PuriFresh®
ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATOR
US PATENT
6,257,317
INSTALLATION MANUAL AND
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION:
READ
AND UNDERSTAND THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY BEFORE INSTALLING OR OPERATING THE UNIT!
ElasTek,
Inc.
2
Chippewa Court
Madison,
WI 53711
Telephone: 608-238-2039
Facsimile: 608-238-0270
Internet
Address: www.purifresh.com
Made in the USA
I.
INTRODUCTION
There is a need for ventilation.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is
typically 3 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. This is understandable since all indoor air
ultimately come from outside. The less
ventilation you have, the longer this air sits inside picking up more pollution
from indoor sources. These indoor
sources include cooking, cleaning products, insecticides, out-gassing from
building products, paint, furniture, and floor coverings. Carpets, bedding and furniture fabrics build
up dirt and dander from humans and pets, which breed dust mites, bacteria and
mold. If one or more of the occupants
is a smoker, this is a particularly severe source of pollution.
In addition to pollution, poor ventilation leads to a buildup of moisture
and carbon dioxide in the air. High
levels of carbon dioxide can lead to sleepiness and lethargy. High humidity can lead to mold growth and
dry rot. Moisture is released through
breathing, sweating, bathing, cooking, etc.
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of
people with asthma and allergies in recent years. While some exotic theories not involving air pollution exist, a
prime suspect is the deterioration in indoor air quality combined with children
spending much more time indoors. Even
if indoor air pollution is not responsible for the rise in the number of asthma
and allergy cases, it contributes to the number and severity of asthma and
allergy attacks.
Standard 62-1989 of American Society of Heating,
Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE), Atlanta, Georgia,
states, “When infiltration and natural ventilation are insufficient to meet
ventilation air requirements, mechanical ventilation shall be provided. The use of energy recovery ventilation systems
should be considered for energy conservation purposes in meeting ventilation
requirements.” (Sec. 5.1.) Standard 62-1989 suggests 0.35 air changes
per hour of continuous fresh air for living areas, but not less than 15 Cubic
Feet per Minute (CFM) per person based on design occupancy. Control of building humidity levels is not
as well specified, but ASHRAE Standard
55, Thermal Environment Conditions
for Human Occupancy recommends between 25% RH and 60% RH levels. Too low a humidity level causes dry air
related health effects and increased ozone generation and too high a level
causes growth of mold and mildew, leading to unhealthy indoor air quality.
New houses are being built with very little infiltration of outside air. In addition, older homes are constantly being improved with replacement windows and doors, side vented furnaces, etc., which reduce infiltration of outside air. Building codes have not kept up with this trend by requiring forced mechanical ventilation to bring ventilation up to minimum ASHRAE standards when needed.
The PuriFresh® Energy Recovery Ventilator provides ventilation in an efficient and cost effective way. Energy recovery is particularly effective in a hot humid climate, dramatically reducing the moisture that would otherwise enter the home with the ventilation air.
|
Product Specifications: |
|
|
Size
& weight |
16”
x 13” x 7 ½”, approximately 30 pounds. |
|
Power |
80
Watts (max.) |
|
Ventilation rate (Fresh air flow) |
60 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) (max.) |
|
Heat exchange (sensible effectiveness) |
85% at 60 CFM |
|
Moisture exchange (latent effectiveness) |
60% at 60 CFM |
Energy Transfer Sections [1] |
6 3/8” x 3 ½” x 3” |
Energy Transfer Section medium |
Silica gel powder permanently bonded to plastic
sheets |
II. Operating Principle
Each unit has two blowers. One exhausts stale air from the room to the outside and the other
draws fresh air into the room from outside.
Each unit also has four “Energy Transfer Sections”. These are located directly under the
exterior cover. The stale air is forced
through a “rotating air switch”, then through two Energy Transfer Sections
before leaving the unit to the outside.
The position of the air switch determines which two Energy Transfer
Sections have stale air flow. The fresh
air is drawn in through the remaining two Energy Transfer Sections, then
through the rotating air switch before going through the blower and entering
the room. Viewing any one of the four
Energy Transfer Sections in time, stale air flows out, followed by fresh air
in, and so on, as the rotating air switch turns. This “breathing” action, caused by the rotating air switch,
causes the Energy Transfer Section to act as a heat and moisture
exchanger. In winter, the warm moist
stale air deposits heat and moisture on the Energy Transfer Section. When the flow reverses and cold dry fresh
air passes through it, the heat and moisture is transferred to the fresh
air. In summer, the same principle
works to keep heat and moisture out of the room. The Energy Transfer Sections contain a desiccant in the form of
Silica gel. The Silica gel can absorb
moisture from the air even when the air temperature is above the dew
point. This dramatically improves the
removal of humidity from the fresh air on a hot and humid summer day.
A significant advantage of
the oscillating flow is that the Energy Transfer Sections are
self-cleaning. After a year of
continuous use under typical conditions, there is hardly any reduction in flow
due to build up of dust. Another
advantage is that the Energy Transfer Sections can be easily removed and
thoroughly washed. Since the Silica gel
is permanently bonded to the plastic strips, there is no loss of performance.
The patented PuriFresh®
design has the Energy Transfer Sections stationary as opposed to the
conventional approach of a rotating energy recovery wheel. As a consequence, there are no sliding seals
between the indoor and outdoor environment, which can freeze in winter and
damage the unit. In the PuriFresh®
design, there are no “cold” moving parts at all.
III. INSTALLATION
Open the box. Check to see that you have the following:
1.
The
PuriFresh® unit.
2.
One
black open cell foam gasket block 2” x 2” x 36”.
3.
One
sash retaining angle with screw hardware.
4.
Two
pieces of corrugated plastic board 8” x 12” x 3/16”.
5.
Four
sheet metal screws.
6.
One
hex wrench.
For installation, you will need a
screwdriver, a utility knife, a ruler, and a small drill for making a pilot
hole.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of
the unit with the mounting brackets labeled.
Figure 1
INSTALLATION IN A WINDOW
The unit can be installed in any double hung window
with a width between 20 and 40 inches. DO NOT INSTALL IN A WINDOW ABOVE A
SIDEWALK OR ANYWHERE SOMEONE MAY BE BELOW WHO CAN BE INJURED OR KILLED IF THE
UNIT OR A TOOL FALLS OUT DURING INSTALLATION.
Select a window where the cord can be plugged into a three-pronged
outlet directly. The use of an
extension cord is not recommended. If
the outlet is not three pronged, have a qualified electrician convert it. Open the window sash approximately 10 inches
or more. Holding the unit securely,
place the unit into the window with the
bottom of the unit resting on the stool and the lower bracket up against the
outer edge of the stool, as shown in Figure 2.
While continuing to hold the unit securely, lower the sash until it
comes to rest in the position shown in Figure 2. Gradually release your grip on the unit, making sure that it is
secure before completely letting go of it.
Figure 2
If the window also has a storm window, the stool will often be below the level of the storm window frame. This will prevent proper installation of the unit since it must be level. Referring to Figure 3, add a wood board of the proper thickness along the entire length of the stool so that the top of this wood board is as high or higher than the storm window frame. The board should be fastened securely to the stool with screws or nails.
Figure 3
After the unit is in place
in the window, the sash-retaining angle, supplied with the unit, should be
placed as shown in Figure 4. It is
important that the sash-retaining angle be used since it prevents the window
from accidentally being opened with the unit in place. The unit is held as a cantilever. If the window is accidentally opened, the
unit will fall out of the window!
Now take the foam gasket and insert
it as shown in Figure 4 between the sash and the upper window glass to seal
this opening. Cut off any excess length
of the gasket.
Figure 4
There are two pieces of corrugated
plastic sheet supplied with the unit, which serve to seal and insulate the
openings on either side of the unit.
Measure the widths of the openings, L1 and L2, as
shown in Figure 5. Measure these
openings as accurately as possible, preferably to the nearest 1/16 of an inch.
Figure 5
Take on of the sheets of corrugated plastic. Measure and mark a line a distance L1 from the edge adjacent to the two mounting holes, as shown in Figure 6. With a straight edge and a utility knife, cut the plastic along that line. Repeat this procedure for the opening on the other side of the unit, cutting the other piece of plastic to the width L2. Use a cutting board, or the like, to prevent damage to a nice tabletop.
Figure 6
Take the two cut pieces of plastic
and attach them to the side bracket as shown in Figure 7 with the four sheet
metal screws supplied. Small wood
screws (not supplied) can be used to
secure the plastic to the sash.
To improve appearance and/or
security, the cut plastic pieces can be replaced with pieces of wood. Any lumberyard can cut the pieces of wood.
Figure 7
The unit is now installed. Plug the power cord into the electric outlet
and turn it on. Turn the power switch
clockwise past the click to turn the unit on high. To lower the blower speed, continue turning the switch clockwise.
To remove the unit from the window,
perform the above in reverse order.
INSTALLATION
THROUGH A WALL
The unit can be installed through
any exterior wall with a total thickness of eight inches or less. Cut and frame a rectangular opening 16 ½
inches wide by 7 ¾ inches high through the wall. Follow local building codes.
Choose a location close enough to a grounded three-pronged outlet such
that the unit can be plugged in without the need for an extension cord. Place the PuriFresh® Energy
Recovery Ventilator into the opening.
Caulk and seal it in place. The
side brackets can be removed before installation along with the machine screws
used to attach them. If this is done,
place some tape over the screw holes.
With the unit permanently in place
in an exterior wall, the Energy Transfer Sections can only be accessed for
cleaning from the outside of the building.
IV. ENERGY TRANSFER SECTION REMOVAL AND CLEANING
Figure 8
To remove the Energy Transfer Sections for cleaning,
the unit must be removed from the window, unless the unit can be easily
accessed from the outside, such as, in a ground floor installation. We recommend that the Energy Transfer
Sections be cleaned yearly, preferably in the spring. This will clean the desiccant coating for the summer season when
it is most needed.
Figure 8 shows an exploded view of the exterior of
the unit. To remove the Energy Transfer
Sections, remove the rear cover by removing the two screws holding it in
place. A peal and stick foam gasket is
applied to the interior of the rear cover.
Remove the four Energy Transfer Sections. Note that the six stops do not have to be removed. If one comes loose when removing an Energy
Transfer Section, simply put it back in place.
To clean the Energy Transfer Sections, fully immerse them in hot water containing any mild dishwashing detergent. Allow them to soak for at least 20 minutes. Remove them, then fully immerse them in clean warm water to rinse them. Moving them around under the water will help the rinsing process. Remove the Energy Transfer Sections from the rinse water and allow them to drain dry. They can be returned to the unit before fully dry. If the Energy Transfer Sections are not fully dry, the unit should be turned on to complete the drying.
V. IMPORTANT NOTES
To be most effective, the unit should be run
continuously when the home is occupied.
The unit can be operated with a timer to turn it off when the home is
unoccupied. A timer, which accepts a
three-pronged plug, must be used.
If you are looking to ventilate more than
just the room or space that the unit is installed in, keep doors between rooms
open, most of the time. If a
child or teenager insists on keeping his or her door closed most of the time,
consider a separate PuriFresh® ERV for that room.
In some cases, the PuriFresh®
ERV does not adequately remove moisture from the home in winter. We have Heat Transfer Sections, which are
not desiccant coated. Use these in
winter, the Energy Transfer Sections for the rest of the year. Contact us to order a set of Heat Transfer
Sections. It is very important to
solve your moisture problem to prevent dry rot and mold, so don’t delay.
The unit is ideal for ventilating a
room during and after painting or floor or furniture refinishing. It is also great for a room used for hobbies
using volatile solvents. It is ideal
for making a smoking room. In these
cases, keep the door to the room closed and run the unit in a window.
We welcome any comments or concerns you may have so
that we can help you use our product most effectively.
VI. WARRANTY
The unit has a full one year warranty on
manufacturers defects covering all parts and labor for repair. The warranty does not cover damage to the
unit caused by the consumer due to improper handling or installation. The warranty also does not cover damage to
the unit when run in unusually corrosive or dusty environments such as, for
example, running the unit in a room where wood floors or furniture or cabinets
are being sanded. If you are
experiencing a problem, first contact us by phone, mail of fax. If we can not assist you in solving the
difficulty, we will make arrangements to have it shipped to us for repair or
replacement.