Heat Recovery Ventilation System Design Considerations

Achieving reliable ventilation in relatively tight homes requires a balanced system. While there are multiple ways to achieve balanced ventilation strategies in residential new construction, heat recovery ventilators, or HRVs, are the optimal home balanced ventilation system for tight homes in the Northwest. Energy recovery ventilators, or ERVs, may be better suited for cold climates and higher elevations. The Heat Recovery Ventilation System Design Considerations factsheet provides tips and recommendations to make the most of your HRV installation. Unless properly designed, installed, and operated, an HRV may be no more energy efficient than a pair of exhaust fans.