MVHR Heat Recovery Systems

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) is a whole-house ventilation system that supplies fresh air to rooms in a building and removes stale air while reusing the heat to pre-heat the fresh air entering the building. MVHR is designed to run continuously all year round and is essential to the modern airtight home. Different rooms in a house create different levels of heat, and MVHR is designed to recover heat from the home to warm incoming air.

How does it work?

MVHR systems consist of two independent ducted airflows, each with its own fan. The extract fan extracts the stale humid air from the wet rooms (bathrooms, kitchen, utility, etc.) and passes it over a heat exchange matrix, where it recovers around 80% of the heat from the stale air before discharging it to the outside. Fresh air is drawn in from outside and first filtered. The pre-warmed, filtered fresh air is then delivered (moisture and cooking smell-free) into regular living areas through a ducting system with outlets in the ceilings of rooms.

Why are New Build properties opting to install them?

MVHR systems are becoming more popular as we build better insulated, more airtight homes, and the need for suitably designed ventilation systems to deliver fresh air is even more important. The benefits of MVHR systems can also be numerous; from helping to improve air quality for those with allergies and respiratory diseases, to reducing issues such as condensation and mould, which blight many homes.

Benefits of MVHR Systems

• Improved indoor air quality: MVHR systems provide a constant supply of fresh, filtered air, which can help to improve indoor air quality. This is especially beneficial for people with allergies or respiratory diseases.
• Reduced humidity and condensation: MVHR systems can help to reduce humidity levels in the home, which can help to prevent issues such as condensation and mold.
• Energy efficiency: MVHR systems are energy-efficient, as they recover heat from the stale air that is being extracted from the home. This means that less energy is required to heat the incoming fresh air, which can help to reduce energy bills.
• Controlled ventilation: MVHR systems provide controlled ventilation, which means that you can regulate the amount of fresh air that is being supplied to your home. This can help to prevent issues such as draughts and cold spots.
• Homogeneous atmosphere: MVHR systems can help to create a more homogeneous atmosphere throughout the home, as they distribute fresh air evenly to all rooms.