Whole-home Air Exchangers
Whole-home Air Exchangers | Ventilation and Air Quality | Heating and Air Conditioning | Newport
Breathe easier in Newport with HEP’s whole-home air exchangers, the smart partner to your existing heating and cooling equipment. By continually replacing stale indoor air with a fresh, filtered supply, our systems sweep away excess humidity, odors, and airborne pollutants without wasting the energy you’ve already paid to heat or cool. The result is a comfortable, balanced home environment where every room feels—and smells—crisp, no matter how muggy or chilly it gets outside.
Because great comfort depends on more than just temperature, each air exchanger we install is carefully sized, sealed, and integrated to preserve duct integrity and keep utility costs in check. Certified HEP technicians handle everything from design to follow-up maintenance, so you can enjoy healthier lungs, quieter nights, and lower energy bills with zero guesswork. Ready to upgrade your home’s ventilation and air quality? Call the local experts Newport families have trusted for decades, and experience a breath of fresh air—literally.
FAQs
What is a whole-home air exchanger and how does it improve indoor air quality?
A whole-home air exchanger is a mechanical ventilation device that continuously exhausts stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh, filtered outdoor air. The unit typically contains two fans and a heat- or energy-recovery core that transfers heat (and, in some models, humidity) between the incoming and outgoing airstreams. By diluting airborne pollutants such as VOCs, dust, excess humidity, and odors, an air exchanger keeps your indoor air fresher and healthier without forcing you to open windows year-round.
How does an air exchanger integrate with my existing heating and air-conditioning system?
Most modern air exchangers (HRVs and ERVs) tie directly into the supply and return ductwork of your forced-air furnace or heat pump system. When your HVAC fan runs, it helps distribute the incoming fresh air evenly to every room while exhausting stale air through the exchanger. Controls can be standalone, tied into a smart thermostat, or synced with your HVAC blower to run on a schedule or in response to indoor humidity and CO₂ levels. Installation usually requires minimal changes to your current equipment and does not affect heating or cooling capacities.
Is an air exchanger really necessary in Newport’s coastal climate?
Yes. Newport’s cool, damp winters and increasingly warm, humid summers create conditions where homes remain closed up for long periods. Modern construction practices—tight insulation, double-pane windows, and air sealing—trap moisture and pollutants indoors. An air exchanger combats mold growth, musty odors, and condensation by controlling humidity and ensuring a steady supply of outdoor air, all while recovering up to 80 % of heating or cooling energy that would otherwise be lost through cracked windows or exhaust fans.
Will installing a whole-home air exchanger reduce my energy bills?
While the unit itself uses a small amount of electricity to run its fans, an HRV or ERV typically lowers overall energy costs compared with traditional ventilation methods (open windows, bathroom exhaust fans running continuously, or spot ventilators) because it recovers heat from exhaust air before it leaves the house. In winter, up to 70–90 % of the heat in outgoing air is transferred to the incoming fresh air; in summer, an ERV can also transfer a portion of the latent (humidity) load. As a result, your furnace or air conditioner works less to maintain set temperatures, often yielding net savings—especially in well-insulated Newport homes.
How often does a whole-home air exchanger need maintenance or filter changes?
Basic homeowner maintenance involves cleaning or replacing the unit’s intake and exhaust filters every 3–6 months, or more often if you have pets or live near coastal salt spray. The heat- or energy-recovery core should be inspected and cleaned once a year with mild soap and water. Fans and grilles benefit from a quick vacuuming at the same time. Professional service every 1–2 years ensures proper airflow balance, checks condensate drains, and verifies that controls and dampers operate correctly—key to keeping efficiency and air quality at peak performance.
What size or capacity air exchanger do I need for my Newport home?
Sizing is based on airflow requirements set by ASHRAE Standard 62.2, which factors in square footage and the number of bedrooms. A common rule of thumb is 0.35 air changes per hour or about 15 CFM (cubic feet per minute) per occupant. For example, a 2,000-sq-ft, 3-bedroom home in Newport typically needs 100–120 CFM of continuous ventilation capacity. However, final sizing also considers ceiling height, tightness of construction, and local code requirements. A certified HVAC technician will perform a room-by-room calculation and select an HRV or ERV model that meets both ventilation and energy-recovery needs without over-ventilating, which could waste energy.