Modern energy efficient homes are designed to be much more airtight than traditional buildings. While this improves efficiency, it also means natural ventilation through gaps and leaks is greatly reduced.
To maintain fresh air inside the building, controlled ventilation is required.
This is where mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, often known as MVHR, becomes important.
What an MVHR System Does
An MVHR system continuously removes stale air from rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms while supplying fresh air to living spaces and bedrooms.
Before the warm air leaves the building, the system transfers its heat to the incoming fresh air.
This allows the building to stay well ventilated without losing large amounts of heat.
Why Ventilation Matters
Good ventilation helps remove moisture, odours and pollutants from indoor air.
Without proper ventilation, buildings may experience issues such as condensation, mould growth, and poor air quality.
MVHR systems allow buildings to remain airtight while still maintaining a healthy indoor environment.
Additional Benefits
MVHR systems can also improve comfort in several ways.
Fresh air is filtered before entering the building, which can reduce dust and pollen levels. Temperatures also remain more stable because heat is recovered from outgoing air.
For highly efficient buildings such as Passivhaus homes, MVHR systems are an essential component of the overall design.
