An HRV is usually the pick if
- Your windows get wet or frosty in winter
- The house feels damp or smells musty
- Showers and cooking add a lot of moisture
HRV & ERV Installation
HRV and ERV Installation in Mississauga
An HRV or ERV swaps stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air, and keeps most of your heat while it does. It helps with wet windows, stale smells and stuffy rooms. We install and replace them in homes across Mississauga.
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What It Does
Fresh air in, without losing your heat.
Newer and renovated homes are sealed tight to save energy. That is good for your heating bill, but stale air and moisture get trapped inside.
- Stale, damp air is pulled out of the house
- The same amount of fresh air comes in from outside
- The two air streams pass each other inside a part called the core, but never mix
- Heat from the air going out warms the air coming in, so you keep most of your heat
The two names: HRV means heat recovery ventilator. ERV means energy recovery ventilator. An ERV works the same way, but it also moves some moisture between the two air streams.
Signs
Signs your home needs more fresh air.
In Mississauga, these signs usually show up in winter, when the windows stay shut.
- Condensation or frost on the inside of your windows
- Musty or stale smells
- Cooking smells that hang around
- Mould spots in corners, closets or the basement
- Bedrooms that feel stuffy in the morning
- A newer or renovated home that is sealed tight
Already have one? Many newer Ontario homes were built with an HRV. If yours is old, noisy or not working, we can replace it.
HRV or ERV
Picking between an HRV and an ERV.
Both bring in fresh air and save your heat. The difference is moisture. An HRV sends extra moisture outside. An ERV keeps some of it in during winter and brings less in during muggy summers.
An ERV is usually the pick if
- Winter air in your home already feels dry
- You get static shocks or dry skin in winter
- Summers feel muggy inside
This is not a hard rule. Every home is different, so we look at yours and help you pick.
What's Included
What the install includes.
Every home is a little different. This is what a typical job covers.
- Sizing the unit to your home
- Picking the right spot for it, usually in the basement
- Two vent hoods through an outside wall, one for fresh air in and one for stale air out
- Ducting into your furnace ducts, or its own separate ducts
- A small drain line for the water the unit collects, where needed
- Balancing the airflow, so the air going out matches the air coming in
- A wall control so you can change the speed
- Showing you how to clean the filters and the core
Process
How an HRV or ERV job runs.
We look at your home
We check the house, your furnace and ducts, and where the vent hoods can go. Tell us what you have noticed.
HRV or ERV, and a written price
We recommend the right unit for your home and explain why. You get the price in writing before any work starts.
We install it
We mount the unit, put in the outside vent hoods, run the ducts and wire the wall control.
Balance and test
We set the air going out to match the air coming in. Then we test it on every speed.
Walk-through
We show you how to use the wall control and how to clean the filters and core.
What it costs: The price depends on your home and how much ducting it needs. You get it in writing before we start. See our pricing list, and ask about 0% financing from $42 a month on qualifying installs.
Upkeep
A few small jobs keep it working.
An HRV or ERV only works well when air can flow through it freely.
- Clean or change the filters a few times a year
- Clean the core about once a year
- Keep the outside hoods clear of snow and leaves
Rather not do it yourself? Ask us to check it during a furnace tune-up or as part of a maintenance plan.
Tired of wet windows and stale air?
Tell us about your home. We will recommend an HRV or ERV and give you the price in writing before we start.
Rather just talk? Call (647) 280-6626. We answer any hour. Licensed and insured, and you agree the price before any work starts.
FAQ
HRV and ERV installation FAQs.
What is the difference between an HRV and an ERV?
Both swap stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air, and both use the heat in the air going out to warm the air coming in. An HRV moves heat only. An ERV moves heat and some moisture, so a dry home dries out less in winter and less outdoor moisture comes in during summer.
Do I need an HRV if I already have a furnace?
Often, yes. Your furnace heats the air and moves it around the house, but it does not bring in fresh air from outside. An HRV adds that part and works alongside your furnace. The plastic pipes on a high efficiency furnace bring in air for burning, not for breathing.
Will an HRV make my house colder in winter?
It should not. Inside the unit, the warm air going out passes most of its heat to the cold air coming in. The fresh air still arrives a little cooler than room air, and your furnace makes up the difference. If you feel a cold draft at a vent, the airflow may need adjusting.
How long does HRV or ERV installation take?
It depends on your home. Replacing an old unit is usually quicker than a first install, which needs new wall hoods and ducts. We tell you how long your job will take when we give you the written price.
Can an HRV help with condensation on my windows?
Often, yes. Wet windows in winter usually mean the air inside holds too much moisture. An HRV sends some of that damp air outside and brings in drier winter air. Very old windows can still fog up on the coldest days, and we will tell you if that is likely.
How often should HRV and ERV filters be cleaned?
Clean or change the filters a few times a year, and clean the core about once a year. Switch the unit off before you open it. Many filters are washable. Follow the manual for your model, or ask us to check it during a furnace tune-up.
Can you replace an old or noisy HRV?
Yes. Many newer Mississauga homes came with an HRV, and some are now loud or not running. A healthy unit should be a soft hum. Sometimes a good cleaning fixes the noise. If it is time for a new one, we can often reuse the hoods and ducts.
Does an ERV help with dry winter air?
It can. An ERV keeps some of your indoor moisture from leaving with the stale air, so the house dries out less. It does not add moisture, though. If the air is still too dry, a whole-home humidifier is the right fix.