Choosing Recovery Ventilator – GreenBuildingAdvisor

Hello,

I’m seeking some advice and opinions on recovery ventilators.

I live in northern Illinois in a home with three people and three cats, totaling about 1,400 square feet of living space, including a conditioned basement.

After reading several articles, it seems there isn’t a major difference between HRVs and ERVs when it comes to moisture removal. That said, given the excessive outdoor humidity we experience during winter — especially now that the house is tightly sealed — I’m leaning toward installing an HRV.

Currently, I’m considering two models: the Panasonic Inteli-Balance FV-10VEC2 and the Broan HRV160TE. I’m drawn to these options because of their affordability, energy efficiency (notably SRE ratings and ECM motors), and local availability.

Does anyone have experience with either of these models? Or would you recommend other systems that might be better suited for this situation?

Thanks in advance for your insights!