Do you have an air handler installed in your home? Are you sure you know exactly how and when to use an air handler? Let’s get to the bottom of this subject together.
In most of our homes and offices, rooms are completely sealed and have small openings inside them. Therefore, the air can not freely “enter” and “leave” the house. As a consequence, each of us is faced with the accumulation of pathogenic flora and moisture in the room. In this case, due to the stale air in the house or office, there is an accumulation of unpleasant odors, which does not allow for optimal living conditions in it.
That is why air exchangers are installed in homes or offices to help deal with this problem. With their help, it becomes possible to direct
stale indoor air from your home and organize the work of constant circulation of fresh and clean air in your home.
Consequently, you and your family members can always breathe fresh air. But how should it be properly turned on? How long does it take to improve the air quality in your home? Let’s get to the bottom of this question.
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Should you leave the air exchanger on all the time?
If you leave the heat exchanger in your home on, it’s pretty practical. Especially if the air temperature in the house and outside is at its lowest setting. In addition, it is in the winter and fall that there is a rapid “production” of condensation and moisture.
As a consequence, you may be confronted with the smell of dampness. So you have to leave the air exchanger on all the time, too, to get its best efficiency.
Otherwise, you will not be able to keep fresh air circulating in the room. Have no fear, the issue of “stale air” will disappear on its own if the air exchanger starts working, at least a minimum speed.
The reliability of air exchangers is high: they can serve you for 15 to 20 years. If you take care of it properly, the device will serve even more than 25 years and less than 15 years if you do not renew the equipment, do not clean it.
Remember, it is the filter that acts as the most important component of the air exchanger. Its job is to clean the air and trap air pollutants and particles.
If you clean the air properly, maintain your air exchanger regularly, and change the filter in it once a quarter, you shouldn’t have any problems using the unit.
That said, keep in mind that the air exchanger should not be running all the time. Especially when the air conditioner is functioning in the summer, cooling the air and keeping the room cool.
In this situation, what happens is that the air exchanger sends cooler and less humid air out of the house, and carries more heat and moisture into the room.
Consequently, the air conditioner, which is installed in your home, will work “at its limits”, it will be quite difficult to control the humidity in the room, to reduce the temperature. In addition, you will begin to spend more on utility bills. Therefore, if you turn on a split system or air conditioner in the summer, you should not turn on the air exchanger.
In addition, another way to keep clean and fresh air in the rooms is to periodically turn off the air conditioner and open the windows to let the “stale air” out naturally and let the good air in.
Is it worth turning off the heat exchanger in winter?
Experts have a negative answer to this question. Especially if the heat exchanger in your house becomes quite an important device in the wintertime. Therefore, it is recommended not to turn it off at low temperatures outside.
Often the level of humidity in the winter period in the room is higher than outside. This is due to the formation of condensation that occurs as a reaction to the moisture barrier and the insulation of the room.
By using a heat exchanger you can dehumidify the air, reducing the humidity. Consequently, it is possible to keep the air inside the room fresh for a long time.
When should I use an air heat exchanger in my home?
An air exchanger is necessary to circulate stale air from your home and bring fresh air into your home, especially in homes that lack proper ventilation.
If your home has enough ventilation that works with continuous air exchange, you won’t need to purchase the latter device.
But, if you began to notice that the air in the house more often becomes disgusting, dirty, then it is to solve this problem and will help the air exchanger.
In addition, it is worth using it in those rooms that are closed. Using air exchangers outside the room is not something right.
How long do air exchangers last?
The service life of the heat exchanger is determined by the time from 15 to 25 years. It all depends directly on how well and properly you use it. There are a number of factors that determine the ultimate lifespan of a heat exchanger in your home. Most of them are within your control.
Key factors affecting the service life of air exchangers
1. Proper Installation
An important factor in determining how long your air exchanger will last. If the heat exchanger has not been installed correctly, it will cause it to malfunction.
Therefore, if you do not know how to install a heat exchanger, and you are not a professional in this matter, it is better to entrust this work to those who are proficient in it.
In addition, they will help eliminate the risk of falling and damaging the device.
2. Regular maintenance
Maintenance is a live wire to your heat exchanger.
Therefore, it is important to clean and replace the filter regularly to ensure that it is working reliably and properly. This is when you can get the right power to your air exchanger that it needs to function properly.
3. Location
The performance of the unit is also influenced by where exactly you live. Dusty and foggy environments increase the risk of clogged filters within the air exchanger. In this case, you need to clean it as often as possible, otherwise, 15 years of service is out of the question.
If the unit is not cleaned regularly, it can lead to serious problems in its operation. In addition, if you live in a region with a dry climate, it may take longer to produce cold air.
4. Operating frequency
If you will be operating the unit 24/7, it will increase the load on the unit, hence shortening its service life. Remember that, like any other equipment, the air exchanger should be given time to rest so that it has time to recover.
Note that it is recommended that you turn it off for one hour, at intervals of 12 hours. By doing this, you can reduce the frequency of wear and tear on the air exchanger.
5. Size
The size of the unit relates to two categories: the size of the unit and the size of the room in which you are placing the air exchanger. Remember that the size of the unit should be directly proportional to the area of the room in which it is located. For example, if the area of the room is about 10 square meters, then your unit should be quite large.
Otherwise, it will not be able to function properly, it will start to strain more, use more electricity, and its work will not be efficient. As a consequence, your unit will fail faster.
How often should I clean my air exchanger?
Some owners of air exchangers try to clean it once a quarter, others once every six months, and some once every 12 months. It all depends on how often you use the equipment and under what conditions.
Cleaning the air exchanger will require you to focus as much as possible on cleaning the exhaust duct, fan, recovery center and drain pan.
Remember that if you use the air exchanger frequently, you should also clean its filters frequently (once a quarter, for example).
Remember that air exchangers, regardless of their shape, are pretty useful equipment in every home. Especially if you don’t have central room ventilation installed. With its help, it is possible to get clean and fresh air, getting it from the street to ensure comfortable living in the house.
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