Replies

1. 
   charlie_sullivan | Mar 22, 2015 04:59pm | #1

   Did you see that Lunos now has a model that can operate as an exhaust fan? The "eGO" it's called. It has dual fans that operate as an alternating pair, and then can switch to exhaust only. Much better for bathrooms and kitchen than the regular lunos as it won't spread smells and humidity like they do.

   There's also a Lunos knock-off available at Home Depot.

   As for your actual question, one consideration is whether you have any combustion appliances in the house, whether wood, pellets, gas oil, etc. If so, you want to make sure you don't depressurize and backdraft. If you don't, relying on leakage through the lunos and random cracks is likely fine. And leakage through the lunos allows some heat recovery.

   To add makeup air, you can have a manual vent you open, an electrically operated vent that is automatic when the fans turn on, or even an active supply fan. Since your fans are modestly powered, I don't think you need or want an active supply fan.

   If you are on the fence about what's needed, you could have the depressurization you get tested when have a blower door test done--just measure the depressurization with the exhaust fans on and the blower door off and covered.

2. 
   vew10 | Mar 22, 2015 05:40pm | #2

   Thanks Charlie. I did know about the eGo but it does not come cheap. The Lunos e2's will not be in the kitchen though there will be in communication with the kitchen as the floor plan is open concept kitchen/livingroom with a loft space over the 2 bedrooms and bath. The ceilings will be high up. I will not be using any combustion appliances in this house. Regarding the electrically operated vent.....where would it be located? And would it have a good backdraft damper?

3. 
   brp_nh | Mar 22, 2015 07:45pm | #3

   I don't know the optimal solution to your ventilation needs, but have a couple pieces of advice.

   You don't need that powerful of a bath fan, one of the 80cfm Panasonic fans would be more than enough if installed properly.

   If you are all electric and don't do a lot of heavy/greasy cooking, I'm pretty sure you would be fine with a recirculating range hood, no makeup air needed. Further, if you are a very light duty cook, you could consider no range hood at all (but at least wire for it in case you want to install later). Whether this is allowed by your local code and/or certifications is the question. This is what we decided to do in our house - no range hood, but we are wired for it if we change our minds.

4. 
   vew10 | Mar 22, 2015 11:06pm | #4

   Brian,
   Based on the demensions of my bathroom, the number of bends needed for the duct work and the length of ducts, I do need 150cfm. All the reading that I have done state that recirculating fans are suboptimal. Hense my desire for a modest range fan.

5. 
   LucyF | Mar 22, 2015 11:15pm | #5

   Victoria,
   If I understand the Lunos e2 HRV correctly, a pair of them provide their own makeup air because they switch directions every 70 seconds. We installed 2 pairs in my brother's house, they are very nice.

6. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Mar 23, 2015 05:45am | #6

   Victoria,
   For more information on sizing bath fans, I suggest that you see Bathroom Exhaust Fans.

   It's very rare for a bathroom exhaust fan to require a dedicated makeup air source. Almost all homes have enough leakage to allow bathroom exhaust fans to operate. If your house includes 4 Lunos fans, my guess is that these 4 Lunos openings will provide pathways for makeup air when the bathroom exhaust fan is operating.

   Range hood fans are another matter. If you don't want to install a recirculating fan, your range hood fan may need a dedicated source of makeup air, or you may need to discipline yourself to open a window every time you operate the range hood fan. For more information on range hood fans, see Makeup Air for Range Hoods.

7. 
   vew10 | Mar 23, 2015 09:04am | #7

   Lucy, I would love to hear more regarding your brother's experience with the lunos fans!
   I will also check with their tech people regarding this question.

   Martin, Thank you as well. I actually had read your article a couple of times which promted my search for the Broan fans as opposed to recirculating models. I somehow missed the statemment "installing an outdoor air duct connected to a grille mounted on the kitchen wall" as a possible solution. I will check out Broan's website more thoroughly. Cracking the kitchen window open may also be a viable alternative.