Troubleshooting Tips for Common ERV and HRV Issues

ERV and HRV troubleshooting helps restore balanced ventilation to your home. Energy recovery ventilators (ERV) and heat recovery ventilators (HRV) remove stale indoor air while bringing in fresh outdoor air in equal volumes. This preserves the critical neutral air balance inside the home, unlike ventilation options that only exhaust air and tend to depressurize the interior.

Both ERV and HRV units also transfer 85 percent of the heat energy from the warmer airflow into the cooler stream of air. In winter, indoor heat is conserved, while in summer, outdoor heat is excluded. Energy recovery ventilators also remove some of the incoming humidity typically present in outdoor summer air and, in winter, add moisture to dry air.

Need troubleshooting tips for ERV and HRV issues? Read on for information about common issues. Some issues are not as common and may require the assistance of a professional service. For more complex troubleshooting services in Raleigh-Durham, you can contact the professionals at Air Experts today!  

DIY Troubleshooting Tips

When it comes to HRV or ERV, some troubleshooting can be done on your own. Here are a few do-it-yourself tips from our experts.

• Reset the breaker. Check the main power indicator at the central controller. Look inside the circuit breaker for any tripped breaker switches. If any are apparent, reset the breaker and try the ventilator again. If the breaker trips a second time, call your HVAC contractor.
• Replace air filters. Inspect the status of the system’s air filter in the central unit. Clean or replace a dirty or clogged filter; make this a monthly habit.
• Check the vents. Verify that HRV/ERV intake or exhaust vents in individual rooms are unobstructed.

While these ERV and HRV troubleshooting tips help isolate common problems, some repairs require the services of a qualified HVAC technician

ERV Troubleshooting

If the ERV unit seems to be unresponsive, make sure it’s not in defrost mode. If outdoor temperatures are below 28 degrees, defrost mode automatically activates and normal function is interrupted for anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

If this is not the case, and you cannot find a solution with our DIY tips, it’s best to call in a professional.

HRV Troubleshooting

Condensate drain issues are usually related to obstructions inside the drain tube. This will likely require professional service to clear. Another possible problem is a drain tube that’s not installed with sufficient slope to maintain gravity flow of condensate all the way to the discharge point.

Contact Air Experts for ERV & HRV Troubleshooting in Raleigh, NC

For more information about ERV and HRV troubleshooting, you’ve come to the right place. Our heating, cooling, and indoor air quality experts know how to service and repair all of your ERV & HRV problems. Check out Air Experts’ indoor air quality solutions, and call us at 919-480-2727.