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Ventilation & Indoor Air Quality
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Balance Indoor Air with ERVs

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What is an ERV?

An ERV is a central ventilation system that provides fresh, filtered outside air and removes stale indoor air – balancing the humidity within the room space. Inside the unit, two separate air streams pass through a heat-exchanger core, transferring energy and moisture without mixing.

The result? Fresh air that's already close to indoor temperature and humidity, boosting comfort and efficiency.

An ERV–airflow–diagram shows how incoming fresh air is pre-treated by transferring heat and moisture from the outgoing air. It can help reduce the load on an HVAC system—especially in terms of cooling and dehumidifying.

What Kind of ERV Do I Need?

Watch how Panasonic’s latest ERV models are designed to meet key ventilation standards, recover heat and moisture efficiently, and deliver quiet, reliable performance for every home.

How Do ERVs Work?

Learn how ERVs continuously replace stale indoor air with fresh, filtered outdoor air—removing harmful pollutants before they reach your lungs.
  • VOCs from paints and cleaning products
  • Mold spores and moisture that lead to buildup
  • Allergens like dust, pollen, and pet dander
  • Airborne bacteria and viruses that circulate longer in dry air

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Verification: Use wall controls (airflow status), anemometers, or professional gauges.

    • Commissioning: Even with auto-balance features (BalancedHome™, Intelli-Balance Elite/Plus), professional verification ensures compliance with code and optimal performance.

  • ERVs and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) both do the same core job — replacing stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while saving energy. The key difference? Moisture. ERVs transfer both heat and moisture between air streams, helping your home stay humid in the winter and drier in the summer. HRVs only transfer heat, making them a better fit for colder, drier climates where extra humidity isn't needed.

  • ERVs are designed for continuous, low-speed operation to ensure a constant baseline of fresh air for good indoor air quality (IAQ). However, they are highly configurable:

    1. Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV): ERVs can be linked to accessories like humidity sensors, CO2 sensors, or timers. These accessories trigger the unit to switch from low speed to "Boost" or "Max" mode when pollutants or humidity spike (e.g., when sleeping or showering), saving energy when not needed.

    2. Outdoor Condition Control: Advanced controls allow the unit to automatically reduce or stop airflow based on extreme outdoor temperature or humidity to prevent overloading the HVAC system. This includes stopping airflow when the incoming air is too cold or humid for efficient recovery.

  • Panasonic ERVs can operate independently with dedicated ductwork or tied into an air handler for efficiency. With heat pumps or mini-splits, ERVs can supply fresh air into return plenums but should not replace the heat pump’s ducting. With boiler or baseboard heat, separate dedicated supply and exhaust duct runs are required since there is no ductwork. With central AC or forced air, ERVs can integrate directly or run standalone depending on project goals.

  • ERVs are typically installed by connecting the unit to your home’s HVAC system or using dedicated ductwork. The unit brings in fresh outdoor air and removes stale indoor air, while transferring heat and moisture between the two.

    Panasonic ERVs offer flexible top or side port options, making installation easier in a variety of home layouts. For best performance, we recommend having a licensed HVAC professional handle the setup to ensure proper airflow and compliance with ventilation codes.

Still have more questions? Connect with an IAQ expert today!

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