity, allergens, chemicals, pollutants and dust.

✔️ Supply air filtration: effective protection against smog

Mechanical ventilation also makes it possible to filter the supplied air. The level of filtration depends on the class of the filter used. The factory recuperator is equipped with G4 class pocket filters.

The installation of a filter with an increased filtration class F7 (only possible on the supply air) makes it possible to retain more than 90% of suspended dust with a size of 1-10μm and less than 75% of dust with a size of 0.3-1μm (smog pollution is mostly PM10 dust, which means that the dust size does not exceed 10 µm).

Recuperation also creates additional possibilities of ionization and purification of the air from viruses and bacteria

✔️ Savings on heating: you reuse the heat once produced

Heating bills in the winter months can be reduced by as much as 50% compared to operating gravity ventilation. This is because the heat exchanger of the recuperator transfers energy from the extract air to the supply air stream. As a result, the house has a lower demand for primary energy (EP) by up to 20 kWh / (m2 year). This is a lot, especially in the light of EU regulations on reducing the energy demand of the house until 2021.

✔️ Possibility to control the amount of air: you ventilate as you want

The recuperation system exchanges the air in your home exactly as you want it: not too much, not too little: perfect. The same amount of air is supplied and exhausted to the house regardless of the wind and pressure outside. If you need: on the recuperator controller, you increase the ventilation intensity (guests, removal of moisture and unwanted odors from the kitchen and bathrooms), if you want to: reduce it. For example, when the number of household members decreases or you are away.

✔️ Above-average comfort not possible with gravity

No drafts (no need for intensive ventilation anymore). No mosquito flies (windows can be closed before dusk in the spring and summer months without the risk of stuffiness). Significant reduction in air humidity (no mold, fungi), no fogged up mirrors in the bathroom after a bath, the ability to quickly and effectively get rid of intense odors after preparing aromatic dishes.

The house is always fresh and fragrant. Comfort impossible to achieve in a house with gravity ventilation. Something to feel, which makes you breathe fully breastfeeding around the clock, all days of the year.

✔️ Possibility to install a ground heat exchanger (gwc)

In other words: “the icing on the cake”. The possibility of using energy from the ground: the air to the recuperator is already pre-prepared: cooled in summer and heated in winter. Also a great help for the system during very low or high outside temperatures.

✔️ Investment savings

A house with recuperation has a much lower heat demand: it is worth considering when investing in a heating system at the level of device power, size of radiators or surface heating loops. The savings are particularly large when installing a heat pump: up to 15,000. zloty. >> more about savings on installing a heat pump in a house with recuperation

Disadvantages of recuperation

❌ Recuperation costs

After all, it’s extra money that needs to be invested. Invest, because recuperation is also an investment in health: in something that is very difficult to value. Remember also that you do recuperation instead of gravity ventilation, so the costs associated with the construction of some chimneys or even their removal and the installation of roof fireplaces will drop. In the case of recuperation, air vents are not installed in the windows, and some windows can be made non-opening (they are much cheaper).

>> How much does the recuperation system cost?

Add operation to the investment costs:

service inspection once a year: check the current prices here

replacement of filters in the recuperator: always when they get dirty: you can check the current prices here: www.kupfiltry.pl

electricity consumption (about PLN 0.60 / day)

❌ The consequences of the mistakes of an inexperienced installation company

A poorly designed and constructed installation, selection of a recuperator with insufficient power (because it is cheaper), inferior and shorter and uninsulated installation may mean one thing: no comfort in ventilated rooms and no heat recovery. Not worth it. Therefore, always check the opinions about the company and visit one of the customers to whom the company installed the system at least a year earlier.

❌ Potential failure of the recuperator

It may happen. Standard warranty is 24 months for the device. At Rekuperatory.pl, you can extend the warranty on the AERISnext recuperator to 5 years, provided that the installation is made in the R-vent Flex System. When buying a recuperator, it is worth remembering to check the Polish certificates and approvals of the National Institute of Hygiene that allow for use of devices. Repair of the recuperator during the warranty period – provided that the device is used correctly, e.g. periodic filter replacement, it should be free of charge, after this period service should be provided by the technical service of the installation company. At Rekuperatory.pl, you can report a failure to the company’s Service Department.

❌ Dirt around diffusers

Despite the filters in the recuperator, dark dirt appears around the diffusers – especially the supply ones. Once in a while you need to wipe them with a dry cloth.