We recently contacted EnWise to conduct a home energy audit to find out what government retrofit grants we would be eligible for. The audit reveled that our 37 year old bungalow is the most air tight home that the auditor has ever tested!
We kinda knew this all along and were not really surprised. Our house can be uncomfortable and stuffy at times and I was going to install a HRV to improve the indoor air quality but the audit really underlined the need.
The day after the audit I ordered a Venmar HEPA3100 HRV from the church of the orange hammer’s web site.
Installing the HRV is pretty straight forward and after running for just one hour the improvement of the indoor air quality was amazing! I would describe it as like living in a tent where the indoor air quality is the same as outdoors, far from the hermetically sealed Tupperware container we were used to.
The total cost of the HRV was just a tick over $1000.00 and we will receive $600.00 back from the provincial and federal government making this home upgrade a real bargain at just about $400.00 net.
If you own a home in Ontario and are planning any energy savings related updates, I highly recommend you get the energy audit done before you begin. You may be eligable for up to $10.000 in grants to help you save energy – and money!
Hi,
I did a google search on Energy Audits and HRVs, and sure enough.. your site came up. I live in Toronto, and have had an energy audit performed. My home was built in 1959, full masonry construction.
It’s fairly airtight, at 4.76 ACH @ 50Pa.
I was curious what air leakage you had for your bungalow.
I was recommended to have an HRV installed, however, I have no wall insulation (just good old plaster), and that’s not an upgrade I am going to do. I have taken measures to make the house even more airtight. I did install a new furnace and AC unit (top of the line Lennox), with a very sweet Honewell IAQ thermostat which can also control the HRV.
I am sure the air will be fresher in my home, however, it might end up being a very expensive experiment. I could install it myself, however, my contractor will also balance it and honour the 5 year warranty (Lennox HRV3-150).
Cheers!