[DavidNJ]

To improve IAQ the monitor could presumably trigger a recovery ventilator or an outside inlet. An economizer would trigger the vent based on cooling needs and outside temp and humidity.

Do the communicating thermostats allow an IAQ monitor to be integrated? If so, how would it work in conjunction with their zoning system?

Thanks,

David

 

[DavidNJ]

Talk to you installing contractor, he should be able to answer this for you.

My experience with about a dozen residential contractors is that none have done more than install filters or HRVs. Economizers and IAQ monitor driven are unheard of.

I run my erv ALL the time. Indoor air pollution isn't intermittent, why would you exhaust it intermittently?

Primarily the cost of running the blower when it isn't needed. That would also include the UV lights on a photocatalytic filter or power to an electronic filter if installed.

 

[DavidNJ]

Fantech has numerous controls. Ideally the erv is a system unto itself. I'm sure you can spend thousands to insure you save $2 a month by having the system run intermitantly, but then cycling is what kills equipment, and you'll have less fresh air.
Indoor Air Quality PDF: http://bit.ly/bn4cKp

I have a fancy control that will run based upon time per hour, humidity, etc... Allows different speed settings too. I just let it run.

Probably closer to $15/mo. With the furnace blower, UV lights in the photocatalytic filter, and the HRV blower it is probably close to or over 500 watts. At 18¢/kwh that is 9¢/hr. However, the air filter manufacturer recommends at least a 50% duty cycle with the AirCycler (http://aircycler.com/productline.htm) with the furnace thermostat doesn't allow a duty cycle to be set.

Do any of the communicating thermostats handle this? Or specifically the Carrier ICS since probable zoning demands point to that system.

 

[DavidNJ]

Looked at the PDF...where you pointing to the HRV or the control? There was minimal information on the control.

The HRV has an extra port and damper to enter a recirculation mode for defrost. I'm not comfortable with HRVs in that they don't preserve humidity which is created at great cost in the winter or removed at great cost in the summer. There should be products based on the Energy Wall ceramic technology that basically are an all temperature ERV soon.

Since I'm in a ducting delay, it may be interesting to find out what Arzel's IQ Drive zoning for Nordyne ends up as. They make the economizer and have a zoning system integrated with the X13 already.