Upgrading to Broan AI ERVs (AND Necessary Customizations: Duct Silencer & MERV 13 Pre-Filter)

Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) have come a long way in the past few years, and Broan's AI series has several features that were not available on the Fantech SER150s I originally installed in our high performance forever home.

See the actual installation of the ERV, along with the Fantech Duct Silencer and AC Infinity 10" Filter Box for 14x20 MERV 13 filters.

[FernandoOjedaRios]

Corbett! This is the video I've been waiting for and wish I had two years ago when I did my ERV system. Noise at the supply side has been a big issue for me and my family. While they love the clean, fresh air, they hate the sound. Mine kind of sounds like running water in a distant room. I added the AC Infinity 4 inch silencer, and it did... very little. I had some luck with some baffle plugs at the supply end before the grill. But if I could have done it all over I would have upsized ducts and used the fantech big boy silencer. I have a 6 inch fantech silencer attached to my kitchen hood (a la Corbett's own design) and it's SILENT. Unfortunately, I can't get the fantech silencer into the ceiling space where my ERV lives due to a lack of room with my access panel. Anyway, all who read or view this video -- just do what Corbett does. You can't go wrong!

[bradleysargent]

I'm glad I found this channel. I'm looking forward to designing these into my new home build in the near-ish future.

[NurseAcrobat]

I appreciate the before/after comparison with the duct silencer. At regular speeds I can can hear my broan ai 210 erv if I'm near a fresh air duct but it only seems loud if the auxiliary controller in the bathroom has activated boost mode. It could be interesting to see how it sounds at 170 cfm with the duct silencer.

I added the deluxe auxiliary controller in the main bathroom initially unsure what I would think of it being battery powered vs hardwired but so far the AAA batteries have lasted close to a year and I like having it turn on automatically upon sensing an increase in humidity since not everyone in my house would otherwise turn on a bathroom fan. One perk to it not being hardwired is that you can test it out without making a hole in your wall for installation. I used a surface mounted single gang box so I could just set it on a counter and eventually screwed it to the wall.

[davidhoover]

I consulted on a job that ended up with a return that makes a little bit of noise. Unrestrictive grills and ducts also carry some sound. It is the Oasis dehumidifier return that also meets up with the fresh air from the Broan AI series ERV where it mixes and gets dried. I bet that silencer would make a huge difference if I use that unit again! They said they don't mind the noise at all, but it wasn't as quiet as I expected. The Oasis 105 is ridiculous by the way. Fantastic product.

[nolanbillings]

Fantastic video, can’t wait to work with you when we are ready

[tweake]

good to see you putting a filter box in. at least you can use off the shelf filters, not some expensive special ones that only fit that model erv. i think Risinger got his back to front.

[superspeeder]

Corbett, the 80% solution to limiting fan noise and mechanical vibration from a rigid duct system is to isolate it from the mechanical unit with 3-4 feet of flex duct. Most of the fan noise passes out through the thin plastic walls of the flex instant reflecting down the duct.

You can also DIY a sound muffler by going from 8” up to 12” duct for several feet then back to 8”, and lining the 12” section with pieces of Rockwool Comfortboard cut to line the inside (bend them to fit).

That intake pipe is why an exterior filter with bug screen is a good idea! 😊

Devil’s Advocate; perhaps the filter is set to catch and hold all the nasties so you pull them all out with the filter instead of having to vacuum?

[krogg]

A video covering cold weather and prefiltration and some of the associated issues with ERVs might be nice.

[MikeMikula]

I did the same inline filter for my HRV. Definitely has worked well!

[davidhoover]

I put the same filter box on the fresh air side. I am currently using a MERV 16 filter and it's wonderful. The filter that comes with it lets a lot of particles through. I have a ventilating dehumidifier system. There can be some wildfire smoke outside and it doesn't come in. At least in my personal house, I like to have a MERV 16 on the fresh air and the return on the dehumidifier. I used to run a filtrete MERV 14 and it was good enough. However, my overall particle count stays very low with the MERV 16. When my air handler is not on, and I'm using the MERV 13/14 on the fresh air side I did see a significant difference in particulate counts. Not, PM2.5, but larger particles will go up. Unfortunately, the company Filti where I get those 1" MERV 16 filters from has stopped making them. So, I am going to probably custom make something when I run out of filters. I have one of those thick ducts from AC infinity on the fresh air for a short distance, then it hits the filter. That duct is kinda tough, so I can clean it. Then, the insulated ducts after that stay perfectly clean. I can't run my oversized A/C's air handler all the time for humidity reasons. So, those really good filters on the dehumidifier keeps particles down very low! I also run a Lennox MERV 16 carbon filter in my air handler. It takes particle counts down to zero in like 15 minutes. MERV 13 is more than enough if you can keep the air handler running, however!

[theinfernalcraftsman]

Clean install as usual. I have been thinking more about an erv for the work shop. Odd usage but I need as much clean air as possible and to exhaust dusty nasty air out while keeping as much cool air in as possible. Been looking at some cheap import ones as it's not a house so not worth the full cost.

[iankreidich]

There are several open seams that allow air to bypass the filter inside the AC Infinity filter box. Easily fixed with caulk or mastic.

[pin]

If you have a small compressor one thing you can do is get some air line and a head that points backwards. When you change the filters just run that air line through the duct with a shop vac to do a quick cleaning of the ducts. Obviously wear a mask while doing it though. Unless its just a really short run anyways. Then you could maybe get away with just using the shop vac. No point in putting in a new filter and still having the duct filled with dust.

[martinlutherkingjr.]

How do you measure whether your air quality is good? Pm2.5? Vocs? Problem i find with vocs is lots of non harmful things set it off so it’s hard to tell if you have a problem or not

[TokRobban]

Nice, swedish sound silencer! 😊

I actually don't think the dirt around the supply air vent is due to poor filtration. I believe more that it gets static around the vent and the dirt is from the dust that is in the house that gets stuck.

What does it look like inside the duct? is there dirt build up there too?

[cokeiceeeee]

Any regrets on any of yur home build selections? I am closing on finishing and only have 2... not using some sort of tji or engineered web truss for floor. Took me forever to get it flat with planing. 2nd is siding. I did hardie and man once you are done putting it up it is not fun to paint it.

[josephhfry]

That long, uninsulated run that you use to pre-warm/cool the intake to your ERV... wouldn't that cause condensation on/in the duct?

[darthtater]

I was just wondering about your crawl space and access. How big is your access floor hole? if you want to get equipment in and out?

[EDRIS]

Heyyyy! Can I purchase the unit that you're taking out??
I just purchased my first home, and we really want to clean the air.

I'd like to also use your services

Thanks 🙏

[KillraStealer]

I dont really know what i am talking about, but wont you get condensation on the inside of the incoming air duct on hot and humid summer days with the passive heat bleed before the ERV?