What are MVHR HRV systems?
Airtight homes can become unhealthy places to live with stale air, foul smells, condensation and damp.
A Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) or Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system is a ventilation system that removes polluted air in your home and replaces it with a supply of clean air. The system is usually located in your utility cupboard.
New homes equipped with these systems have a healthy indoor environment, provided the air filters are maintained and replaced regularly.
What are the benefits of MVHR HRV systems?
Fresh Air - MVHR HRV systems regulate airflow throughout your home, supplying new air and extracting old air in a low energy solution. Ventilation is balanced so you always get a consistent amount of fresh air. It works effectively in both winter and summer depending on the outdoor air temperature.
Energy Efficiency - MVHR HRV systems reduce the demand of heating a property by recovering heat that would otherwise be lost through traditional ventilation. They recover and reuse up to 95% of waste heat within the property and improve overall energy efficiency.
Health Benefits - they provide continuous year round ventilation which reduces mould and condensation issues. They also help to alleviate allergies and asthma through fresh filtered air. 80% of asthma cases can be put down to poor indoor air quality and toxins in the air.
Cleansing - they tackle unpleasant odours through fresh filtered air. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be found in household products as well as building materials and furnishings, which can be detrimental to your health. MVHR HRV systems help to filter out these nasty compounds and keep the air in your home fresh.
What are filters and why should I change them?
All MVHR HRV systems contain disposable air filters, usually in pairs, which filter the airflow in and out of the system. These filters need to be cleaned and replaced regularly, typically every 6 to 12 months. See our FAQs section for more information on how to do this.
If you don't clean and replace your filters regularly:
- Your MVHR HRV system won't work properly and its amazing benefits won't be realised
- You may get a build up of dust, fungi and bacteria in your home
- Your system and home may become less energy efficient and you'll miss out on potential money savings
- Your MVHR HRV system will become louder and make more noise as it works harder to regulate airflow through blocked filters
- Ultimately your MVHR HRV system could fail, resulting in high servicing costs to get it fixed
Check out our FAQs page for more information on MVHR systems and filters.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch here. Our customer service team would love to help.
In need of new MVHR filters? Check out our top Vent Axia filters: Sentinel Kinetic B Standard filters. And our top Naurie filter: Nuaire Eco2