Woman Kissing Zehnder Q HRV Unit — You’re more likely to want to smooch your zehnder system after it’s installed, but even before, there’s plenty to love!

This January marked the eleventh year Small Planet Supply has been selling Zehnder HRV and ERV systems in the western USA and Canada. Since then, we’ve sold thousands of systems to homeowners and multi-family builders. In honor of our eleven years of selling these amazing Zehnder systems here’s eleven reasons why we love Zehnder HRV and ERV systems and why they are a good choice for your home or project:

1. Zehnder’s High Efficiency Ratings

Zehnder units boast some of the highest efficiency ratings in the industry, minimizing energy consumption while maintaining optimal ventilation. This translates to cost savings on your energy bills.

2. Zehnder’s Excellent Heat Recovery

Zehnder's counterflow heat exchangers efficiently transfer heat from exhaust air to incoming fresh air, preheating it in winter and pre-cooling it in summer. This reduces the burden on heating and cooling systems, further enhancing efficiency. For more details about Zehnder’s efficiency, read our blog post, “Zehnder Efficiency: No Matter the Measurement, Zehnder Tops the Scores.”

3. Zehnder’s Precise Ventilation Control

Zehnder units offer advanced control systems that allow for fine-tuning of ventilation rates based on occupancy, CO2 levels, and humidity. This ensures optimal air quality while avoiding unnecessary ventilation.

4. Zehnder’s Advanced Filtration

Zehnder offers plenty of options for ensuring that you have the right filtration for your needs: Zehnder filter set (left), Zehnder activated carbon filter (top right) and Comfowell (bottom right)

Zehnder units come equipped with high-quality filters that effectively remove dust, pollen, and other allergens from incoming air, creating a healthier indoor environment for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. In addition, to the excellent filtration offered in the Zehnder unit itself, Zehnder also offers an optional Comfowell system that allows for additional filtration. The Comfowell can hold either additional standard filters or activated carbon filters. Activated carbon filters contain carbon granules that effectively absorb odors, gases, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) for improved indoor air quality.

Learn more about Zehnder filtration options

5. Zehnder’s Ability to Control Humidity

Zehnder systems can help regulate indoor humidity levels, preventing the growth of mold and mildew and creating a more comfortable living environment.

6. Zehnder Reduces Airborne Pollutants and Provides Healthier, More Comfortable Air

By constantly bringing in fresh air and removing stale air, Zehnder units help to dilute and remove indoor pollutants such as VOCs and radon, improving overall air quality. The fresh air provided by a Zehnder system promotes well-being, concentration, productivity, and healthy sleep. Optional HEPA filtration captures fine dust and pollen increasing comfort for allergy sufferers. In areas with dry winters an Enthalpy Heat Exchanger (ERV) can prevent the air in getting too dry in winter. In areas where it is humid, and ERV can remove moisture from the air coming into the home, increasing occupant comfort.

7. Zehnder’s Quiet Operation

At barely above the sound of a ticking clock at its lowest operational settings, Zehnder ComfoAir q, you can be assured a Zehnder system won’t be a distraction as you go about your day

Zehnder units are known for their quiet operation, ensuring minimal disruption to your daily life. This is especially important in bedrooms and other areas where noise can be bothersome. A Zehnder ComfoAir Q operates at 23 decibels at its lowest settings, which is quieter than a whisper. Zehnder’s quiet operation significantly decreases the likelihood that occupants will turn off the system, ensuring occupants and homes or building continue to benefit from continuous ventilation.

8. Zehnder’s Easy Installation and Maintenance

Small Planet Supply and Zehnder ventilation experts collaborate to design the best system for a given project, including sizing the HRV system and laying out the ducts. All Zehnder system components are available through Zehnder dealers, so there’s no searching at different stores and distributors for the parts needed to install the system. Builders and HVAC professionals also appreciate that Zehnder offers technical support, making the systems easier and quicker to install, even for professionals who aren’t experienced in HRV installation. Zehnder units are designed for easy installation and maintenance, with readily available replacement parts and service technicians.

Zehnder ComfoControl App — Zehnder’s COMFOCONTROL app let’s you manage your system both in your home and away from home

To make installation and owning a Zehnder system even easier, Zehnder Q Systems can be paired with Zehnder’s ComfoControl App. The Zehnder ComfoControl App offers:

Local and remote control of your ComfoAir Q and ComfoAir flex system
A filter change assistance
A comprehensive overview of data from the ventilation unit, sensors and connected devices

9. Zehnder’s Aesthetically Pleasing Design

Zehnder units come in a variety of designs that can complement the style of your home. Their quiet operation ensures that whichever space you select for the unit, those nearby will barely notice the system’s running while appreciating the system’s design.

10. Zehnder’s Durability and Reliability

Zehnder units are constructed with high-quality materials and backed by long warranty periods, providing peace of mind for homeowners.

11. Zehnder Systems Help Meet Efficiency Standards

As builders move toward building more airtight projects, continuous balanced ventilation (such as Zehnder HRVs and ERVs) are becoming a requirement. Having a HRV or ERV with high efficiency helps you meet code AND keep heating and cooling bills low. Two Small Planet Supply blog posts feature work written by Small Planet Supply based on work done by Nick Brown with Build Smart Group on how Zehnder systems work to meet California's energy code ( California's Title 24, The Recovery Ventilator, and You | HRVs and How They Help Achieve California's Title 24 Code Compliance). Although specific to California building code, Nick’s reports provide information that can be helpful for all high-performance building. To make modeling units into a project even easier, all Q Units have HVI ratings as well as UL listings.

Want to learn more about Zehnder HRV or ERV systems before our February webinar? Send us an email and we’ll contact you or schedule a Zehnder system consultation with one of our Small Planet Supply team members.
Want to browse more about Zehnder systems on your own? Check out the Zehnder page of our website or our previous Zehnder blog posts below.

Small Planet Supply Blog Posts Featuring Xehnder Systems

Clearing the Air: Choosing Between Centralized and De-Centralized HRVs

Next month, Small Planet Supply is hosting a webinar featuring our own Eric Fenno, discussing the difference between centralized and decentralized heat recovery ventilator systems and what to consider when deciding which type of system is best for your home or build. This is the first time that we’ve offered this webinar. We wanted to know more about the webinar and what will be covered, so we sat down with Eric Fenno to learn more about what he has planned.

Eleven Reasons We Love Zehnder HRV and ERV Systems

Your Zehnder System Commissioning

A Zehnder system is an investment in your home and your family's health. Did you know that some homeowners don't get their systems commissioned and (unbelievably) some homeowners haven't turned their systems on?

After all the work that has gone into designing and installing a system that will provide fresh air to your home, commissioning is the final step to make sure that air flow in your home is happening exactly as designed. Our new USA commissioning agent, Sarah Nuamah, has written a brief blog post about what you can expect in the commissioning product and we provide an introduction to Sarah.

Rancho Cielo: Age is No Barrier to Building a Sustainable Building Future

With all the emphasis on the importance of designing energy-efficient buildings, it can sometimes get lost that there also needs to be a qualified workforce to build them. There can also be the assumption that this can only be done at the post-secondary level. Rancho Cielo’s building construction academy in Salinas, California demonstrates that solid construction skills can be taught to even younger participants. Rancho Cielo Construction Academy is one of several vocational programs run by Rancho Cielo. Participants in the program range from ages 16-24 years of age.

Clearing the Air: Szabi Fekete on IAQ & Balanced Ventilation

Next month, Small Planet Supply will be hosting a webinar with Zehnder America’s Szabi Fekete. In his role providing quotes and sales support to customers, Szabi has been able increase his already substantial knowledge of Zehnder systems that he had gained in his nine years as a service and commissioning agent. Small Planet Supply’s past Zehnder webinars have been popular but often focused on the same theme. Szabi’s presentation next month will be focused on indoor air quality and air quality standards. We sat down with him to learn more what he has planned.

Zehnder: Ventilation Made Easy with Efficiency You'll Love

Indoor air quality is a critical aspect of a healthy living environment. In recent years, more attention has been given to the importance of proper ventilation in homes, buildings, and offices. One of the best ways to improve indoor air quality is to install a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). HRVs are designed to bring in fresh air while also conserving energy and reducing moisture buildup. Zehnder, a leading manufacturer of ventilation systems, has made it their mission to make the use of HRVs easy for everyone.

California's Title 24, The Recovery Ventilator, and You

In our last blog post about California’s Title 24, we outlined how the new mandatory building code energy credits system works, and how a recovery ventilator can give a massive boost to EDR credits. California’s Title 24 requirements continue to call for improvements to a new building’s energy usage, and we’re back with more data further prove that best-in-class recovery ventilators are the way to go for efficiency, comfort, and meeting regulations. Based on tests done by Build Smart Group and Luke Morton, Mortan Building Group, the following findings display just how beneficial any Recovery Ventilator can be, and especially so for best-in-class, such as the Zehnder systems carried by Small Planet Supply.

Zehnder: Exterior Maintenance Keeps Clean Air Flowing

Recently our Zehnder Commissioning Agent Steve Lamberg reported an issue at some of his customer maintenance calls: Zehnder units not getting any supply air because the exterior ports were clogged. Dust builds up on the metal grill, then there is some moisture, and the result is a paste that prevents supply air from getting in.

While this may not be an issue for some of our customers, we wanted to ensure that all Zehnder owners are aware of this maintenance step and check their outside ports, especially the supply ports, as part of their usual seasonal maintenance. If you check your exterior ports and they are dirty or clogged, here is what to do.

Three Types of Filters that Help Your Zehnder Keep Indoor Air Clean

From the moment outside air enters the system, a Zehnder system (and its filters) are designed to keep air contaminants from entering your home, while efficiently recovering heat (or cooling) from the air exiting your home.

Do you know every level of filtration available to you for your Zehnder recovery ventilator? If you’ve recently installed one of these units, or purchased a house that included one already, you hopefully know of (and are changing) at least the in-unit filters. These two filters, one for supply and one for return air, do the brunt of the filtration work to keep your unit running efficiently and delivering the cleanest air, but there are a few other filters that complement the system.

5 Reasons Why You'll Want to Choose a Zehnder HRV or ERV

Zehnder HRV and ERV systems are the highest quality HRV and ERV systems you can choose for your own home or designs. Small Planet Supply has sold and supported more systems than any other dealer in North America. If you are wondering why you should choose a Zehnder HRV, here are our five top reasons:

Clearing the Air: Zehnders, Fresh Air & Wildfire Smoke Strategies

Last month, in part one of a two-part series, we discussed how Zehnder owners in smoke impacted areas managed their Zehnder Comfosystems during the summer’s wildfires. In the second part of this series we’ll talk about things to consider when preparing for a wildfire event. First, let’s talk about some basics.

Zehnder HRV and ERV Function Refresher

Zehnder Comfosystems bring fresh air into buildings to provide healthy ventilation for occupants. The typical ventilation design is based on 0.3 ACH, or one complete air change of the living space every three hours. Having an HRV or ERV is crucial to ventilate today’s modern buildings because they are designed to be built tight and reduce the air leakage from building defects like cracks and voids, while moving the fresh air intake to intentional clean filtered supply intakes.

Wildfire Smoke and Zehnder System Performance

This summer the Western USA was heavily impacted by wildfire smoke. In late September we sent out a survey to our customers in smoke affected states to find out how they felt their system performed during the wildfires and what steps they took to ensure their system was prepared for operating in fire system. In a subsequent article we’ll feature recommendations received from Zehnder regarding best practices in wildfire/extreme smoke situations.

A Retro Retrofit: Improving Efficiency in an Older Home

With all of our focus on innovative, energy-saving equipment at Small Planet Supply, it was a total surprise that the house Albert Rooks (Small Planet Supply) and I recently purchased in Olympia was a 1938 home. While we would love to say it was the structure we fell in love with, it was probably the gardens that made us feel like we had found a new place to land in Washington state.

Strategies for a Healthy Home Office or School Space

With COVID-19 still having an impact across the US and Canada, it is likely that working and schooling at home will continue for many people. As a result, you may be considering an upgrade to your current home office or school set-up to improve your productivity -- like a new ergonomic office chair, more storage, or noise cancelling headphones!

But did you know that one of the most important contributors to productivity is actually your indoor air quality? New studies from Harvard’s public health department, SUNY Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University have found that improved indoor environmental quality doubled occupants’ cognitive function test scores. Focusing on the air that you and your children breathe can help transform your home into a great productivity tool!

Zehnder ComfoAir 70 Lets You Breathe Easier in a Smaller Space

Do you hear that? Come a little closer and quiet down. Now do you hear it? That’s the sound of a Zehnder ComfoAir 70 (CA 70) providing fresh air to your studio apartment, your home office, or small workout space. Perhaps you’re more familiar with the (almost no) sound of a Zehnder system in a larger home, regardless the end goal is the same; To remove stale used up air from your living space and replace it with fresh filtered air while recovering the heat from exhausted air. Wondering how you can achieve this feat in your own small space without convoluted ducting and having to tear out drywall? Perhaps your building a new tiny home and need a way to ventilate while conserving heat? Read on to find out what benefits the ComfoAir 70 can breathe into your space.

HRV Efficiency: No Matter the Measurement, Zehnder Tops the Scores

Once you’ve made the decision to use an HRV, what is the next step? Finding the right system system. Many new and familiar brands offer a plethora of options for recovery ventilators. What sets one choice apart from the others? Performance!

Various measurement criteria come together to point towards a clear winner, and that winner is Zehnder. Here are the measurements and what they mean when selecting a HRV system.

HRVs and How They Help Achieve California's Title 24 Code Compliance

When building a new home in California this year, builders may come up against some new items in the building code that may be unfamiliar. Notably, the requirements for mechanical ventilation using heat recovery ventilators or HRVs. These systems go hand in hand with the improved airtightness measures that are being called for and will also affect the building’s energy design rating significantly.

Air is the New Water

Remember the good old days when you could drink water from a stream? You don’t? Neither do I! Anyone who has any familiarity with drinking water contamination knows that just because the water in a stream may look crystal clear, there can be all sorts of bacteria, viruses and other contaminants that can cause illness. So why is it taking so long to recognize that we need to be concerned about the air we breathe and have a plan for ensuring our buildings provide clean, fresh air?

Small Planet Supply’s Better Building Coach is a Mobile Showroom that Brings the Future of Building to You

When the idea first came up for retrofitting a bus into a mobile workshop and showroom, there were a few of us at Small Planet who were a bit skeptical. Since then, even the most reluctant of the staff admit to being intrigued by the transformation that is taking place at our Tumwater warehouse.

In October, Albert Rooks, CEO of Small Planet Supply, took possession of a four-year-old Starcraft 25-foot shuttle bus and began planning the transformation. Now, halfway through the change, we asked him why this was so important to him, especially since running the Better Building Coach entails using fuel.

The Intersection of Healthy and High Efficiency Building

Recently Albert Rooks and I went to California to participate in a presentation to a builder about Hayward Home Score and energy-efficient building with Hayward Score Founder Bill Hayward and Healthy Building Scientist Joe Medosch. Hayward Home Score helps homeowners identify major issues in their homes that can impact their health and gives them personalized actionable recommendations to remedy them. Their further work, The Five Principles of a Healthy Home, provide specific guidelines on how to have the healthiest home possible.

FAQs: The Importance of Commissioning a Zehnder HRV or ERV System

IIn the excitement of finishing a construction project or moving into a new home, it can be easy to overlook the final step in correctly installing an HRV system: commissioning. Our latest blog article explains why Zehnder units need to be commissioned and what happens during the process.

New Zehnder Q and ComfoPost Arrive Right on Cue for New West Vancouver Passive House

Last Tuesday, Small Planet Supply’s Albert Rooks met with Shawn Barr of Naikoon Construction to complete the final commissioning of the first Zehnder ComfoAir Q and ComfoPost in North America at the Radcliffe Passive House in West Vancouver.

The installation of the new Q system wasn’t an accident. Radcliffe Passive House owner James Dean was aware that the Q would soon be released in North America and wanted it installed in his new home since it represents a whole new level of heat recovery ventilation.

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