As homes become increasingly airtight to improve energy efficiency, ensuring a constant supply of fresh air can be a challenge. Without proper ventilation, homes can suffer from poor air quality, excess moisture, and even mould growth. This is where Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems come in.
MVHR systems are becoming a popular solution for maintaining a comfortable, healthy indoor environment without sacrificing energy efficiency. At Smart Ventilation, we are experts in installing and maintaining these systems across the North East of England. In this article, we will dive into how MVHR works, how it reduces heating costs, and why it could be the best solution for your home.
What is an MVHR System?
An MVHR system works by continuously supplying fresh air to your living spaces while extracting stale air from areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms. The key feature of MVHR systems is their ability to recover heat from the outgoing air, which is then used to warm the incoming fresh air.
This means you don’t lose the heat you’ve already paid for, while still enjoying good ventilation. In some cases, up to 90% of the heat in the outgoing air can be recovered and used to warm the fresh air, significantly reducing your heating costs.
How Does It Work?
An MVHR system consists of a central unit that connects to each room of your house through a network of ducts. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Fresh Air Inlet: Fresh air is drawn from the outside and distributed to rooms such as bedrooms and living areas.
- Air Extraction: Simultaneously, stale and moist air is extracted from rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, and utility room.
- Heat Recovery: As the two streams of air pass through the MVHR unit, the outgoing warm air transfers its heat to the incoming cool air without mixing the two streams. This process allows for heat recovery while providing fresh air.
- Filtered Air: The air supplied to your home is also filtered, removing dust, pollen, and other pollutants, making it ideal for those who suffer from allergies or respiratory conditions.
How Does MVHR Reduce Heating Costs?
MVHR systems are not only beneficial for air quality but can also significantly reduce your heating costs. Here’s how:
1. Heat Recovery from Exhaust Air
The primary cost-saving feature of an MVHR system is its ability to recover heat from the stale air it extracts. Instead of expelling warm air outside (as traditional ventilation systems do), MVHR units transfer this heat to the incoming fresh air. This recovery process ensures that up to 97% of the heat that would otherwise be lost is retained, reducing the need for extra heating. This is because heat exchangers move heat rather than trying to create it
2. Reduced Heat Loss in Airtight Homes
Modern, airtight homes benefit from MVHR systems because they maintain air quality without requiring you to open windows. This means that you can keep your home warm while still ventilating, as no heat is lost through drafts or open windows, further reducing heating costs.
3. Consistent Indoor Temperature
By pre-warming the incoming air, MVHR systems reduce temperature fluctuations in your home. This consistent indoor climate means your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature, saving energy and reducing heating bills.
4. Better Control of Humidity
Humidity control is another advantage of MVHR systems. Excess humidity in the air makes it harder to heat a space, as damp air requires more energy to reach a comfortable temperature. MVHR systems manage moisture levels, ensuring your home is easier and cheaper to heat.
5. No Need for Open Windows
With an MVHR system, there’s no need to open windows for ventilation, even during the winter months. This helps prevent the loss of warm air and reduces the need to reheat your home after ventilating.
By incorporating these energy-saving features, MVHR systems help lower your heating bills while keeping your home well-ventilated.
Benefits of MVHR Systems
1. Energy Efficiency
MVHR systems are designed to be energy-efficient by recovering heat that would otherwise be lost through traditional ventilation. This leads to lower energy bills, especially during colder months.
2. Better Indoor Air Quality
By continuously supplying fresh air, MVHR systems help remove pollutants, excess humidity, and CO₂ from the air. This creates a healthier indoor environment, particularly beneficial for people with respiratory issues or allergies.
3. Condensation Control
Excess humidity can lead to condensation, damp, and mould growth in homes. MVHR systems control humidity levels by extracting moist air from kitchens and bathrooms, protecting your home from these issues.
4. Quiet Operation
Modern MVHR units operate quietly, providing continuous ventilation without the noise associated with older systems.
Why MVHR is Superior to PIV:
While Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) systems work by introducing fresh air into the home, they rely on natural leakage or extraction to expel stale air, which often results in inconsistent ventilation performance. PIV can also be less efficient in colder months, as it introduces unconditioned air into the home, which increases the load on your heating system. In contrast, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) not only provides a balanced, controlled airflow but also recovers up to 97% of the heat from outgoing stale air, significantly reducing energy costs. This makes MVHR a more efficient and comfortable option, ensuring continuous fresh air supply without the cold draughts associated with PIV.
Where Are MVHR Systems Most Beneficial?
MVHR systems are particularly well-suited for new builds and properties that have been retrofitted to be highly insulated and airtight. However, they can also be installed in older homes to improve air quality and reduce heating costs.
Whether you’re building a new home or looking to upgrade your existing ventilation, an MVHR system is a long-term investment in your comfort, health, and energy savings.
Why Choose Smart Ventilation?
At Smart Ventilation, we specialise in designing, installing, and maintaining MVHR systems across the North East of England. Our team of experts is dedicated to ensuring that every home we work on gets a system tailored to its specific needs.
Whether you’re looking to improve air quality, reduce energy costs, or control moisture levels in your home, our MVHR systems offer a solution that does all three efficiently.
For more information or to get a quote, contact us today at Smart Ventilation. Let’s breathe new life into your home.