A Fresh Take on Fresh-r: Unpacking the Latest Innovations and Advantages of these Decentralized Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems

Anas patel, Project Manager with Small Planet Supply Canada

 On June 13th, Small Planet Supply will be hosting a Fresh-r Heat Recovery Ventilator webinar.  This session will include Fresh-r’s Philip Bredt as well as Josh Salinger, with Birdsmouth Construction, who will talk about his experience with installing and using a Fresh-r system in his home. Fresh-r has also introduced a new product called the Compac.  To learn more about this product we interviewed Anas Patel, Project Manager with Small Planet Supply Canada, who has great familiarity with Fresh-r Heat Recovery Ventilators 

Fresh-r recently introduced a smaller model called the Compac.  What are the differences between a Compac and the model we previously introduced?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of choosing the newer system?

The main difference between the Compac (aka Fresh-r 90-D) and the previous model (Fresh-r 120-D) is the size and capacity of the HRV units. The Fresh-r 120-D has a maximum capacity of about 70 cfm whereas the Fresh-r Compac has a maximum capacity of about 53 cfm. If you consider the size, the Fresh-r Compac is about 19” smaller by length when compared to the Fresh-r 120-D, which is more than 1.5ft of space saving. Therefore, the main advantage of the Fresh-r Compac is that it is, as the name suggests, being compact, which helps as space is a premium in retrofit projects. Moreover, its heat recovery core is of the same size as the Fresh-r 120-D, so there is no compromise on the heat recovery efficiency rate. In addition to that, the cost of the Compac HRV is less than the former.

The Compac unit has the same features such as demand driven controls, WIFI connectivity, LTE connectivity (optional), Smart Filter module with PM2.5 sensor (optional), and ease of maintenance.

However, a disadvantage is that it has a lower flowrate capacity, so there would be a need of multiple of these HRV units for certain projects. Also, people may have some concerns about the close vicinity of the exterior fresh air intake and exhaust air grilles. Good news is that Fresh-r is working on a report on cross contamination between both these air streams and they are happy to say that the results are looking positive. 

Fresh-r is a decentralized system, meaning that there are no internal ducts.  What applications do you think are most appropriate for a decentralized system?

The most appropriate application is retrofit projects as we know that installing an HRV in a living unit results in about 30% of savings in energy used for space heating. Moreover, decentralized HRVs save huge amounts of work with regards to installation if compared to ducted HRVs, as you just need access to the exterior wall and in some cases the interior wall (if using Fresh-r Forward). Additionally, as there are no internal ducts for decentralized systems, there is no issue of duct heat loss from the ducts carrying warm air.

What makes Fresh-r different than other decentralized systems?

Conventional decentralized HRV systems usually consist of a pair of two separate HRV units with one extracting the warm stale air and recovering heat from it, and the other supplying fresh air from outside with the heat recovered from the previous cycle. The pairs keep switching their role to ensure heat recovery and pressure balance.

However, the Fresh-r HRV works differently than that. It has two fan motors that synchronously supply fresh air and extract stale air from the dwelling to provide balanced ventilation. It has four temperature sensors, two CO2 sensors, and two RH sensor with an option to have a PM2.5 sensor too. All the sensor data is accessible via their online portal. Also, due to its nature, Fresh-r HRV units have the capability to have a MERV 14 filter. Additionally, these units are very easy to maintain.

FRESH-R FORWARD

Moreover, for multiple rooms adjacent to the main room where the HRV is located, Fresh-r Forward can be installed in the interior wall to extract stale air from the second room into the main room. Due to the negative pressure created inside the second room, the fresh air enters there from under the door.

Additionally, the Fresh-r Everywhere (hoping to launch in Fall this year), would have an adapter on the extract side of the HRV to be connected to a duct that would carry the extract air from the bathroom. This is my favorite solution as it directly extracts the stale air from the bathroom, recovers the heat and transfers that heat to the fresh supply air. 

How would a potential customer know if using a Fresh-r system is right for their home or build?  

The first thing to consider is if their project is a new build or a retrofit. If it is a new build, then they have an option to have a ducted HRV system or a ductless one.

In general, the ducted system is selected more often for new builds. If they choose for the system to be ductless, then they can go with either a Fresh-r In the Wall or On the Wall system. The Fresh-r In the Wall systems could be a better solution as it would be flush to the wall and not protrude.

Our Jun3 13 webinar is a great opportunity to get your questions answered about Fresh-r Heat Recovery ventilation systems

For retrofit projects, it would be much preferable to go with the On the Wall unit due to its ease of installation requiring just two 6” round holes.

Regarding flow rates, it is crucial to check local ventilation code requirements. A rule of thumb is to calculate the required flow rate of the dwelling based on its area and number of occupants according to ASHRAE Standard 62.2.

What if a homeowner or builder has more questions about Fresh-r Ventilation systems?

Small Planet Supply provides free consultation for all our ventilation products regarding all our products, including Fresh-r.   They can also go to the Fresh-r page on our website.  And, lastly, of course, they can attend the June 13 webinar.