Heat recovery is often described as if it only moves temperature. In reality there are two kinds:
- Sensible recovery transfers temperature only. A standard plate or heat-pipe core does this.
- Enthalpy recovery transfers both heat and moisture (total energy).
Why moisture matters
In a humid summer, exhausting cool, dry indoor air and bringing in hot, wet outdoor air loads the cooling coil with latent heat. An enthalpy recovery core moves that moisture too, cutting both cooling capacity and humidity complaints. In dry winter, it retains indoor humidity so the space feels comfortable at a lower thermostat setting.
Which to specify
| Climate / building | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Hot and humid | Enthalpy (ERV) |
| Cold and dry winter | Enthalpy (retains humidity) |
| Mild, low humidity swing | Sensible (HRV) is enough |
| Contamination-sensitive | Sensible plate / heat pipe (no moisture carryover) |
For the system context, read our ERV guide.
Specifying a unit for your project?
EN159 builds plate, rotary, heat-pipe and counterflow air-to-air exchangers. Send airflow (m3/h), inlet temperatures and available space and we will size it.
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