We are frequently asked by consumers how to maintain their vanEE Air Exchanger, and whether their is any set maintenance that should be done on an Air Exchanger. This is an excellent question. Much like your Furnace, your Air Exchanger also does from time to time require maintenance.
As with all maintenance you must follow the manufacturers guide lines and it should only be done by a professional. Your Air Exchanger must always be unplugged and safety equipment including gloves and safety glasses should be worn. vanEE takes great care to make sure there are no sharp edges but the unit is an electrical device and can be extremely dangerous so always consult with a professional.
General Air Exchanger Maintenance
General maintenance can be done on your vanEE air exchanger every 3 to 6 months. To maintain your unit as noted, the first step is to unplug the air exchanger.
To open the air exchanger, you do not require any tools as a general rule, but every model is slightly different. These instructions are specifically geared towards the 190H /90H/2001 and 1001 vanEE Air Exchangers.
Unlatch the front door of your air exchanger and lift the panel up. Hold it firmly and hit on the right side of the door. The door should slide to the left and be completely free. Place the door on the floor and clean the inside of the door with a damp cloth. Once you are done cleaning the door wipe out the button of the unit.
Cleaning Air Exchanger Filters
To clean the filters, you can vacuum them to remove the dust or you can wash them with a mixture of warm water and mild soap. You can add bleach if you want to disinfect the filters, but only add one tablespoon of bleach per one gallon of water per the vanEE manufacturer specs.
You can also wash your filters in the top tray of the dish washer but be aware that this can tarnish the aluminum frame of the filters.
Cleaning the Air Exchanger Core
If you have a heat recovery ventilator commonly known as an HRV, then your core is made of polypropylene. To clean it, use the following steps:
- Remove the polypropylene heat recovery core from the unit.
- Let is soak in a mixture of either cold or luke warm water with a mild soap (dishwashing liquid).
- Rinse the heat recovery core thoroughly and shake to remove excess water.
- Let the core dry before putting it back in the air exchanger.
- Remove the energy recovery core from the air exchanger.
- Vaccuum off any dust or debris using a soft tip attachment to prevent damaging the unit.
Air Exchanger Fan Motor Maintenance
The fan motors on a vanEE Air Exchanger are permanently lubricated and do not need to be oiled. The fan motor from time to time may need to be removed from the unit and cleaned. Typically, dirt in the air exchanger is caused by a missing screen on the air intake hoods on the outside of your house.
Details on how to service your air exchanger fan motor can be found in the vanEE Install manual in the plastic pouch on the front of your air exchanger.
If you require service parts or replacement filters you can order them directly from us using the contact info below.