Does HRV system need to be connected to bath/kitchen exhaust?
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Hi I’m Lukas Schwartz, building a pgh in zone 6. We are aiming for ~ach 1 with spray foam and triple pane tilt turn windows. My ventilation contractor has proposed an hrv system that is not connected to the other exhaust systems. Will we need to connect them all together? Thanks for all the knowledgeable and generous contributors on this site
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Hi Lukas,
At that tightness level you don't necessarily have to connect the range hood or bathroom fans to the balanced ventilation system. There are pros and cons to each approach. You might want (or need) to consider a makeup air system for the range hood, though, as its relatively powerful fan could depressurize your house. There are both passive and active makeup air systems available.
More info here, including in the "related articles" section: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/makeup-air-for-range-hoods