Heat Recovery Ventilation

A heat recovery systems, variously called Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV) or Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), work via a heat recovery ventilation unit which is usually located in the attic, roof space or plant room of a building.

Rather than just extracting air and replacing it with the air from outside, a heat recovery system draws the heat from the extracted air and passes it to the air which is being filtered in from outside. The extract and supply air do not flow within the same pipes and there would be no cross contamination of the different air flows. The heat recovery unit is connected to room air valves via a network of ducting throughout the building.

With a heat recovery system, you make use of what already exists as well as reducing the collective impact on the environment. That includes the amount of heat lost to the environment. Heat recovery systems work by using the valuable warm air or water in a property and use it in a positive way.

A heat recovery system works independently of a normal heating system. Typically, in each room there are ventilation valves with filters that supply air in and out of the room which all leads to the heat recovery unit. The unit works by moving the stale air through the pipes while drawing in cold air from the outside via other ducts.

The two airflows pass one another within the heat recovery unit without mixing physically, the heat from the extracted air is then transferred to the new fresh air brought from outside and supplied through the pipework and into each room. Once the stale air’s heat has been extracted and it is then extracted out and into the atmosphere.

Benefits of a heat recovery system

A heat recovery system is beneficial as everyone wants their house to be as airtight as possible to get the most out of their heating. However, this can cause poor air quality due there being no sources of natural ventilation. Having an airtight building with no ventilation leads to poor indoor air quality and can significantly increase the effects of asthma and other respiratory problems. Other problems that can be caused as a result of poor indoor air quality are condensation, mould, dust mites, unpleasant smells and the build-up of toxic gases.

A heat recovery system will extract the moist, stale air from all the wet rooms in a house and replace it with clean, filtered, fresh, warm air to all the habitable rooms and bedrooms without letting heat escape. A home will be fully ventilated throughout the year with as much as 95% of the normally wasted heat being recovered providing substantial energy savings. Having a heat recovery system installed allows a property to stay air tight with no window vents or bathroom extractor fans required, this creates a healthier, cleaner and quieter environment.

Over the years, the technology for heat recovery systems has vastly improved and there are now systems available that profess extract up to 95% of the heat from stale air and return it to the fresh air that is circulating back into the system.

  • reduce dust and pollen throughout the house
  • reduce moisture, condensations and smells
  • reduce risks of damp and mould throughout the home
  • save on energy bills

New build houses can boast up to 30% savings on heating bills.

Professional Installation

Art Renewables are leaders in the design and installation of heat recovery systems. We can help you by providing a high quality, quiet system at the best possible cost.

We supply equipment from the following leading manufacturers:

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