Fantech VHR150 User Manual
fantech
VHR150
Heat Recovery Ventilator
Item #: 422474
Rev Date: 2015-05-13
Installation Manual
United States
10048 Industrial Blvd., Lenexa, KS, 66215
Tel.: 800.747.1762 • Fax: 800.487.9915
Canada
50 Kanalflakt Way, Bouctouche, NB, E4S 3M5
Tel.: 800.565.3548 • Fax: 877.747.8116
Fantech reserves the right to modify, at any time and without notice, any or all of its products’ features, designs,
components and specifications to maintain their technological leadership position.
Please visit our website www.fantech.net for more detailed technical information.
2
Note Warning/
Important
note
Information Technical
information
Practical tip
PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL BEFORE INSTALLING UNIT
For residential use only
Before installation careful consideration must be given to how this system will operate if connected to
any other piece of mechanical equipment, i.e. a forced air furnace or air handler operating at a higher
static pressure. After installation, the compatibility of the two pieces of equipment must be conrmed by
measuring the airow of the Heat Recovery Ventilator using the balancing procedure found in this manual.
It is always important to assess how the operation of any HRV may interact with vented combustion equipment (i.e.
Gas Furnaces, Oil Furnaces, Wood Stoves, etc.)
Products are designed and manufactured to provide reliable performance, but they are not guaranteed to be 100%
free of defects. Even reliable products will experience occasional failures, and this possibility should be recognized
by the user. If these products are used in a life support ventilation system where failure could result in loss or injury,
the user should provide adequate back-up ventilation, supplementary natural ventilation or failure alarm system, or
acknowledge willingness to accept the risk of such loss or injury.
Your ventilation system should be installed in accordance with the local building code that is in effect, in absence
of such requirements, it is recommenced to check with local authorities having jurisdiction in your area prior to
installing this product.
fantech
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DETERMINING YOUR AIRFLOW REQUIREMENT ..................................................... 4
INSTALLATION EXAMPLES
Fully dedicated system ................................................................ 5
Partially dedicated system .............................................................. 6
Simplified Installation
Option 1 ...................................................................... 7
Option 2 .......................................................................8
EXTERIOR DUCTING INSTALLATION
Weatherhood Location ................................................................. 9
Installing the ducting to the weatherhood ................................................... 9
INTERIOR DUCTING INSTALLATION
General Tips ....................................................................... 10
Installing duct to HRV ................................................................ 10
Supply & Exhaust Air Grilles Location...................................................... 10
3
DUCTING INSTALLATION EXAMPLES..............................................................11
HRV INSTALLATION ........................................................................ 12
AIRFLOW ADJUSTMENT & BALANCING
General preparation ................................................................. 13
Adjusting airflow using integrated balancing system ........................................... 13
Balancing steps .................................................................... 14
LOW VOLTAGE CONTROL SYSTEMS ............................................................. 15
WIRING DIAGRAM ......................................................................... 16
TROUBLESHOOTING .........................................................................18
HRV MAINTENANCE CHART ...................................................................19
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4
DETERMINING YOUR AIRFLOW REQUIREMENT
Room Count Method
1 CFM = 0.47 L/s
1 L/s = 2.13 CFM
ASHRAE method
Room classification Number of rooms CFM (L/s)
Master bedroom x 10 L/s (20 CFM) =
Basement yes or no =
Bedrooms x 5 L/s (10 CFM) =
Living room x 5 L/s (10 CFM) =
Others x 5 L/s (10 CFM) =
Kitchen x 5 L/s (10 CFM) =
Bathroom x 5 L/s (10 CFM) =
Laundry room x 5 L/s (10 CFM) =
Utility room x 5 L/s (10 CFM) =
Total Ventilation Requirements (add last column ) =
if yes add 10 L/s (20 CFM)
if no = 0
CFM Required
Ventilation Air requirements
Floor area Bedrooms
0-1 2-3 4-5 6-7 >7
2
Ft
< 1500 <139 30 14 45 21 60 28 75 35 90 42
1501-3000 139.1-279 45 21 60 28 75 35 90 42 105 50
3001-4500 279.1-418 60 28 75 35 90 45 105 50 120 57
4501-6000 418.1-557 75 35 90 42 105 50 120 57 135 64
6001-7500 557.1-697 90 42 105 50 120 57 135 64 150 71
>7500 >697 105 50 120 57 135 64 150 71 165 78
* ASHRAE 62.2-2010 Table 4.1, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings.
2
m
CFM L/s CFM L/s CFM L/s CFM L/s CFM L/s
Bathroom: If the HRV is going to provide the required local exhaust ventilation for each bathroom with each a continuous 20 CFM
(10 L/s), this ventilation rate can be considered as part of the whole-building ventilation rate.
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INSTALLATION EXAMPLES
5
Example only – duct configuration may differ depending on the model.
FULLY DEDICATED SYSTEM
BEST FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
1. Stale air is drawn from key areas of the home requiring local exhaust
(bathroom, kitchen, laundry room).
2. Fresh air is distributed directly to habitable rooms in the house
(bedrooms, living room)
3. The HRV’s airflow must be balanced after installation using the procedure
found in the section “AIRFLOW BALANCING”
HRV ducting for fully Dedicated System
Suggested installation for:
• Hydronic baseboard
• Inoor heating
• Electric baseboard
• Mini split heat pump
Benets: Provides the best
fresh air distribution in the
house; lowest operation cost
since the furnace/air handler
unit is not needed.
Stale air from inside
Outside
Fresh air from
outside
Fresh air to living areas
Stale air to
outside
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6
INSTALLATION EXAMPLES (CONT'D)
DIRECT CONNECTION of the FRESH air to living area to the RETURN PLENUM
of the AIR HANDLER (Stale air drawn from key areas of home)
PARTIALLY DEDICATED SYSTEM (BETTER)
1. Furnace blower must operate when ventilation from HRV is required. The
furnace should be set to run continuously or interlocked with HRV
2. Stale air is drawn from key areas of the home (bathroom, kitchen, laundry
room).
3. Fresh air is supplied to the return air plenum of the furnace.
4. Due to the difference in pressure between the HRV and the equipment it
is being connected to the HRV’s airflow must be balanced on site, using
the procedure found in the section “AIRFLOW BALANCING”
HRV/ Furnace ducting for Partially Dedicated System
Suggested installation for:
• Central furnace (air
handling unit or central
air conditioners)
• When ducting fresh
air to living area is not
possible or practical,
i.e. expensive or when
the central AHU will
operate year-round.
Benets: Conditions the
fresh air prior to
distributing it throughout
the house
Outside
Stale air from inside
Fresh air from
outside
Motorized Damper
Fresh air
to living
areas
Stale air to
outside
Fantech heat recovery ventilators (HRV) that use a supply fan shutdown for frost prevention do not include an outdoor air motorized damper. If you are using a simplied installation, i.e. connecting the HRV supply air duct to a furnace's return air duct, the HRV must
operate continuously. When the HRV is turned off, no warm exhaust air will ow through
the HRV but the furnace's fan will continue to draw in outdoor air directly into the furnace.
If it's cold outside, cold air will be introduced, without re-heating, directly into the furnace.
If the HRV is installed such that the homeowner may turn off the HRV during the winter, we
recommend installing a motorized damper between the HRV's supply air and the furnace's
return air duct that closes when the HRV is not operating. See wiring diagram (gure 1).
You may also choose to use a Fantech HRV that uses a recirculation defrost that incorporates an outdoor air damper.
* Unit airflow should be balanced while HRV is on
“Normal” speed and furnace blower is running.
recommended
1 m (3' 3")
min.
Cold air
return
24 VAC Transformer
24V
120V
COM
HRV Furnace interlock
See page 16.
Figure 1
*Transformer and Damper motor not included
NO
Damper
Motor
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INSTALLATION EXAMPLES (CONT'D)
7
DIRECT CONNECTION of both the HRV SUPPLY AIR STREAM and EXHAUST AIR STREAM
to the FURNACE COLD AIR RETURN
SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION (GOOD)
(RETURN/RETURN METHOD) - OPTION 1
1. Furnace blower must operate when ventilation from HRV is required. The
furnace should be set to run continuously or interlocked with HRV.
2. A minimum separation of 1m (3`3’’) is recommended between the two
direct connections.
3. In order to prevent exhausting any fresh air, the HRV’s exhaust air connection
should be upstream of the HRV’s supply air connection when ducting to the
furnace’s cold air return.
4. Due to the difference in pressure between the HRV and the equipment it is
being connected to the HRV’s airflow must be balanced on site, using the
procedure found in the section “AIRFLOW BALANCING”
HRV/ furnace for Simplified Installation – Option 1
Suggested installation for:
• When bathroom and kitchen
already have local exhaust
system
• May be suitable for
retrotting
Benets: Least expensive
installation type
1 m (3' 3") min. recommended
Stale air from inside
Fresh air from
outside
Outside
Fresh air to
living areas
Stale air to
outside
Fantech heat recovery ventilators (HRV) that use a supply fan shutdown for frost prevention do not include an outdoor air motorized damper. If you are using a simplied installation, i.e. connecting the HRV supply air duct to a furnace's return air duct, the HRV must
operate continuously. When the HRV is turned off, no warm exhaust air will ow through
the HRV but the furnace's fan will continue to draw in outdoor air directly into the furnace.
If it's cold outside, cold air will be introduced, without re-heating, directly into the furnace.
If the HRV is installed such that the homeowner may turn off the HRV during the winter, we
recommend installing a motorized damper between the HRV's supply air and the furnace's
return air duct that closes when the HRV is not operating. See wiring diagram (gure 1).
You may also choose to use a Fantech HRV that uses a recirculation defrost that incorporates an outdoor air damper.
* Unit airflow should be balanced while HRV is on
“Normal” speed and furnace blower is running.
Motorized
Damper
1 m (3' 3")
min.
recom-
mended
Cold air
return
24 VAC Transformer
24V
120V
COM
HRV Furnace interlock
See page 16.
Figure 1
*Transformer and Damper motor not included
NO
Damper
Motor
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8
Installation examples (Cont'd)
DIRECT CONNECTION of the HRV SUPPLY AIR STREAM to the SUPPLY AIR SIDE on the
FURNACE & EXHAUST AIR STREAM to the FURNACE COLD AIR RETURN
SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION (GOOD)
OPTION 2
1. Furnace blower must operate when ventilation from HRV is required. The
furnace should be set to run continuously or interlocked with HRV.
2. Due to the differences in pressure between the HRV and the equipment it is
being connected to, the HRV‘s airflow must be balanced on site, using the
procedure found section "AIRFLOW BALANCING".
HRV/Furnace ducting for Simplified Installation - Option 2
1 m (3' 3") min. recommended
* Ductwork layout may differ depending on model
Suggested installation for:
• When bathroom and
kitchen already have local
exhaust system
• May be suitable for
retrotting
Benets: Least expensive
installation type
In the case of a simplified
installation, Option 1 is
recommended.
Outside
fantech
Air from inside
Fresh air from
outside
Fresh air to living areas
Stale air to
outside
Fantech heat recovery ventilators (HRV) that use a supply fan shutdown for frost prevention do not include an outdoor air motorized damper. If you are using a simplied installation, i.e. connecting the HRV supply air duct to a furnace's return air duct, the HRV must
operate continuously. When the HRV is turned off, no warm exhaust air will ow through
the HRV but the furnace's fan will continue to draw in outdoor air directly into the furnace.
If it's cold outside, cold air will be introduced, without re-heating, directly into the furnace.
If the HRV is installed such that the homeowner may turn off the HRV during the winter, we
recommend installing a motorized damper between the HRV's supply air and the furnace's
return air duct that closes when the HRV is not operating. See wiring diagram (gure 1).
You may also choose to use a Fantech HRV that uses a recirculation defrost that incorporates an outdoor air damper.
* Unit air flow should be balanced while HRV is on "Normal" speed and
furnace blower is running.
Motorized
Damper
Cold air
return
24 VAC Transformer
24V
120V
COM
HRV Furnace interlock
See page 16.
Figure 1
*Transformer and Damper motor not included
NO
Motorized
Damper
Damper
Motor
EXTERIOR DUCTING INSTALLATION
9
WEATHERHOOD LOCATION
OUTSIDE CORNER INSIDE CORNER
• Decide where your intake and exhaust hoods will be located.
Locating the Intake Weatherhood
• Should be located upstream (if there are prevailing winds) from the
exhaust outlet.
• At a minimum of 2m (6’) away from dryer vents and furnace exhaust
(medium or high efficiency furnaces), driveways, oil fill pipes, gas meters,
or garbage containers.
• At a minimum height of 460mm (18’’) above the ground, or above the level
of expected snow accumulation.
• At a minimum distance of 1m (3’) from the corner of the building.
• Do not locate in the garage, attic, crawl space, or underneath deck.
Locating the Exhaust Weatherhood
• At least 460mm (18") above ground or above the depth of expected snow accumulation
• At least 1m (3’) away from the corner of the building
• Not near a gas meter, electric meter or a walkway where fog or ice could create a hazard
• Do not locate in a garage, workshop or other unheated space
INSTALLING THE DUCTING TO THE WEATHERHOODS
A well designed and installed ducting system will allow the HRV to operate at its
maximum efficiency. The inner liner of the flexible insulated duct must be secured to the
sleeve of the weatherhood (as close to the outside as possible) and to the appropriate duct
connection on the HRV. The insulation should remain full and not crushed. The outer liner,
which acts as a vapor barrier, must be completely sealed to the outer wall and the HRV
using tape and/or caulking. A good bead of high quality caulking (preferably acoustical
sealant) will seal the inner flexible duct to both the HRV duct connection and the
weatherhood prior to securing them.
To minimize airflow restriction, the flexible insulated duct that connects the two outside
weatherhoods to the HRV should be stretched tightly and be as short as possible.
Twisting or folding the duct will severely restrict airflow.
See “Installation Diagram Examples” for installation examples.
36" (1m)
min.
INTAKE
18" (460mm) min.
6' (2m)
min.
36” (1m)
min.
EXHAUST
18" (460mm) min.
STEPS FOR HOOD INSTALLATION:
1 Using the duct connection of
the outside hood, outline the
intake & exhaust holes to be
cut. The holes should be slightly
larger than the duct connection
to allow for the thickness of the
insulated flexible duct. Cut a
hole for both the intake and
exhaust hoods.
2 Pull the insulated flexible duct
through the opening until it is
well extended and straight.
Slide the duct’s inner vinyl sleeve
over the hood duct connection
and secure. Pull the insulation
over the duct and pull the vapor
barrier over the sleeve. Secure
with appropriate tape or
sealant.
3 Push the hood into the opening
and then attach the hood to the
outside wall with mounting
screws.
Repeat the installation
procedure for both the supply
and exhaust hoods.
4 Using a caulking gun, seal
around both hoods to prevent
any leaks.
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10
INTERIOR DUCTING INSTALLATION
• To maximize airflow through the ductwork system, all ducts should be kept short
and have as few bends or elbows as possible.
• 45º elbows are preferable to 90º.
• Use “Y“ ducts instead of “T” ducts whenever possible.
• All duct joints must be fastened with screws or duct sealant and wrapped with
aluminum foil duct tape to prevent leakage.
• Galvanized ducting from the HRV to the living areas in the house is recommended
whenever possible, although flexible ducting can be used in moderation when
necessary.
• To avoid possible noise transfer through the ductwork system, a short length
(approximately 300mm, 12’’) of nonmetallic flexible insulated duct should be
connected between the HRV and the supply/exhaust ductwork system.
• The main supply and return line to/from the HRV must have the same diameter as the
duct connection or larger.
• Branch lines to the individual rooms may be as small as 100mm (4’’).
INSTALLING DUCT TO HRV
For flexible duct installation, slide flexible ducting onto duct connection. Then install a cable tie over flexible duct to prevent leakage between the ducting and
the duct connection.
In the case of solid ducting, slide duct over duct connection, screw in place and seal.
SUPPLY AIR GRILLES LOCATION
In homes without a forced air furnace, fresh air should be supplied to all habitable rooms, including bedrooms and living areas. It should be supplied
from high wall or ceiling locations. Grilles that diffuse the air comfortably are recommended. In homes with a forced air furnace, you may want to connect
the HRV to the furnace ductwork (see information below).
EXHAUST AIR GRILLES LOCATION
The stale air exhaust system is used to draw air from the points in the house where the worst air quality problems occur. It is recommended that return
air ducts be installed in the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Additional return air ducts from strategic locations may be installed. The furnace
return duct may also be used to exhaust from. In this method, the exhaust air is not ducted back from bathrooms, kitchens, etc to the HRV with
“dedicated lines”.
As per building codes and installation requirements for combustion appliances:
Air return ducts, or openings for air return, should not be placed in enclosed spaces containing combustion
appliances that are subject to spillage.
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DUCTING INSTALLATION EXAMPLES
Fully dedicated system Partially dedicated system
FEL 4 (4” Miter Elbow)
Bedrooms
Exhaust CG 4 (4” Adjustable Grill)
Bathroom
Central Control - optional
Fresh air to living room
11
3m
Fresh Air
Exhaust Air
HRV
460 mm
Simplified installation - Option 1
Supply
Exhaust
Supply
Exhaust
460 mm
Simplified installation - Option 2
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12
HRV INSTALLATION
LOCATION
The HRV must be located in a conditioned space where it will be possible to conveniently service the unit. Typically
the HRV would be located in the mechanical room or an area close to the outside wall where the weatherhoods will
be mounted. If a basement area is not convenient or does not exist, a utility room may be used.
Attic installations are not normally recommended due to:
• Have a nearby power supply
(120 volts, 60Hz)
• Choose a location which
allows the possibility
of mounting the unit to
supporting beams.
• The unit should be level
in order to allow proper
condensate drainage
• To minimize noise, do not
install unit in living area
• Ensure proper drainage
• The complexity of the installation
• Freezing conditions in the attic
• Difficulty of access for service and cleaning
• No drain access
• Clothes dryer
• Range top
• Stovetop fan
• Central vacuum system
• Bathroom exhaust fans unless they are specifically designed for this purpose
These appliances may cause lint, dust or grease to collect in the HRV, damaging the unit.
Connecting appliances to the HRV is not recommended. These include:
Connecting any of
these types of
appliances to the
HRV will void your
warranty.
Mounting- Chain mount
1 Place fastening hooks on
the strapping board or
the oor joists.
2 Attach a hanging chain
(provided) to each 19 mm
(3/4") bolt (provided) in the
top 4 corners of the unit
and tighten.
3 Install a spring on each
chan. Hook the spring
in the links so a loop is
created in the chain. The
spring will then support the
unit's weight and absorb
vibrations.
4 Hang the unit by slipping
a link onto the hanging
hooks, making sure the
unit is level.
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