HRV delivering treated air directly to the ASHP air handler air intake which distributes cool or warm air through ducts
Susan Cosentini| Posted inGBA Pro Helpon
Has anyone tried this? The baths and kitchen would have dedicated exhaust fans.
This would in net-zero homes.
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The air volume rates of heating air handlers (even mini-split mini-duct cassettes) is several times that of HRV/ERV units, and when you have competing air handler drives it un-balances the HRV flows, decreasing it's as-used performance.
If you want the mini-duct cassette to help distribute ventilation air, putting an HRV supply register close to (but not connected to) the return air register of the mini-split cassette will achieve that modest increase in ventilation air mixing & distribution.
Susan,
I don't recommend the approach you are suggesting. By far the best approach is to have dedicated ventilation ducts for the HRV (completely independent of any ducts used for delivering space heat or cooling).
For more information on the issue, seeDucting HRVs and ERVs.