Question re: Vanee HRV unit ~ which to purchase

[tjlongeway]

Insurance will replace my HRV 3055 Compact with a 90H-V HRV.

My question is,  is it worth it to upgrade to a 90H-V ECM, it will cost me the difference in price of units
which is another $600 + HST (13%), on top of my $500. deductable.

I do not understand the difference of the two units to know if it is worth it.

The Dealer says if I upgrade unit that I should purchase a surge protector for it as he says the ecm units are more expensive to repair.

bronze series
Model: 90H-V
Unit electrical characteristics:
Volts, Frequency, Ampere, Watts
  120     60 Hz         1.0      125

High Effiecency
Model: HRV 90H-V ECM
Unit electrical characteristics:
Volts, Frequency, Amperes, Watts
120       60 Hz        1.3       98

sincerely,

t.j

[Admin]

The ECM model uses less electricity, but it would take a long time to recover $600 in electricity savings.  The HRV is interlocked with the furnace fan and if the furnace doesn't have a ECM fan motor then upgrading to a ECM HRV is pointless.

You should be looking at spending extra money and going with an ERV instead of an HRV.  HRV's are useless in the summer but an ERV can run all year.

Also make sure they include a digital control that offers intermittent operation.  Some of the Vanee basic controls will only run the HRV continuously.