Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers for Pool & Natatorium Dehumidification
Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers for Pool & Natatorium Dehumidification
An indoor pool or natatorium evaporates hundreds of litres of water a day. That humid, warm air is the enemy of the building envelope (condensation, corrosion, mold) and a large energy load. An air-to-air heat exchanger — usually an enthalpy wheel in an ERV — recovers both the heat and the moisture from the exhaust and reuses it to precondition the supply, cutting both heating and dehumidification cost. This guide covers the right core for the duty.
Why Pools Are a Latent-Heavy Duty
Pool exhaust is warm and very humid. If you recover only sensible heat (a plate core), you pre-warm the supply but leave its humidity at the outdoor level — which can actually worsen indoor condensation. Recovering the latent heat too is what balances the space. The distinction is in our sensible vs latent guide, and the direct question in does a heat exchanger remove humidity. An enthalpy wheel is the standard answer for natatoriums.
Why a Wheel (Not a Plate) for Pools
Unlike a kitchen or pharmaceutical exhaust, pool exhaust is not contamination-sensitive — there is no grease or hazardous fume, just warm humid air. So the cross-contamination concern that rules out wheels elsewhere (see where wheels are banned) does not apply. A wheel recovers both heat and moisture, returning pre-conditioned air that reduces the load on the dedicated pool dehumidifier. Where a wheel is unsuitable, our rotary vs plate comparison helps you choose a membrane ERV instead.
System Layout
- Exhaust the humid pool air through the wheel; supply make-up air through the other side.
- Pair the ERV with a refrigerant or desiccant dehumidifier sized to the remaining latent load.
- Recover heat to the pool water or adjacent spaces via a coil if beneficial.
- Size to the pool's evaporation rate and air change — see sizing guide.
Typical Performance
| Item | Typical |
|---|---|
| Core | Enthalpy (total-energy) wheel |
| Sensible recovery | 75–85% |
| Latent recovery | 60–80% |
| Concern | Not contamination-sensitive — wheel OK |
Related
See our application library and the air-to-air overview for other duties.
Get a Pool ERV Core
We build enthalpy wheels and ERV cores for natatoriums and indoor pools, matched to your evaporation and air-change rates. For a quotation, contact +86 15753355505.