How to clean your fresh air appliance (HRV/ERV)

[@cmdant86]

Are you supposed to let the core and filters dry before putting them back in the unit?

[@DJGoozer]

Exaclty, this video totaly sucks it just lodges all the dirt i to the unit further and makes it sticky woth all the moisture

[@Darryl6636]

Yes they must dry first so put them on the deck and let the sun/wind dry them out

[@daphneraven6745]

your comment is four years old, but if you’re asking this question, probably you’re not the only one with the questio,n so I’ll answer. According to the manufacturer, you take the core out And vacuum it off, and a couple of times a year you’re supposed to immerse it in the sink or bathtub, of warm, soapy water, and let it soak the dust out, and then rinse it really well. Then you’re to let it dry out and put it back in the unit. The foam filters also need to be Removed and gently vacuumed off more often, and rain stop in warm, soapy, water, and let dry Before being pressed back into service. That way dust can lodge on the surfaces without being concreted on there. I hope this helps.

[@nilapavlova3701]

The core needs to be completely dry before it's placed back into the unit, usually takes a couple of days, it tends to retain a lot of water...

[@erikgutierrez3613]

The manual on my Fantech SER200 doesn't even explain it the way it's shown in this video. It makes no mention of soap but that's OK I guess since Dawn dish soap is gentle enough. The manual says to let core dry for 2-3 hours.

[@3984204]

⁠@@erikgutierrez3613same. So frustrating that they’re unable to provide coherent care instructions.

[@SyncStation_Music2023]

Thank you! I did wonder if the core needs to be dried off, would have checked the manual but the comments saved him some time!

[@gamecraze8133]

I put a small but powerful fan right near and it was fully dry in under 2 hours!

[@deadtreehalloween]

I always clean mine on a hot day in the summer. It dries in an hour or 2 in the sun. I also spin it by holding onto the handle and rotating it back and forth quickly- this spins out much of the water.

[@jenniferhahn2851]

My core has pictures on it, it shows to vacuum the filters and spray with water every 3 months and to submerge the core in just water for 3 hours every 6 months

[@_raymondlee]

The filters for the core has a metal mesh side and the plastic-like mesh on the other side, so which side of the filter faces the core? What happen if I got them backwards? Thanks!

[@terrencesauve]

The plastic mesh is a bug screen. And for the other side it's to capture larger particulates. I would place the plastic one first (ie on top of the metal one).

[@_raymondlee]

@@terrencesauve thanks

[@mcbobhall]

@@terrencesauve Which side goes against the core? The metal or plastic side? Thanks.

[@gbelleify]

On the core, it is written to not use soap. Which is it going to be?

[@take-er-easy-now-eh]

Hey, anybody know if you can rotate the core. It seems to hold the filters on the other two sides also.

[@crakilldurmom]

Good question. Hope someone responds

[@Fantechusa]

You can rotate the core if you wish.

[@simonac688.]

box and ventilator propellors werenth cleaned up...( wash) + propellers ( 2 fan blower wheels) + check drain piping if water flows well these units will produce water when in defrost mode. all in all this is a minimal cleaning of one of the most important ventilation equipement in your home...so i give it 60% note: always UNPLUG the air exchanger before maintenance should be easy either standard plug or check out breaker box... + try to use soft soap or Bio you will be breathing this stuff for a while...👍

[@terrencesauve]

I'm wondering what models have the defrost controller. I have an older SRM 2004 model and haven't had a chance to pull up the service manual yet. Just moved in. We use what the air cleaning company typically use for cleaning the a/c coil and the core. The product is Benefect Desinfectant. It's composed with thyme and lemongrass extract and does not contain ammonium chlorides or alcohols. Plus it smells good for a couple of days!

[@DJGoozer]

I LOVE THIS GUY!! Straight up i think you are being nice when you say 60% this video is a total fail they are not true HVAC people like you my good man! Youre a pro please make proper video

[@Cummins402]

It says right on mine not to use soap or detergents. Yet this video shows dawn dish soap lol

[@clamb8011]

Very helpful video! How often do you recommend cleaning the filter?

[@DJGoozer]

They wont reply, these guys suck.

[@Fantechusa]

We recommend cleaning your filters every 3-4 months. A good reminder would be to do this upon season change (fall, winter, etc.).

[@ChrisGiunta13]

@@Fantechusa How often for the core?

[@Fantechusa]

@@ChrisGiunta13 Every 3-6 months for the best performance.

[@PatMyketa]

Good information, but I wish we could hear the technician speaking instead of the meh music. I found a second video for this maintenance where the tech provided some valuable info, such as how to put the filters properly into place. If these two videos could be combined the directions would be complete and thorough.

[@maggiemcinnis6161]

Should the fan be set to low or medium?

[@rockyarcand2437]

I guess it depends how much air you want exchanged in / out your house, but would also increase how often you have to clean it since it's used more on medium than on low.

[@theinspectorsca]

Great video tutorial thank you.

[@DJGoozer]

Its really not lol

[@kylepeter3718]

It’s horrible. Doesn’t explain anything with no sound. Good a comment said to let it dry, as this is not explained. Strange you think this was good.

[@GarretDuffy]

Confirmed in manual core needs to be dried after rinsing... It's outside at the moment in sunshine. I hope it won't take days? Like someone said below

[@asmodias1260]

How dry does the core need to be?

[@Fantechusa]

Once washed, let the core air dry for 3 hours.

[@asmodias1260]

@@Fantechusa Thank you for your response. So it does not need to be completely dry?

[@Fantechusa]

Not necessary but let the core dry for some time. Any excessive water droplets will be air born as soon as you turn the appliance on. Thank you for taking care of your Fantech fresh air appliance. Let us know if we can help you with anything else.

[@TheFrugalGardenerYT]

@@Fantechusa how do you reset the filter icon on the wall mounted controller?

[@Fantechusa]

@@TheFrugalGardenerYT The Maintenance Icon will display every 3 months (90 days) of runtime as a reminder that maintenance to the ventilation system is recommended. In order to reset the Maintenance timer, enter the OPTIONS menu and advance to the Maintenance Reset option, which will be indicated by a blinking Maintenance icon. To reset the Maintenance reminder, hold the NEXT button for 3 seconds until the controller returns to its normal operation

[@danniliu4413]

Thank you!! So helpful.

[@Fantechusa]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gsri9344]

Can I keep the furnace on while keeping the HVAC off for cleaning

[@Fantechusa]

Yes, you can keep the furnace on. Ensure the appliance is switched off.

[@PierreC2]

Is the system still running when you clean it or you need to stop everything ?

[@Fantechusa]

Hello Pierre, you'd need to ensure the appliance is unplugged prior to proceeding cleaning.

[@PierreC2]

@@Fantechusa well i read your reply after doing the cleaning...but as soon as you open the cover...the system stops ! clever system ! lol

[@marlenepisani9887]

Can anyone help me?? While cleaning the unit for the first time I noticed inside the unit on the right there is a pin type plug but the receptacle for it has multiple places you could plug into ..should this be plugged into this somewhere ?? Which ones what is it for?? There is no mention of this in the manual..and of course the company that installed it is no longer around ..help !

[@sgpghost4338]

if it’s the white wire then mines sitting like that too idk

[@MrMikeLurie]

Can you submerge the honeycomb type of core filter this way too??

[@Fantechusa]

We're not sure if you call the recovery core a honeycomb? Please clarify here.

[@30kenton]

Does anybody know what direction the filler is suppose to be back back..

[@Fantechusa]

When replacing filters in the appliance, ensure the aluminum side faces away from the core so that the filter catches large debris. This will improve the longevity of the filter and make maintenance work easier. Good luck!

[@asmodias1260]

I soaked the core for 3 hours and now it appears to be rusting? What can I do?

[@terrencesauve]

It's possible it's not the core rusting. Use a very dilute amount of CLR or other type of mild acid based cleaner in your bath tub with the core and see if it removes the brownish materials. If it doesn't go away, look for a used core or a similar model or call the company for a quote on a new core.

[@rachelemrick8087]

this is mislabeled -I just called and the ERVs DO NOT have a metal core that can be washed

[@XYZ_55]

The control panel on my display has an E1 error. When I take the faceplate off, there is a red and black wire connected. However, and the top of the circuit board there appears to be a white connector with silver prongs, but nothing is connected to it. I'm worried that there was originally something plugged in there, but it fell into the wall. Do you know if this is the cause of my E1 error? I have reset power to the device several times and that has not fixed the issue.

[@BronzeVBaker]

Does anyone know how to turn on ventilation, it is off atm.

[@DJGoozer]

Thing sucks its busted

[@burgerdad420]

Sweet nowto charge somebody $125 to do it

[@ChristianTJ9]

3 hours.. Seems like way too long