Zehnder HRV duct silencers-necessary?
AJ__
| Posted in Mechanicals on
I recently received a quote for a Zehnder system. The actual cost of the unit is quite reasonable but all the recommend extras really add up. I could replace the proprietary register covers with some cheaper ones and I’m wondering if the duct silencer is necessary? All runs are <20 ft, and with the comfotubes I’m wondering if noise would really be an issue, especially as our typical ventilation requirements would be towards to the lower end of the unit’s output. Has anyone installed a Zehnder without the silencers?
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Replies
Hey Alex,
I don't have any experience with these systems, but we have many GBA users who do. So, I'm giving your question a bump. Hopefully someone comes along soon to help you out.
Thanks Brian. I'm going to bump this too.
Anyone have any ideas?
I don't have it, and my sales rep didn't even recommend it. Under normal operating conditions (~10-20cfm per register), I can't hear anything at the registers. In boost mode, there's a noticeable sound but it's not offensive (it's loud in the room where the HRV is). A lot of that noise is likely due to going over the limits of the tubes; I have 10 tubes each supply/return and the HRV is trying to push/pull 300cfm through them. So if you're keeping to the lower end of the com range, I'd say the silencer would be a waste of money and space.
I don't think we have duct silencers on our Zehnder hrv. I've never heard any sound at all from air coming through the ducts. On boost, you can hear the hrv if you're close to it, but even then, there's no sound at all from the ducts.