Whole-house ventilation system types — balanced, exhaust-only, and supply-only

A balanced HRV/ERV supplies and exhausts equally without pressurizing the house; exhaust- and supply-only rely on leakage.

Three small houses. The balanced house (an HRV/ERV core) has equal supply-in and exhaust-out arrows and does not change house pressure — the gold standard. The exhaust-only house has a fan pushing air out the top while replacement air leaks in at the sides. The supply-only house has a fan pushing filtered air in the top while it leaks back out at the sides. — Source: ASHRAE 62.2-2019 §4.1

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Three small houses. The balanced house (an HRV/ERV core) has equal supply-in and exhaust-out arrows and does not change house pressure — the gold standard. The exhaust-only house has a fan pushing air out the top while replacement air leaks in at the sides. The supply-only house has a fan pushing filtered air in the top while it leaks back out at the sides.

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