It does help a lot and I couldn't imagine living without it.
- Filters out particle pollution - https://twitter.com/eugenijusr/status/1105740301493260289
- Removes CO2 - averages ~650ppm in all rooms, almost never goes higher than 1000ppm (3 person household).
- Retains up to 85% of heat (based on the specs) using the exchanger, but also has an active electric heater inside that can be turned on in winter for ultimate comfort.
- Removes moisture from the bathroom and kitchen and dumps it into the drain via a separate drain pipe.
- Isolates from the outside noise as you can keep your windows closed shut all the time.
It does have some drawbacks however:
- Up to +6dB noise in rooms when running at full power (I run it at 20% at night which only adds ~+1dB).
- F7 class filters need to be changed every 3-6 months (~50€).
- Air intake grill with a pre-filter mesh needs thorough cleaning every 6-12 months as it usually gets clogged with debris in spring and autumn.
Not sure if it's due to these drawbacks or lack of knowledge lots of residents don't actually use their unit. You can tell by the open windows all year round. Most say it's too noisy for them - most probably due to lack of maintenance. Others are just plain ignorant saying opening windows is the only way to get "fresh air".
If it is, the whatever dust that gets picked up ends up in filters in the first week of operation.
both. That is it varies between different units but also varies with local conditions, if your local conditions are "heavy-duty" (very high humidity, smog, area with lots of dust or lots of pollens etc.) you should consider replacing more frequently than rated intervals.
I'm also skeptical because houses we build today should be in use a 100 years from now. And it's really obvious that renewables aren't supply limited like oil and gas. But in the passive house world it's always 1980.
This obsession with mold looks to me as an exclusively US thing. I have no first-hand data but I guess it's due to insufficient air flow combined with air conditioners pushing humidity all the way up.
Cold climate results in low humidity. If you're mostly heating your home (as opposed to running aircon 24/7), air inside tends to be of lower humidity than outside. So low that it becomes uncomfortable and one has to use humidifiers.
The only place mold has any chance in those conditions are the leak spots on the fridge door seal.
Regardless, the point is that even if you don't have one of these super-airtight houses, you can still install an HRV/ERV for not a ton of money. I'm considering one for my vacation cabin where the primary heat is a wood stove.