Airiva Heat Recovery Ventilator Unit

AIRIVA™ HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATOR UNIT

•Two models available (HE100) 120 CFM and (HE150) 150 CFM

•Two-speed, UL® Listed, balanced fans.

•Class B, Thermally Protected motors.

•Corrosion-proof Polypropylene core. Flame rating UL 94HB

•Automatic electronic, UL Listed, frost protection.

•User adjustable.

•Condensate drain fitting for 3/8” hose (hose not included.)

•Washable 12” x 12” air filter.

•Safety interlock switch.

•Plug into a grounded 110-120 Volt AC outlet. Power may be supplied to the Airiva using a humidistat, pollution detector, radon detector or timer. These devices are not included.

•Lifetime warranty on the core.

•3 year limited warranty on unit.

•Installation hardware not included.

What is a heat recovery ventilator?

A heat recovery ventilator is a fan system that:

1. Takes fresh outside air and delivers it into the home.

2. Takes stale house air and blows it outside.

3a. Exchanges the heat from the stale air blown outside to the fresh air coming in. (Winter).

3b. Exchanges the cold from the stale air blown outside to the fresh air coming in. (Summer).

What sort of heat recovery can I expect? The efficiency of the Airiva HE100 is 82.2%. This means that 82.2% of the energy contained in your heated or cooled house air that you blow outside is recovered!

How is the heat exchanged?

The energy is transferred from the warm air stream of the air being exhausted to the cool fresh air stream of the air being taken from outside (in the winter) in the core of the heat exchanger. This core consists of thousands of adjacent air channels through which the air flows. The material that the core is made of has a certain heat transfer coefficient. The core of the Airiva is made of Polypropylene. The material is not important as long as it is corrosion proof. Some cores are made of fiberglass, aluminum, copper, mylar, ceramics and other materials. The total surface area that the air is in contact with is important.

How much power does the Airiva use? The power consumption is about the same as a 100 Watt light bulb.

Is it difficult to install? Not difficult, but it involves a few things. An accomplished DIY person should be able to complete the job in 4 to 8 hours. (After you have collected all necessary tools and materials, see below). Please note: the installation materials are not provided.

What are the major tasks in a basic installation? 1. Determine the location for the Airiva. 2. Install a support for the unit. The Airiva weighs almost 70 pounds. 3. Install a 6" diameter duct for the fresh air intake to the outside of your home and install a rainproof vent cap. 4. Install a 6" diameter duct for the stale air exhaust to the outside of your home and install a rainproof vent cap. 5. Run a short length of 6" diameter duct for the fresh, conditioned air to a central location in your home, i.e. hallway or upstairs. 6. Run a short length of 6" diameter duct to pickup stale house air. Preferably near your forced air system and/or in a basement. 7. Install the condensate drain in the Airiva housing and run a 3/8" diameter hose to a nearby floor drain. 8. Plug the Airiva into a 110-120 Volt AC grounded house outlet. Note: The Airiva, as dictated by the National Electrical Code, only has a 2 foot long power cord, so you may have to install a dedicated grounded outlet near the unit. View the Airiva Installation Page

Can I connect the Airiva to my forced air system? Yes. Details of such installation are covered in the installation manual. This type of installation is only recommended if your central forced air system runs continuously at a low speed on a year 'round basis. You will need an air velocity meter that reads in Feet Per Minute (FPM) to properly adjust the airflow through the Airiva.

Can the Airiva freeze up when it is really cold outside? The Airiva has a built-in electronic thermostat that will shut the unit fans down when certain low temperature limits are reached to prevent freeze-up.

How big a home can the Airiva service? Recommendations from Government Agencies are a minimum of 8 air exchanges per day for your home. The Airiva HE150 is rated at 150 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) airflow, nominal. In a normal installation, with restrictions from connecting ducts, the airflow is rated at 120 CFM on high speed.

To calculate your requirements take: House square feet x ceiling height and divide by the Airiva CFM rating of 125 CFM (on High speed). I.e. a bungalow 1800 sq. ft. x 8' ceiling height = 14400 Cubic Foot. Divide by the Airiva flow of 125 CFM = 115 minutes to move all the air. Round to 2 hours. Per day you will get approximately 12 air exchanges in your home. Since this example is based on an 1800 sq. ft. bungalow, the Airiva would give 6 air exchanges per day for a 3600 sq. ft. home. In the 1800 sq. ft. example we recommend running the Airiva on 'Low' speed for about 7 ½ exchanges per day.

Does the Airiva need servicing? Yes. The Airiva includes a standard 12" x 12" air filter that should be washed at least every three months of operation; more often in heavily polluted areas. The heat exchanger core, which is easily removable, must be hosed down at least once a year. You can do this in the sink or outside with the garden hose.

Is the Airiva safe? The Airiva contains only components that have been rigorously tested to the Standards of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL®). The blower motors are thermally protected. The housing has a safety interlock switch and the housing is a heavy gauge sheet metal.

What tools and materials will I typically need?

TOOLS: Power drill, power screwdriver, file or sheet metal reamer, reciprocating saw to cut 6" diameter openings through house wall, tin snips, screwdrivers, pliers.

MATERIALS: Strong shelf brackets with screws (wall plugs if brackets are installed in concrete wall), materials to install a 110-120 Volt AC outlet for the Airiva. 6" sheet metal take-offs (collars), 6" duct pipe and necessary elbows, outside rainproof vent hoods, manual 6" duct dampers, duct tape, self piercing #8 x 1/2" sheet metal screws to fasten 6" ducts and elbows, quality caulking, 3/8" ID clear plastic hose, screws to fasten vent hoods. Note what ends you need on the sheet metal parts, i.e. crimped or un-crimped. The four connections on the Airiva are crimped. Band-aids if you are not used to working with sheet metal.

Suncourt recommends professional installation of the Airiva (or by an accomplished DIY person)

Please read and save these entire instructions before starting the installation.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not use this fan device with a speed control of any kind. This device is for general ventilating use only. Do not use with hazardous, toxic or flammable vapors.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock or injury to persons or animals, observe the following: Use this unit only in the manner intended by the manufacturer. If you have any questions or doubts, contact a qualified installer or Suncourt Inc. Before servicing or cleaning this unit, disconnect the power by unplugging it from the 110-120 Volt AC outlet. If a suitable Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) 110-120 Volt AC grounded outlet is not within reach of the Airiva™ power cord, a new GFI outlet needs to be installed. The installation of this outlet must be done by a qualified person(s) in accordance with all applicable Codes and Standards. The Airiva is equipped with a grounded plug. This safety feature must never be defeated.

WARNING: For your safety and protection follow all instructions and adhere to applicable safety, building and electrical codes.

WARNING: Install this product inside a building or dwelling only.

WARNING: Do not operate this product without ductwork or approved grilles being installed at the fan openings to prevent contact with the fans. Contact with the operating fans will cause serious injury.

WARNING: Do not install this product where it can come in contact with water from flooding or otherwise.

WARNING: Protect the outside vent hoods from ingress of water from rain or other sources.

WARNING: Never expose this product to air temperatures over 120°F (49°C).

INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Suncourt recommends installation of the Airiva™ by a professional. (or by an accomplished DIY person) Please read and save these instructions in their entirety before starting the installation.

WHERE AND HOW TO MOUNT

The Airiva™ should be mounted on shelf brackets that can easily support 75lbs.

DO NOT Set the Airiva™ flat on a shelf. Condensation will occur between the surface of the Airiva™ and the shelf.

The minimum mounting height should be 8" off the floor to provide clearance for the condensate drain. For convenience when servicing, mounting the Airiva™ at chest height is recommended.

The Airiva should be mounted such that the latches for the door are on top. The hinges for the door should be on the bottom of the unit and slightly hanging over the stand or shelf. When opening the door, do not let it fall down, this would damage the unit.

When preparing the Airiva shelf brackets, allow for a slight angle so that condensation (if any) will flow to the end of the housing. That will be the location where you will install the condensate drain (low side), if necessary.

It is recommended that each connection point to the Airiva be within 25 feet from its outlet/inlet.

As a general rule, keep the total ductwork as short as possible.

ELECTRICAL POWER

You will need a 110-120 Volt AC GFI electrical outlet that can be reached by the Airiva power cord. The short length of the Airiva power cord is dictated by the National Electrical Code. The housing of the Airiva is equipped with a door safety interlock switch. This switch cuts the electrical power to the electric fans and electronic control system when the door of the housing is opened. NEVER defeat or bypass this feature!

Regardless of this safety interlock, you must disconnect the power cord at the electrical outlet before opening the housing.

CONDENSATE DRAIN

Choose a drain location (i.e. sink, floor drain, washer drain, etc.) to run the condensate drain hose to. The inside diameter of the hose needed is 3/8". (Hose not provided)

NOTE: The condensate drain provision is given for installations in humid climates. Condensation will not accumulate inside the Airiva housing in every installation. You may want to operate the Airiva for a few weeks and then determine if you need to install the condensate drain. If moisture collects in the bottom of the Airiva, you should install the drain. You will need to make a 5/8" diameter hole in the bottom of the Airiva at the lowest point.

The Airiva™ deserves its own ducts; forced air system connection is a distant second choice only.

STANDARD DUCT CONNECTIONS

The fresh outside air intake and stale air exhaust ducts should be kept as short as possible. On the outside of your home, you will need to install hoods to protect the openings from rain. Select a hood that has a built-in screen to prevent access of rodents or birds. If at all possible, install the ducts where they are protected from prevailing winds. Keep the two hoods a minimum of 48" apart to avoid air re-circulation from one hood to the other. Keep the fresh air intake at least 72" away from dryer vents, furnace exhausts, etc.

The fresh air intake duct must be sloped slightly to the outside, away from the Airiva. This way, condensation collecting in that duct will run to the outside. This duct must also be insulated.

The fresh air to house and stale house air exhaust should be ducted away from each other. The stale house air intake can be located in your furnace room if there is circulation from the house to the furnace room. If there is no ventilation, you will have to install a vent grille in the furnace room door or wall to allow for free air movement. The minimum grille opening should be 64 square inches.

The fresh air to house should be ducted to a location where this fresh air will not be sucked into the stale air intake and be blown outside. Normally, ducting to an adjacent room or the upstairs level of a house will be adequate. Natural circulation inside a home will distribute the fresh air.

NOTE: This product has manually reversible fans, therefore has two different airflow direction labels for the stale air intake and exhaust. Please use the airflow labels marked (A) for Figure 1, ‘Factory Default Configuration’.

NOTE: Do not use a timer for the Airiva in external frost control mode. External frost control mode is for applications that run 24 hours a day.

MANUALLY REVERSIBLE FANS

The stale air fan can be manually turned 180° to allow for the vent hoods to be on opposite sides of the heat exchanger. This makes routing the ductwork easier in certain applications. To switch the direction of airflow through one of the fans first make sure that the unit is switched off and not hooked up to power. Next inspect and determine if this configuration fits your installation. Disconnect the 3 quick connects going to the fan that is being reversed. Remove the (2) 5/16” hex head screws from the fan mounting bracket and remove the mounting brackets. Flip the fan around and re-secure it with the (2) mounting brackets and screws. Re-connect the quick connectors and the airflow direction change is complete.

NOTE: This product has manually reversible fans, therefore has two different airflow direction labels for the stale air intake and exhaust. Please use the airflow labels marked (B) for Figure 2, ‘Stale Air Fan Direction Is Reversed ’.

NOTE: Suncourt recommends that you use metal duct to connect the Airiva™. Flexible duct does not have a smooth inside surface. This creates turbulence in the airflow and will reduce the flow of air.

INTERNAL FROST PROTECTION

When set on Internal Frost Protection, the built-in electronic thermostat will protect the unit from freezing up under very cold outside conditions. This thermostat is preset at the factory to stop the operation when the fresh air to house cannot be held above approximately 45° F (7°C). When the temperature in your home is 70° F (21° C) the frost protection can normally be expected to activate at an outside temperature of 0° F (-18° C) or lower.

EXTERNAL FROST PROTECTION

When the Airiva is in the external frost protection mode, the unit will not shut down during very cold outside conditions as it would in internal frost control mode. Instead of shutting down to protect the unit from freezing up, it will control a normally open damper with the 24 VAC terminals on the control panel. The 24 VAC terminals are to be used with a 6", 24 VAC, normally open damper. This damper will be installed in a "T" fitting on the fresh air intake side of the Airiva. When the fresh air to the house is below 45° F (7° C), it will open the damper, allowing some warm house air to mix with the incoming, cold fresh air. This allows for an uninterrupted supply of fresh air, while avoiding freezing of the unit's core. The Suncourt ZO106P Zone Damper is recommended for this application. See Airiva External Frost Control instructions for more details.

NOTE: Do not use a timer for the Airiva in external frost control mode. External frost control mode is for applications that run 24 hours a day.



CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

It is important to inspect the internal air filter at least once a month and wash if required. At the same time, inspect the heat exchanger core for dust, lint or anything else blocking the air channels in the heat exchanger plates. Always unplug the power first!

If the heat exchanger needs cleaning, bend up the core retaining tab with a pair of pliers, lift out the core and wash with a mild detergent. Rinse under running water and shake any remaining water out of the air channels. Often, light dust can be removed using your vacuum cleaner and a small brush attachment. If available, you may carefully blow out the air channels with compressed air. Place core back into unit and bend core retaining tab back in place.

Clean the screens of the outside vents as necessary.