Heat Recovery Ventilator Services

A heat recovery ventilator, or HRV, is a whole-house ventilation system that brings fresh outdoor air into your home while exhausting stale indoor air and recovering heat in the process. As the two air streams pass through the HRV’s heat-exchange core, much of the heat from the outgoing air is transferred to the incoming air, helping you get fresh air without wasting as much energy.

In our cold Chicago winters and humid summers, homes can be tightly sealed to save energy, which also traps pollutants and moisture indoors. An HRV helps by providing controlled, whole-house ventilation that removes stale air, odors, and indoor pollutants while preheating incoming air in winter. This can improve indoor air quality, reduce condensation on windows, and support more consistent comfort throughout the home.

Newer and renovated homes are often built tighter for energy efficiency, which reduces natural air leakage. While this is good for energy savings, it can also lead to stale air, humidity issues, and a buildup of indoor pollutants. In these homes, an HRV is often recommended to provide balanced fresh air ventilation without giving up the efficiency benefits of a tight building envelope.

Both HRVs (heat recovery ventilators) and ERVs (energy recovery ventilators) exchange heat between outgoing and incoming air. ERVs also transfer some moisture, helping manage humidity along with temperature. In colder climates like the Chicago area, HRVs are often used to recover heat and bring in fresh air during long heating seasons, while ERVs may be considered in homes where humidity control is a bigger concern. During an evaluation, we can recommend whether an HRV or ERV makes more sense for your home and lifestyle.

In many cases, yes. HRVs are designed to integrate with existing forced-air systems or operate with their own dedicated ductwork, depending on your home’s layout and goals. During your consultation, we will look at your current furnace, ductwork, and available space to determine the best way to connect an HRV to your system for balanced, whole-house ventilation.

An HRV uses electricity to run its fans, but it also recovers a significant portion of the heat from outgoing air, so you do not have to work your furnace as hard to heat incoming fresh air. Compared to simply opening windows in winter for fresh air, an HRV can provide better ventilation with less energy loss. Actual savings depend on your home’s insulation, airtightness, and how you use the system day-to-day.

HRVs require regular maintenance to keep air moving efficiently and protect the heat-exchange core. Filters typically need to be checked every 1–3 months and cleaned or replaced as needed, depending on your indoor environment. The core and drains should also be inspected and cleaned periodically. Eco Temp HVAC can include your HRV in routine HVAC maintenance plans so it is serviced on a schedule.

HRVs are usually installed in mechanical rooms, basements, or utility areas, with duct connections to the outdoors and to your home’s ventilation or HVAC system. Quality HRV units are designed to run quietly, and proper installation and duct design help minimize noise in living spaces. During installation, we aim to place and configure the HRV so it operates quietly in the background.

While an HRV is not a dehumidifier, it can help reduce excess indoor moisture by exhausting humid air from bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces and bringing in drier outdoor air during cold weather. This improved ventilation can reduce condensation on windows and help lower the risk of moisture-related issues like mold when paired with proper insulation and air sealing. For homes with significant humidity concerns, we may also recommend additional indoor air quality solutions.