Heat recovery systems are designed to provide clean and fresh air to modern buildings whilst minimising energy usage, a simple and elegant method in which to make sure homes and buildings are warm kept during the winter months and cool during the summer without wasting energy. Read on to find out more about how they work and why they’re so important in modern homes.
What is a Heat Recovery System?
In recent years, the way in which homes are constructed has evolved to meet the ever-increasing demands of the UK governments 2050 carbon-neutral target, and stringent building tolerances. The Green Homes Initiative announced in July that almost £2 billion has been set aside in the form of grants for those looking to bring their home’s sharply into the twenty-first century with energy-saving home improvements. One of the ways homeowners are converting their existing properties into more environmentally friendly places is via the installation of a heat recovery ventilation system. Let’s take a look and find out exactly what an MVHR system is and why they’re so important.
How Does Heat Recovery & Ventilation Actually Work?
As modern building methods improve houses are built in such a way that they are increasingly airtight, and as such, proper ventilation becomes an issue for architects to tackle. Without adequate ventilation, the air within a building can become stale and poor quality air can be harmful to the occupants of a building. Unlike an extractor fan, which simply draws air out from a building, an MVHR or heat recovery system filters the air from within a building whilst retaining the heat via an exchange unit.
How Much Does a Heat Recovery Ventilation System Cost?
In terms of pricing, the cost of an MVHR system depends largely on the size of your home. Smaller units, suitable for 1-2 bedroom apartments start at around the £300 mark, whereas larger ones, designed for bigger spaces, start from around £1500 up to £3000. For more information on pricing take a look at our heat recovery & ventilation kit self build DIY systems page and choose the right one for your home. Ultimately the type of system you require will depend upon a variety of factors, and at Blauberg, we have experts on hand to ensure you get the right product for your needs.
Fitting an MVHR System to an Older Property
It’s a simple fact, older properties are not as airtight as new builds and for a heat recovery system to function as intended you’ll need to address this. Greener homes, of course, come at a cost and the effectiveness of your heat recovery system will depend on the quality of its design and installation. Your home must be airtight in order for the system to be effective. Building regulations in the UK now adhere to achieving a maximum airtightness of10m³/hr/m² and MVHR systems are effective in homes from around 3m³/hr/m². With that being said, if you’re thinking about retrofitting a heat recovery system in an older home, it’s important to plan this into the initial design.
