3 reasons why I REGRET installing this Honeywell ERV in my house. Honeywell VNT5150E1000 SPRAY FOAM
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- Опубликовано: 1 июн 2023
- I installed a Honeywell ERV in my spray foam insulated house 2 years ago. I talk about why I regret buying and installing this unit.
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If you install oversized filter boxes with a Merv 13 or so on the feeds supplying the intakes, I bet you’ll rarely touch that cover on the ERV again! I did something similar on my hvac where I got a super expensive MERV 16 filter but I have a second Merv6 in front of it doing all the work. I replace the super cheap filter every 6 months and the super expensive one every 2-3 years. I extended the service window by oversizing which also keeps the static pressure load penalty low. I hope you are able to take pride in your install again with a simple fix. Doing the non ERV simple return intake will waste energy and be lousy with moisture sucking high humid air right into your HVAC. And your back to running the high electricity cost HVAC fans. The fan on my old furnace pulled 800 Watts!
@jeffmucha what size did you end up making your oversized filter boxes?
@@andysontag5336 I put in a 20” by 25” wide 3.5 ton air handler and it has a max CFM of 1260. I have the biggest standard 5” filter cabinet they make at 20x25”. I have Merv 5 in the air return filter grilles, followed by the 20x25 F300 Honeywell followed by the Merv 16 Lennox media filter. My static pressures are well below the limits of my air handler.
Also put a filter on the return air that’s going to be exhausted. This is to protect the core from the house air. Food ERVs have them. Zinder? Watch Matt’s videos.
I was having the same issue of bugs and nasty things building up in my erv, and saw a great tip from Corbet Lungsford- he installed a bug screen on the exterior intake for the erv. I did that and is minimizing most of the stuff that used to cone in
That’s a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
Do you want fresh air in your house? Yes? Do you want bugs and dust and pollen and pollution in your house? No? Then you will need a filter(s) at some point and they will need to be cleaned.
fresh air + clean air = filters.
There's no way around that. They could be the filters in your ERV. Or you could have filters before the ERV, but those still need to be cleaned. Even with no ERV you'd still need filters. I want to eat junk food and look ripped but I don't want to exercise. I want to spend money but don't want to work. Everything takes work. You clean your toilet, wash your car, vacuum your floors, empty the vacuum, do your laundry, brush your teeth, take out the trash, clear your gutters, power wash your driveway, trim your hedges, mow your lawn, shave your face, clip your nails, and clean your filters.
EXACTLY! 😂 this has to be one of the dumbest things I've seen someone complain about
Ha! You sound like my dad! Or me, now that I'm becoming my dad! You're absolutely right: if you own 'things' they will require maintenance. My wife and I have an off-grid house that requires regular maintenance of the lead-acid cells in the battery bank. Forgetting is not allowed. That's why living off-grid isn't for everyone; the lazy folks end up accidently destroying the system.
Love your videos. I’m having a humidity problem myself. Learning a lot for sure
The aprilaire whole house dehumidifier has done a good job at keeping our high humidity down.
where do you live? is your humidity problem that it is too low or too high?
@@seedtheskiesi believe it was to high hes dont many videos on this.
By the way, whats the better alternative?
Continue with good videos
@BrantleyBlended what's the better alternative?
I want to know also @@zachtutor7998
Install an inline filter box between the intake grille and ERV so you don't have the ERV's cheap filter do all the work.
Seems like something you can still do with your setup. @@kentaltobelli1840
@@kentaltobelli1840 Thanks for this comment. I'm about install a similar product and now I'm going to put the extra inline filter box in.
An ERV/HRV is not a filter. You should have put a filter box in before the ERV fresh air intake. It also helps to put in a filter in the exhaust before the ERV/HRV. Use a filter box for 16x20x5" pleats. Put MERV 14+ on intake and MERV 10+ on exhaust and you may not have to clean the ERV for 5 years.
He only needs to put MERV 11 or 13 filters on both sides of the core. MERV 14+ have too much pressure drop for those small fans to handle.
I'm researching product options. Thanks for the heads up.
Aren´t there any paper filters for that air inlet? Those mesh filters are worthless when filtering dust/pollen, which is why your core is always caked with pollen/dust.
We install Aprilaire M13 or M16 filters in-line on the fresh air intake. Way better filtration, way less maintenance.
I have a roll of cobra vent which is ridge vent used for roofing that I cut a square of and put in my intake hood outside. Just pull it out and toss it when it’s dirty and put a new one in
We just installed a 6” duct from the outside into our return. A motorized damper is controlled to open when CO2 > 500 PPM.
That is what I should’ve done.
Can you elaborate?
Same here. A motorized damper from outside that feeds into the return. The return gets dusty though. I mainly use it for humidity control. Maintain indoor humidity through the seasons and also bring in fresh air. It used to be open all the time. After putting the damper on, no more need for a humidifier.
Then he’s just going to complain about replacing the filter
500 ppm sounds too low. Isn’t the damper open all the time? Outside air is in the mid 400ppm range and I have heard from experts to try to maintain indoor air below 1000ppm. I have a CO2 monitor and ventilate my house. The only time it gets into the 500ppm+ range is when the windows are all open. Most of the time it ranges from 650-900ish with the windows closed.
Mesh box/cover on intake to stop the bugs & large crap getting in, then buy sheets of disposable filter pads that can be cut to fit. Cut them up into a few years or so worth of replacements & then every 3 months all you should have to do is pull out the used filter (no bugs etc in the pipes) & bin it, then fit the new pre cut filter pad.
Is that filter you showed us, air from inside your house, or outside the house? If its from outside, I cant wait to get one of those things!
Hi, you said “ I should have installed fresh air returns on my hvac units…” can you explain how this could be done practically speaking.. what is the hvac unit?
This is the first video I have seen about the problem of ERV, and it is good for me to plan one. Most videos so far are on the good side, and you need one. An ERV is still an excellent addition to the house for the right person. As many have said, a pre-filter or bug screen may be a solution. A bigger unit is better. A lot of fresh air for the HVAC could be a better idea in Georgia, which has humidity and pollen.
If I undersand correctly, HVAC is a close system, its job is keep the house in the right temperature. Opening that system to the outside can make it dirty because the filter is weaker in design. ERV is about fresh air. Combining the two is a cheaper solution, but it can create problems. That is why the two are stand-alone for simplicity. With current technology, It is easier to solve one issue at a time than a complex one for a typical homeowner.
My previous Virginia house has two 3" PVC pipes for intake and exhaust to the HVAC system, I think that was a poor version of ERV if I can call it that way. But that could be what someone needs, like a small family with only two adults who prefer to open the windows occasionally.
Dealing with frequent filter cleaning or replacement is something I wanted to avoid after seeing so many complaints so I installed an insulated filter box that holds 2 two inch thick 14 by 20 inch merv 13 filters in a v configuration for the fresh air intake to the ERV. My hope is that it will be a while before changing the filter is necessary, and when I do it will be an easy, fairly cheap replacement. My heat pump air handler draws 500 watts while my ERV just uses 44 watts, so it's nice not needing to run the air handler all the time. If I had a variable speed air handler that only drew 20-50 watts I may do things differently. Glad you found something that works for you.
I thought about installing an extra filter on the fresh air intake as you described, but I also thought it might reduce the airflow for the ERV. I was thinking it wouldn’t be able to pull in as much air with an extra filter.
@@BrantleyBlended Most people that I see talking about using an in-line filter box for their ERV are then removing the filter from within the ERV, and since they're switching to a larger filter with less resistance they actually get better airflow. If adding a filter box to an already in use system I could see leaving the internal filter in place briefly in case there is anything in the ductwork, and then once the internal filter seems to be staying clean take it out and just use the in line filter.
One interesting variation I've seen is an outdoor filter box for someone that doesn't have room for a large filter box inside. By placing it outside the conditioned envelope it then doesn't have to be insulated to minimize condensation. Had I not already purchased an insulated filter from HVACquick I'd be tempted to build one myself since seeing interesting versions that incorporate large carbon filters during times of the year when wildfires are a concern.
That’s a good idea, removing the ERV filter after installing a filter box. I feel like the cheap blue filters that are used in the Honeywell ERV don’t work very well anyway.
Pre-filters on the intakes ?
Thank you
Would you prefer dust on a cleanable filter rectangle or all over your house? Larger intakes may help and MERV 13 filters may catch dust better. Gratitude for one's home and the opportunity to re-use heat instead of drowning polar bears with extra high gas bills burning extra natural gas, ...try gratitude? HRV and ERV installs are supported by Federal and some States' tax credits, rebates, and coupons. I wonder if Zehnder equivalent is easier to install and maintain? Window screens also require cleaning whether we use them for ventilation or just let them sit there collecting dust. Key difference is that a heat recovery ventilator allows us to re-capture and recycle the winter heating (or summer cooling) energy. Want a home 100% free of maintenance and cleaning? Coffins are one place to stay that don't require any maintenance or cleaning....otherwise maintenance and cleaning is kind of like death and taxes, they are necessary parts of life. If you set things up right, you can even watch and listen to The Game or talk to friends by cell phone while you clean or replace the filters.😁
thank you for being honest
Would be curious to know how you installed the system as a retrofit into your house.
Here is my DIY install video. I have a playlist with many videos about the ERV.
ruclips.net/video/51GbZsDoHRI/видео.html
Thanks for letting us know what you would have preferred to go with because it’s a better solution than this.
Besides the maintenance did you fix your interior humidity problems?
Yes, by installing an aprilaire whole house dehumidifier.
@@BrantleyBlended So has the ERV made a noticeable difference to anything?
buy extra filters and swap them out when u have to clean them out. clean the dirty ones in a better area of soaking in solution. ready for the next month
I should do this. Extra filters are $50+.
What is the other solution you could have used? Im currently having half my metal shop turned into 2br 1 bath living area and would like to know cheaper and better solutions to bring fresh air. Im also doing this in texas where it is hot and high humidity
I should've installed a fresh air return that goes through the exterior wall. Every time the HVAC unit is running it will pull fresh air in from the outside and blow it directly through the HVAC unit. Sometimes, we go days or weeks when the HVAC unit doesn't turn on because of the comfortable temperatures in the fall or spring. During those times I would just turn the HVAC blower on and let it run anytime we are home, or maybe even all day. If you have a nicer HVAC unit you can make the blower run at a lower speed so you might save on your power bill. My dehumidifier turns my blower on every time it kicks on. I have not noticed it increasing my power bill too much. As far as filtering the fresh air, you can use the HVAC filter that is already in the HVAC unit, or you can add an extra filter to clean the fresh air before it enters the HVAC return. That is what I would do.
Hi you said you would go a different way instead of the HRV what would that be .i have a new construction house in Connecticut so we have a winter, can you please let me know another option, Thank you!!
I should’ve just run a fresh air duct into the return of each hvac system. It would pull in outside air every time the hvac system runs. Sometimes, in the fall or spring, we don’t run the hvac for several weeks. I would set up the hvac to run the fan only on a lower speed so it would pull in fresh air. It would also circulate and filter the air in the house.
@@BrantleyBlended wouldn't the fresh air duct also bring in dust, pollen, and humidity?
Yep, same problem but filtered by furnance filter. Or install a pre-filter. The biggest problem with untreated fresh air is energy loss.
You need an erv with a filter….that stuff on filter is what you were breathing before the erv!
do not clean the filter just buy a new one and replace it. not green but cheap, and clean. and if u replace it... replace with a h13 or h14 hepa filter.
This guy is a legend :D it like i want clean air but free , self sustained and they must pay you to install it :D :D bro is a god
So what's the alternative?
If you have no winter there then why the hell you need recuperator...? I installed ground heat exchanger and in air filter is more clean then out air, looks like rocks can be a very good air filter (ps i live next to unpaved road and have a lot of dust outside in dry summer days) :)
We do have winters here but we rarely get snow. We get freezing temperatures at night but we will be in the 40s or 50s during the day. The ERV is for fresh air and better ventilation. We need that whether we have winter or not.
Put a fine screen at the exterior vents.
Hello, tell you about another solution instead of tour ERV installation. What are you referring to ? Please SharePlay your alternative solution
What a load of clickbait. Either turn it off, or don't clean it and let your lungs do the cleaning. Or just buy a bigger unit and maintain it less often.
Every machine needs maintenance. Those machines are made for clean air so I'm assuming that's why u want to clean regularly
So what would you suggest now after your experience?
Curious on the same… knowing he’s in Georgia
I should’ve just run a fresh air duct into the return of each hvac system. It would pull in outside air every time the hvac system runs. Sometimes, in the fall or spring, we don’t run the hvac for several weeks. I would set up the hvac to run the fan only on a lower speed so it would pull in fresh air. It would also circulate and filter the air in the house.
@@BrantleyBlended Yeah this is what my hvac contractors did on our house, which is also very airtight due to sprayfoam. While it solves the ventilation issue, I wish I had installed a dehumidifier to solve the humidity issue. Additionally, we have a make-up air issue, causing our range/bathroom/dryer exhausts to basically be worthless. Not sure what the most sensible solution is for this. Installing a dedicated make-up air system for the exhausts seems like over kill. Am considering a passive inlet vent,
@@BrantleyBlended I know this is an old thread, but I don't get it. Wouldn't that just suck all that junk into your HVAC unit & filter?
What other cheaper erv options are there?
Add a fresh air return to the hvac unit. Don’t install an ERV at all.
You install a fresh air intake into your hvac return, you are just cleaning those same bugs from your hvac filter
Yes, but a hvac filter is easy to replace with a new one. Also, I would install an extra in-line filter box on the fresh air intake ductwork. It would capture all the bugs. You could easily vacuum out the box and replace the filter.
@@BrantleyBlended You are 100% right. HVAC filter easier to replace than ERV maintenance. Though bringing in hot humid Georgia air into your AC will increase how hard it has to work. No free lunch, I guess. Just different trade-offs
@@PW060284 could add a dehumidifier
well a bug screen at the outside vent and install a box with a filter like the hvac one in front of the erv. that filter is a throw away and takes a second to swap. @@BrantleyBlended
Have you tried venting the roof ridge cap, Cut a hole in the roof.
Cleaning it really isn't that big of a deal. I'm in the southeast and I only clean mine yearly. Takes about an hour per year and that's all.
I installed the 200 cfm unit 8 years ago myself. It was a pain to install, that's for sure.
I should've bought the bigger 200 cfm unit.
Brantley-bhowbcan a ‘great contractor’ do a ‘terrible job’
the cleaning is merely a maintenance task that is obviously required.....but with your home being spray foamed, you did right by having an ERV. the alternative you can go to if you are that tired of maintaining the ERV, is to duct a 6-8" run straight into your return of the unit. put a motorized damper on it to interlock it with the AHU fan, then it'll close when the G call goes away. i would NOT go that route as you are dumping in raw, unconditioned, unfiltered outside air.
i just recently installed two Lennox ERVs in my house with the understanding that the maintenance is just part of the extreme comfort and air exchange quality.
I should’ve just run a fresh air duct into the return of each hvac system.
@@BrantleyBlended I have a fresh air duct plumbed into both of my HVAC systems. I'd rather have your setup. I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side. I'm hoping to squeeze a dehumidifier in both of my HVAC closets with a fresh air vent soon. I may have to take modify the space and duct work a bit to get everything to fit. (it's going to be tight, but I have 9ft ceilings with 24" floor joist that I'm hoping will work into my favor. However, to avoid busting up drywall I'd prefer to run the dehumidifier like your ERV attic setup, but I'm unsure if that would efficient for the whole house. I got closed cell foam to save in utility bills, but it seems like you have to have a bunch of HVAC gizmos to get the interior space perfect, so much for the savings... I mentioned the ERV and Dehumidifiers to my builder at the framing stage and he acted surprised that I would want those and recommended the fresh air vents. Now, I'm here looking at self installed ERVs and Dehumidifier videos from a guy in GA on youtube.
@@kbmotorsportsonlineWhy do you wish you had done the ERV instead of fresh air vents? Having that exact same conversation with our builder now and trying to decide which way to go...
@@ryan52403 I went with spray foam and I was told the ERV would solve my problems due to the amount of air exchanges it provides. Fast forward to 1/10/24 and we're suppose to get a quote to remove all the foam on both of my roof decks due to being applied wrong. I think a ventilating dehumidifier would likely be the best form of attack for fresh air and a moist free home. I'm not an expert just going through pains of figuring out how to cure problems I didn't expect from our house build. I doubt I'd ever use spray foam again or buy a house with spray foam without all the proper mechanics behind it for "cleaner" air.
@@kbmotorsportsonline So you were having humidity issues because of the tight house and the ERV didn't solve that? Interesting. You might want to schedule a call with Corbett Lunsford (look him up on RUclips) I bet he can help you figure this out.
So the take away is either do it right or don’t do it at all? 😂
I found a great contractor who did a terrible job LOL what
Brother dw about dust particles and Ull be ok
Not sure why this came up but its got to be a parody. lol Maintenance is a part of just about anything if you want it to work properly. In Georga putting a return directly into your return would allow unconditioned, hot and humid air directly into your hvac unit and into your house. That's the worst idea for a spray foamed house. I've seen houses mold due to things like that and oversized equipment and incorrectly installed fresh air. I'd recommend throw away filters to ease the burden of the maintenance. lol. Vehicles require maintenance and so does a house. I hope you don't have tankless water heaters since they require yearly or every two year maintenance(flush), whole home generators need yearly maintenance, vehicles need oil changes etc. 1st world problems my man. Ha!
At 1:00 you said you knew another way to do it, but you never told us??
I should’ve installed fresh air returns on my 2 hvac units. Every time they run they would pull in fresh air from outside. Sometimes we go a couple weeks in the fall or spring where we don’t need heat or ac. I would run the hvac fan at a low speed during those times so they pulled in fresh air. This probably would’ve cost me $300 instead of $3000.
Have you checked to see if your hat is on too tight ? Your like the guy who disputes that his guitar is out of tune by arguing that it was in tune with
when you bought it at the store ! I do sympathize with you having to retrofit it into an already built house, that can be a task and a half.
Looks like your spray foam is a little thin…
lol this guy is the person that would go to Mc Donald's to go to the washroom cause cleaning the toilet is "disgusting" or he will need to hire a cleaner XD wtf
C'mon, do you clean your house, car, TV, or ceiling fans, etc? You can pay someone or diy. Those damn things are so easy to clean for the benefit you're getting from it. If you don't want to clean it, just replace the filters with better ones every few months. The core isn't a big deal to do once a year.
dude, looks like you pretty manky, not cleaning a centralized source of dust and dirt every 3 months? WTF
You've just answered your own problems..... if it's nasty where you live then you need something to protect you when you're at home ....that thing you're complaining about is saving you from what's outside so grin and bear it.
You really need this in a spray foam insulated house, the spray foam emits gases which will attack HVAC coils . Its a pain but it is well worth it.
Can you prove that?
If you regret it. Bypass it.
Do you complain about oil changes and having to stop at the gas station too? Sad part about your video is you likely will discourage people from an essential component needed in our homes to reduce the dangerous pollutants that exist there. Lung and Bronchus cancers have become the #1 Cancer and cancer killer. Do you think for a moment it just might have something to do with how tight we are making our buildings? How long will you stay healthy in your tightly sealed house, breathing the pollution that has little chance of escaping? One child who comes down with asthma will eat up $3K in expenses in a short period of time. And whining about cleaning maintenance? Really? Shut it off and live in your pollution. Yes you have that option. But don't encourage others to do that for such simple reasons.
1st world problems....wahhh
I mean if I don't put an erv in I'll suffocate in my own home. Plus with us planning to run a b&b out of it, I think suffocating guests would be a little more expensive than paying someone to clean the erv every so often 🤣
free meat
@@snorttroll4379 well... You got me there 🤣
apparently it is healthy too. and they pay@@heythere61
btw. can one make an erv from paper?@@heythere61
Everything needs maintenance in HVAC.. stop being a baby
i wish there was a way to block you popping up in my feed
You're just lazy.😇