Installing an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) in Middletown, CT

This homeowner in Middletown, CT called us because she was concerned about her radon exposure. She had a young child that lived in the home, and was concerned about the child's exposure to radon. The radon level in her basement had gone up and was now around 2 pCi/L. While this is under the EPA's radon action level of 4 pCi/L, the homeowner stated that they wanted their radon level as low as possible, and they were quite concerned about their exposure. Her family was keeping the windows open in the home to mitigate the exposure. This is despite the fact that it was the middle of winter, with temperatures frequently between 20-30F during the day. They needed a solution.

We were able to help this customer! We installed an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) in their basement. The ERV we installed was the RenewAire EV90, which is 90 CFM. We anchored a mounting plate to the wall. We then mounted the ERV to the wall. We began connecting the ductwork between the ERV and the outside vents. The intake vent is strategically placed to ensure that the air being brought into the home is the best possible quality -- so it is located away from driveways, as well as anything else that might bring in bad air such as HVAC vents or dryer vents. ERV intake vents are placed at least 10 feet apart from any exhaust vents. We also installed ductwork that brings the old air into the system and pushes the fresh air out of the system. The ERV works by removing stale indoor air from their basement and venting it outside. The fresh outside air gets pulled into the home. While the ERV is running, the temperature and humidity are transferred between the different air streams. For example, as it was a cold winter day, the cold outside air was being warmed and humidifier by the inside air prior to it entering the home. In the summer, it would be the opposite. The hot, humid air would be pre-cooled and dehumidified by the air conditioned interior air. The ERV transfers the temperature and humidity, but does not transfer any larger particles or toxins, which makes it perfect for people who are concerned about their radon exposure. ERVs are amazing -- able to reduce radon levels 50-75% on average!