32
Troubleshooting
Poor
Air
Flow
Supply
air
feels
cold
Dehumidistat
is
not
Operating
Humidity
Levels
are
too
High
in
Winter
Condensation
is
appearing
on
the
windows
Humidity
Levels
are
too
Low
HRV
and
/
or
Ducts
Frosting
up
Condensation
or
Ice
Build
Up
in
Insulated
Duct
to
the
Outside
Water
in
the
bottom
of
the
HRV
20
Minute
Timer
Not
Working
•
1
/
4
”
(6mm)
mesh
on
the
outside
hoods
is
plugged
•
filters
plugged
•
core
obstructed
•
house
grilles
closed
or
blocked
•
dampers
are
closed
if
installed
•
poor
power
supply
at
site
•
duct
is
restricting
HRV
•
improper
speed
control
setting
•
HRV
air
flow
improperly
balanced
•
poor
location
of
supply
grilles,
the
air
flow
may
irritate
the
occupant
•
outdoor
temperature
extremely
cold
•
improper
connection
to
ventilator
•
external
low
voltage
is
shortened
out
by
a
staple
or
nail
•
check
dehumidistat
setting
it
may
be
on
OFF
•
dehumidistat
is
set
too
high
.
•
lifestyle
of
the
occupants
•
moisture
coming
into
the
home
from
an
unvented
or
unheated
crawl
space
•
moisture
is
remaining
in
the
washroom
/
bathroom
and
kitchen
areas
•
condensation
seems
to
form
in
the
spring
and
fall
•
HRV
is
set
at
too
low
a
speed
•
dehumidistat
control
set
too
low
•
blower
speed
of
HRV
is
too
high
•
lifestyle
of
occupants
•
HRV
air
flow
may
be
improperly
balanced
•
HRV
air
flow
is
improperly
balanced
•
malfunction
of
the
HRV
defrost
system
•
incomplete
vapor
barrier
around
insulated
duct
•
a
hole
or
tear
in
outer
duct
covering
•
drain
pans
plugged
•
improper
connection
of
HRV
drain
lines
•
HRV
is
not
level
•
drain
lines
are
obstructed
•
HRV
heat
exchange
core
is
not
properly
installed
•
Wiring
•
Faulty
control
•
Faulty
circuit
board
•
clean
exterior
hoods
or
vents
•
remove
and
clean
filter
•
remove
and
clean
core
•
check
and
open
grilles
•
open
and
adjust
dampers
•
have
electrician
check
supply
voltage
at
house
•
check
duct
installation
•
increase
the
speed
of
the
HRV
•
have
contractor
balance
HRV
•
locate
the
grilles
high
on
the
walls
or
under
the
baseboards,
install
ceiling
mounted
diffuser
or
grilles
so
as
not
to
directly
spill
the
supply
air
on
the
occupant
(eg.
over
a
sofa)
•
turn
down
the
HRV
supply
speed.
A
small
duct
heater
(1kw)
could
be
used
to
temper
the
supply
air
•
placement
of
furniture
or
closed
doors
is
restricting
the
movement
of
air
in
the
home
•
if
supply
air
is
ducted
into
air
handler
return,
the
air
handler
fan
may
need
to
run
continuously
to
distribute
ventilation
air
comfortably
•
check
that
the
correct
terminals
have
been
used
•
check
external
wiring
for
a
short
•
set
the
dehumidistat
at
the
desired
setting
•
set
dehumidistat
lower
•
avoid
hanging
clothes
to
dry,
storing
wood
and
venting
clothes
dryer
inside.
Heating
wood
may
have
to
be
moved
outside
•
vent
crawl
space
and
place
a
vapor
barrier
on
the
floor
of
the
crawl
space
•
ducts
from
the
washroom
/
bathroom
should
be
si
z
ed
to
remove
moist
air
as
effectively
as
possible,
use
of
a
washroom
/
bathroom
fan
for
short
periods
will
remove
additional
moisture
•
timer
or
fan
can
be
added
to
washroom
/
bathroom
exhaust
•
on
humid
days,
as
the
seasons
change,
some
condensation
may
appear
but
the
home
’
s
air
quality
will
remain
high
with
some
HRV
use
•
increase
speed
of
the
HRV
•
set
dehumidistat
higher
•
decrease
HRV
blower
speed
•
humidity
may
have
to
be
added
through
the
use
of
humidifiers
•
have
a
contractor
balance
HRV
air
flow
•
Note:
minimal
frost
build-up
is
expected
on
cores
before
unit
initiates
defrost
cycle
functions
•
have
HVAC
contractor
balance
the
HRV
•
ensure
working
properly.
•
tape
and
seal
all
joints
•
tape
any
holes
or
tears
made
in
the
outer
duct
covering
•
ensure
that
the
vapor
barrier
is
completely
sealed
•
ensure
O-Ring
on
drain
no
zz
le
sits
properly
•
look
for
kinks
in
line
•
check
water
drain
connections
•
make
sure
water
drains
properly
from
pan
•
disconnect
external
controls
and
run
unit
through
self
test.
If
the
unit
runs
through
self
test
successfully,
then
the
circuit
board
is
okay.
•
check
wiring
connection.
•
make
sure
wires
are
connected
to
proper
terminals.
•
test
20
Minute
Timer,
press
and
hold
the
button
for
10
seconds
then
release.
The
unit
should
run
on
high
speed
and
then
return
to
normal
operation
when
the
button
is
released.
Symptom
Cause
Solution
