Heat Exchangers for Indoor Air Quality

A heat exchanger is used as part of a home ventilation system. The advantage to using a heat exchanger is that while you bring fresh air into your home (same as you would by opening a window)you are able to use a heat exchanger to minimize heat loss in the process. Opening a window has been found through research to be one of the most effective ways to reduce indoor air pollution. However at very low or very high temperatures, this can have a real cost. It is not very practical to have windows open when it is 20 degrees below 0! A heat exchanger minimizes this heat loss. Also a fresh air ventilation system can be fitted with filters...if you are concerned about pollutants in outdoor air (chemical, pollen etc) then you have the option of filtering air, which you would not be able to do if you were just opening a window. Some healthy home advocates recommend a ventilation system for all homes. I have not heard of problems with dust...again, filters may be the answer if you have concerns about dust. Having said all this, if you live in a moderate climate, keeping windows open is a relatively free option. I "air out" my home regularly by opening windows, especially on fresh windy days!