Pros And Cons of Heat Recovery Ventilation

26th April 2024

Is it possible to combine effective ventilation, energy savings and home comfort? Yes, you can! The modern ventilation market offers a variety of solutions. And one of them is the Prana MVHR. Ventilation systems with heat recovery are a quality solution that improves air quality and increases the energy efficiency of the room. The operating principle of the system is very simple. At the centre of the recuperator is a copper heat exchanger. Incoming and outgoing air pass through parallel ducts without mixing. At the same time, the outgoing air transfers its heat energy to the incoming air. This results in a more efficient use of energy resources.

Pros of Heat Recovery Systems

The main benefit to look out for is the improvement in air quality. You can forget about high humidity, dust, allergens and household pollutants. If you or your loved ones suffer from allergies, there are special heat recovery units with additional filters. Thanks to these systems, you will feel even more comfortable at home. And the microclimate in the room will be healthy.

Heat recovery systems also help to maintain a constant temperature in the room. No sudden temperature changes, draughts or other negative effects. In addition to comfort, you get: 

  • Savings on heating in winter and off-season, since a significant part of the heat from the exhaust air is accumulated in the copper heat exchanger and transferred to the supply air;
  • savings on air conditioning in summer (for the same reason as above). From now on, you can switch on the air conditioning less often;
  • Increasing the general comfort of the occupants, whatever the season and the weather outside the window.

As Ecostream notes, HRV systems help control humidity levels by exchanging moist indoor air with drier outdoor air. This prevents condensation and mould growth, preserving indoor air quality and protecting building materials.

Modern heat recovery systems operate quietly, almost soundlessly. This means that they can be installed not only in commercial premises, but also in residential premises (even in bedrooms!). A quiet, comfortable atmosphere is guaranteed.

As you can see, the benefits of ventilation systems with heat recovery are very effective from several points of view. They contribute to a more comfortable home thanks to constant access to fresh air, help to control humidity and provide for savings. If we talk about the disadvantages, we can only mention 1 — a certain high installation cost. However, the cost of this type of ventilation is recovered very, very quickly.

With proper installation, maintenance and climatic conditions, HRV systems can be a sustainable and efficient solution for improving the indoor environment while reducing energy consumption and operating costs. As awareness of environmental issues continues to grow, HRV systems will play a vital role in promoting energy efficient building practices and improving the overall quality of life.