Are heat recovery and ventilation systems worth it?

If you are building a new house, there is no doubt that a heat recovery system (also called MVHR or HRV) can offer substantial savings on your heating bills over using normal bathroom fans and window ventilation but for us the number one reason is the dramatic improvement on indoor air quality (IAQ) improving the health and wellbeing of the people living in the property.

Lowering your home heating cost

 A heat recovery system can recover up to 90% of normally wasted heat and reduce your heating requirements by up to 25%. Your initial investment could be paid back within five years. Of course, factors like the air tightness of your property must come into the equation but an office with a heat exchanger of above 80% efficiency would save approximately 30% of a heating loads, the cost of running a heat recovery system is around 10p per day.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

The demand for well insulated buildings has significantly grown in the last decade. Houses that are well insulated and are not ventilated properly may have a poor indoor air quality which can have significant impacts on condensation, damp, mould and dust in the home. This can lead to unpleasant smells and a build up on toxic gases and even lead to health problems such as asthma and other respiratory problems. If you want to reduce your heating costs, have a constant supply of fresh, filtered air in your home, no mould, mildew or condensation then a heat recovery system is for you.

Benefits of Home Ventilation Systems (MVHR)

  • Improves the indoor air quality (IAQ)
  • Recovers up to 90% of normal wasted heat
  • Reduce your heating costs
  • Recovers up to 95% of normally extracted heat
  • The best available ventilation system for new homes
  • Eliminates mould, mildew and combats condensation
  • Radon dispersion
  • Removes normal bathroom fans and window vents
  • Your home is quieter and draft free
  • Constant supply of fresh, healthy, filtered air to your home
  • No trickle vents or bathroom extractor fans required
  • Balanced heat distribution throughout the home
  • Complies with all the latest building control requirements
  • Fully controllable with manual or remote controls

Installation in old houses

For an older property retro-fitting is entirely possible but it comes with a big caveat, older houses are less airtight then newer buildings and to get the greatest benefits from a heat recovery system you really need to have all source of heat loss improved as much as possible

Within older buildings that have a persistent issue with dampness and mould, MVHR units are a blessing that will help eliminate these ongoing issues.

What we have found over the last number of years is that most old building have now been heavily insulated with double glazing installed and the largest issue is poor indoor air quality or what we call sick building syndrome, this manifests into condensation, mould and health issues for the occupants,

It may also not be possible for all rooms to have a MVHR system installed due to construction between the levels but on almost all houses it is possible to install a MVHR system to the top floor allowing for the bedrooms and bathrooms to be mould and condensation free that can alone cure 80% of all issues of poor indoor air quality

BPC are experts in designing systems and can either supply a comprehensive and easy to install kit or arrange for one of our installers to install the system for you if required

Installation in new houses

Installing a heat recovery system (MVHR) is one of the best investments you can make as it will improve your indoor air quality and lower your heating costs

It is not expensive to future proof your home when building as mechanical ventilation systems are becoming Building regulation soon and your home will have a better resale when this is enforced

BPC are always happy to help with any enquiry that you may have so get in touch with any queries you may have or Please send us your plans and we can design a system and provide a free proposal for you

Installing in Passivhouse or NZEB

If you are looking to achieve Passivhaus levels of air tightness, then a MVHR is a must.

Airtightness

To get the most out of your heat recovery system and ensure it is worthwhile, we recommend that the building is reasonably airtight and weatherproofed. We have successfully installed systems from period houses to castles treating indoor air quality, damp, mould and condensation issues which cannot be treated with the usual damp prevention methods. These properties will not achieve over 80% heat recovery due to air leakage, but the quality of living was drastically improved and were well worth the investment in a heat recovery system.

Where do I place the heat recovery unit in my home?

A ventilation system is normally installed out of the way in places such as attics, void spaces or plant rooms, the pipes are then fed down to each individual room to extract out stale air and supply fresh air.

All our systems are easy to install as DIY projects with our Heat Recovery Systems Kits. We also have a large network of trusted installers throughout the UK and Ireland, check out our installation information or contact our friendly sales team for more information. You can fill in our quick contact installation form online.

One of the key features of ventilation and heat recovery systems is that you can control the ventilation throughout your building. 

What BPC Can Do for You

Here at BPC we strive for excellence in every job we undertake and with a team of highly trained experts, we are here to help you improve your indoor air quality and heat your home. With a vast range of products and all the technical help you need, we always ensure that you receive the best solution to suit your home or building.

BPC Ventilation are leading designers, suppliers and if required installers of home ventilation systems, both in the UK and around the world. Whatever your requirement, budget or setting, BPC Ventilation can provide the solution you need. From heat recovery ventilation, extraction fans for the home, to multiple room extraction solutions, our wide HVAC range features a product for every air handling purpose. Our systems will help you to make your property as eco-friendly as possible using demand energy recovery ventilation and heat recovery (HRV) (MVHR). Mechanical extract systems are also available to aid new sustainable building projects to adhere to the Code for Sustainable Homes.

As leaders in the design and, if required, installation of both domestic and commercial heat recovery systems we can help you by providing a high quality, quiet system at the best possible cost

As BPC Ventilation are fully independent, we can supply you with the best possible system for your project at the best possible cost from leading manufacturers such as:

  • Vent-Axia
  • Airflow
  • Duco
  • Xpelair
  • Nuaire
  • Caladair
  • Vortice
  • Quiet-Vent
  • Blauberg

BPC can provide a heat recovery unit for you, but we can also provide a full DIY heat recovery system kit. Alongside our range of units, we also have large ranges of ducting solutions and all required accessories including controllers, filters and all necessary vent valves and fittings.

Watch Heat Recovery Videos

Contact Us

Our sales and technical team are available to answer any questions and queries Monday – Friday 8am-5pm, contact us  for more information about heat recovery systems or about other systems we have.