I have occasionally been asked my opinion about a particular way to install a ventilation system (HRV - Heat Recovery Ventilator) that is considered acceptable in Ontario: Ducting both the supply and the exhaust runs of an HRV into the return air plenum of a forced air furnace. To understand t...
The National Building Code of Canada, the basis for most building codes in the country, requires mechanical ventilation in all new housing because it is now recognised that our modern energy efficient homes must have the possibility of good through ventilation beyond opening windows.There are man...
I am always amazed at house construction where so often things are half built or more while people are running around beginning to think about "extras" that should never be though of as "extras" but as part of the essential system. So time for one of my lectures -- (you asked for it).Heating is o...
Feeling down, particularly in the Fall as the days get shorter? Sometimes it feels like the flue or it can even go to severe depression. This glum feeling in the Fall of every year has been tagged SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder.It is attributed primarily to decreasing light exposure, but I ...
For you DIY fanatics, the answer is YES.The University of Saskatchewan published a plan for one in the early 80's. It works; I even built one on TV. But it was hard to defrost, impossible to clean and we never did manage to get it out of the basement so it has been left there to be discovered b...
All air conditioners have a passage for room air to flow into the unit, flow over the cold side of the compressor coil and return to the room. This both cools the air and condenses some of the moisture out of the room air, which makes the room dryer, more comfortable and easier to cool. Wit...
Air-change ventilation systems exist that take stale air out and bring fresh air in so as to not rely on cold air drafts for the entry of fresh air to the house. They are simply a box with two fans. In a few of the warm spots of Canada these are legitimate systems on their own. In most of Canada ...
After 30 years of installing Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV) we are now asked to choose between an HRV and an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator). What is an ERV and does it really work in Canada?
Early Development
Both HRVs and ERVs were developed together in the early 80s with the promise that ...
Many government or crown corporation publications are afraid to ask too much of homeowners both in terms of work and comprehension. They prefer that homeowners do things half-way rather than not at all. When compromises seem to work some of the time, these publications (and many contractors) are ...
Wendy in Golden, British Columbia is having constant problems with her front door lock freezing up. Actually this is common in a very cold climate when you have a positive pressure in your house for some reason. The positive pressure pushes moist warm air out the door lock, and it freezes there. ...
