I'd let an HVAC professional hook up an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator). Most require some tweaking to balance the pressure so you don't get wheezing noises at your HVAC registers. And they're energy efficient, using the outgoing air to warm/cool the incoming air.

We are hoping that our house, when finished, will be tight enough to require an ERV, so we have had one installed. We also had a fresh air intake added to our woodstove. Our house has spray foam insulation and DH has caulked and foamed every little nook and cranny that he could find that the insulation guys missed...maybe a bit OCD? I've read that in a very tight house, homeowners may err in choosing a kitchen range hood vent that is TOO powerful. With the ERV, I hope that when I turn on my range hood vent, it won't suck the paint off the walls. On the other hand, I may have a new version of "central vacuum"!

We have an ERV from RenewAire. What I've learned (from the manufacturer) since we've moved in is that the builder and HVAC guys intended to use this system simply to vent the bathrooms. A) They put in the wrong switches for that purpose and B) They supplied a unit that is just slightly too small for the square footage of our house.

However, it does work to bring in new air. We have neighbors who burn leaves in the fall and when I smell that smell (yuck) coming through my vents, I know it's working.

ERV units are a great idea. In some states they are required in new construction. When I was trying to figure out our system, I talked at length with a rep from RenewAire. He echoed what bdpeck-charlotte said - these systems need a little bit of customization (for lack of a better term) adjusted to your particular house to get them right. He had a great customer service attitude and I was impressed with his willingness to answer my questions. I'm not sure how much we paid for this "system." The publication below from Univ. of Minn. quotes some prices that are much higher than what you've gotten.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Common Questions about Heat and Energy Recovery Ventilators

thank you for the responses, but I'm just looking at fresh air only (not an ERV - but, I will look into the recovery system), however, according to the HVAC contractor, he is essentially tying up the fan vents together into a unit that sounds like the Broan I mentioned before

coffehaus - I'm planning on doing the same thing as your DH! better to seal them now

BTW - we broke ground on Tuesday, so finally after almost two years of research and design - we're gonna build a house!

if anyone is thinking about building in the Sacramento area - let me know and I can help with ideas/subs/Title 24 etc...

OK - after more reading and calling people (RenewAire) I'm going to have my HVAC guy install an ERV system

thanks everyone!

Unless something has changed in the last couple of years, you need an ERV further north, but an HRV as you head south. We were close to being on the climate dividing line here in SE Michigan. DH decided the HRV made more sense for us.

Also, if you have a VERY tight house, you may want to check if you also need a regular vent fan in the bathrooms in addition to the HRV/ERV. We have a very tight ICF house, and 6 people taking showers, baths, cooking, doing laundry, breathing, etc. create a lot of moisture. When there were just 2 of us and no window shades, no moisture collected on the insides of the windows in the cold weather. We don't know if it's the extra people, the shades, or just the concrete in the ICFs still giving off moisture. But right now, we're running a dehumidifier constantly. Most of the moisture seems to appear on the windows right after the showers.

Anne

I have a recommendation for whole-house fans, and that is to go with the ones made by Triangle Engineering of Arkansas (made in the USA!).

These things move more air than any other brand. As an example: the 36" belt-drive model sold at Lowes & Home Depot moves 6,900 CFM on its highest speed. The 36" one that Triangle makes moves 10,600 CFM.

I just put one of these in last week and am so taken with it that I'm evangelizing for Triangle now.

These things are much higher quality than the other brands too -- these are made with very heavy-gauge solid welded steel (as opposed to the thin, flimsy metal - often aluminum - that other brands use). They use a very solid motor made by Emerson, the best of the top three motor-making companies (the other two being Fasco and A.O. Smith). They come pre-framed on a wood frame for installation, AND they have sponge-rubber noise-dampening material between the fan and the frame, so they are much quieter than the other brands. Also, Triangle holds a patent on an automatic belt-tensioning system these things use, so you don't have to worry about getting the tension right when you install the fan (or in the years thereafter as the belt loosens up).

Also, they come in more sizes than the other companies -- from 24" all the way up to 48" blade diameter (which moves a ridiculously whopping amount of air; no one else makes one that big).

They're sold online at Southern Tool amongst other places that ship nationwide, so they're available wherever you live.

Also, Triangle re-brands some of these as a private label for Dayton, which is the "store brand" of Grainger - so if you have a Grainger store near you (check your phone book or their website), you can buy one there. I will say this, though - Grainger/Dayton makes their own shutters, and those shutters are much better than the one Triangle makes. Triangle makes great fans, but crappy shutters. Luckily, they're sold separately -- so buy a Triangle fan and Dayton shutters; money can't buy better products.

They also re-brand some for a company out in San Francisco called "Fanman" (a/k/a "Delta Breeze").

A word to the wise -- these fans move a lot of air, so make sure to install at least the recommended minimum amount of attic exhaust space (gable vents, soffit vents, roof vents, some combination thereof, whatever works for you) - if you don't have enough, the fan will operate at reduced capacity, and there will be a backpressure which will cause the shutters to rattle when the fan is in operation (any time you hear whole-house fan shutters rattling, you know there isn't enough exhaust space). Oh, and one other thing -- only buy a belt-drive whole-house fan, don't EVER buy a direct-drive model...the direct-drive models are at least five times louder, they sound like standing on an airport runway next to an old prop plane getting ready to take off.

Several of the dedicated whole-house fan installing companies have chosen to use Triangle fans; that should tell you something. These companies want satisfied customers, so they use Triangle and only Triangle.

Refer to http://www.trianglefans.com/wholehouse.html for more info

Here is a link that might be useful: Triangle whole-house fans