HRV & ERV • SERVICE • REPAIR • MAINTENANCE • INSTALLATION • BALANCING
HRV & ERV service, repair, maintenance & installation in Toronto and the GTA.
DAVESDUCTS services, diagnoses, repairs, maintains, replaces and installs heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs). Whether your existing ventilation system is noisy, leaking, not moving enough air or simply needs maintenance — or you need a new system designed for a renovation or custom home — we can evaluate the complete ventilation system.
HRV & ERV SERVICE & REPAIR
Your ventilation system is mechanical equipment. It needs service too.
An HRV or ERV can continue running while airflow, controls, filters, cores, fans, drainage or duct connections are no longer performing as intended. DAVESDUCTS can diagnose the system before recommending repair or replacement.
Not Running
Diagnose applicable power, control, fan, motor and equipment faults when the ventilator will not operate.
Low Airflow
Investigate dirty filters or cores, fan performance, duct restrictions, dampers, grilles and other applicable airflow concerns.
Fan / Motor Problems
Diagnose abnormal fan operation, noise, vibration or failure and determine the appropriate repair path.
Controls & Timers
Troubleshoot applicable wall controls, timers, boost controls, sensors and equipment controls.
Water / Drainage Problems
Investigate applicable condensate, drain, trap and freezing-related concerns on systems that produce condensate.
Repair vs Replacement
Where equipment condition or parts availability makes repair impractical, we can review replacement options and the existing duct configuration.
BEFORE THE SERVICE CALL
Send us the manufacturer, model number and photos.
A clear photo of the rating plate, equipment, controls and duct connections — plus a description of what the system is doing — can help us prepare for the service visit.
BALANCED VENTILATION
What does an HRV or ERV actually do?
Both systems mechanically exhaust stale indoor air and introduce controlled outdoor air while transferring energy between the outgoing and incoming airstreams. They provide ventilation without depending only on uncontrolled leakage through the building envelope.
Exhaust Stale Air
Remove air from selected areas where moisture, odours and indoor contaminants can accumulate.
Bring In Outdoor Air
Introduce controlled outdoor ventilation air through a designed mechanical system.
Recover Energy
Transfer energy between outgoing and incoming air to reduce the ventilation load compared with simple exhaust and replacement air.
HRV VS. ERV
What’s the difference?
Both provide controlled ventilation and energy recovery. The main distinction is how the core handles moisture.
HRV — Heat Recovery Ventilator
An HRV transfers sensible heat between the two airstreams while keeping the airstreams separate. During cold weather, exhausting humid indoor air and replacing it with typically drier outdoor air can also help reduce indoor moisture.
ERV — Energy Recovery Ventilator
An ERV transfers sensible heat while also transferring a portion of moisture between the two airstreams. That characteristic can be useful depending on the building, occupancy, climate, indoor humidity and HVAC operation.
WHICH ONE IS BETTER?
There is no universal HRV-versus-ERV answer for every Toronto-area home.
The appropriate choice depends on the building enclosure, occupancy, ventilation requirements, indoor humidity, HVAC system, installation configuration and the performance of the specific equipment being considered.
MAINTENANCE
Keep the airflow path clean and the equipment serviceable.
HRV and ERV maintenance is more than changing one filter. Accessible filters, cores, grilles, outdoor terminations, fans and drainage components should be maintained as appropriate to the equipment and operating conditions.
Filters
Inspect, clean or replace applicable filters according to equipment requirements and actual loading.
Heat / Energy Core
Inspect and maintain the removable core as appropriate for the exact equipment and manufacturer instructions.
Fans & Interior
Inspect accessible fan assemblies and internal surfaces for dirt buildup and operating concerns.
Drainage
Inspect applicable condensate drains and related components where the equipment configuration requires them.
Outdoor Terminations
Check accessible intake and exhaust terminations for blockage or conditions that can interfere with airflow.
Airflow
If ventilation performance is questionable, airflow and system balance may need to be evaluated rather than simply cleaning the unit.
AIRFLOW & BALANCING
A ventilation system has two sides — supply and exhaust.
HRV and ERV performance depends on more than whether the fans turn on. Duct restrictions, dirty components, improper connections, damper positions, HVAC interaction and system balance can affect how much outdoor air is actually supplied and how much indoor air is exhausted.
Supply Air
Evaluate the applicable outdoor-air supply path, distribution and airflow where performance is in question.
Exhaust Air
Review applicable exhaust pickup locations, ductwork and airflow from the areas the system is intended to ventilate.
Balance & Commission
New installations and applicable corrective work should include verification and balancing appropriate to the installed system.
INSTALLATION & REPLACEMENT
HRV and ERV installation is an airflow project.
Installing ventilation equipment involves more than hanging a box and connecting two outdoor ducts. Air distribution, HVAC interaction, intake and exhaust locations, condensate requirements, controls, service access and balancing all need to work together.
01
Evaluate
Review the building, HVAC system, existing ventilation, ductwork and available installation space.
02
Configure
Determine an appropriate ventilation approach, equipment location and duct configuration.
03
Install
Install the equipment, applicable ductwork, exterior connections, drainage, controls and HVAC integration.
04
Commission
Confirm operation and balance applicable ventilation airflows for the installed system.
DEDICATED OR HVAC-INTEGRATED
The duct configuration should fit the building.
HRV and ERV systems can be configured in different ways. The appropriate approach depends on the building, mechanical system, available duct routes and equipment manufacturer’s requirements.
Dedicated Ventilation Ductwork
A dedicated system can use separate ventilation ducts to remove stale air from selected areas and distribute outdoor air to appropriate areas. This can provide greater control where the building design allows it.
HVAC-Integrated Ventilation
In many retrofit applications, ventilation equipment may be integrated with an existing forced-air HVAC system. Connections and operating strategy should suit the HRV/ERV, HVAC equipment and actual project conditions.
EXISTING HOMES
Retrofit ventilation requires practical mechanical planning.
An existing home may not have been designed with dedicated ventilation ductwork. DAVESDUCTS can evaluate the mechanical room, existing duct system, exterior-wall access and available routing to determine what type of retrofit or correction is practical.
Add an HRV / ERV
Evaluate practical installation options for an existing home that does not currently have controlled ventilation.
Replace Existing Equipment
Review existing ducts, controls, drainage and connections before selecting replacement equipment.
Correct Existing Systems
Investigate poor airflow, questionable duct connections, inaccessible equipment or other ventilation-system deficiencies.
CUSTOM HOMES & RENOVATIONS
Plan ventilation before the ceilings are closed.
New construction gives the project team an opportunity to coordinate fresh-air distribution, stale-air pickup locations, equipment space, exterior terminations and controls before framing and finishes restrict the available options.
Mechanical Planning
Coordinate ventilation with heating, cooling, hydronics and the overall mechanical-room layout.
Architectural Coordination
Plan duct routes, grilles and exterior penetrations with the builder and design team while changes are still practical.
Commissioning
Complete applicable startup and airflow balancing so the finished ventilation system operates as intended.
VENTILATION IS NOT FILTRATION
An HRV or ERV does not replace whole-home HEPA filtration.
Ventilation and filtration solve different problems. An HRV or ERV exchanges indoor and outdoor air. A dedicated HEPA system captures fine particulate from air passing through its filter. Depending on the IAQ objective, a home may benefit from one or both.
Need Fresh Air?
Start with ventilation and the way outdoor and exhaust air are being managed.
Concerned About Fine Particles?
Consider appropriately designed particulate filtration rather than expecting ventilation equipment to perform the job of a HEPA system.
Not Sure?
Start with the indoor-air-quality concern and building conditions before choosing equipment.
HUMIDITY
Ventilation can affect humidity — but it is not a universal humidity-control solution.
In cold weather, ventilation can reduce indoor moisture by exhausting humid indoor air and introducing typically drier outdoor air. An ERV transfers a portion of moisture between airstreams. Actual indoor humidity still depends on occupancy, outdoor conditions, building enclosure, HVAC operation and moisture sources.
Too Humid?
Ventilation may be part of the solution, but persistent high humidity should be investigated rather than assuming an HRV or ERV alone will correct it.
Too Dry?
Winter ventilation and building conditions can contribute to low indoor humidity. Humidification should be managed without creating condensation or moisture problems.
SERVICE REQUEST
What should you send us?
- Project address / municipality
- Manufacturer and model number
- Clear photo of the equipment rating plate
- Photos of the HRV/ERV, controls and visible duct connections
- Description of the problem or symptoms
- Any error indication or unusual noise
- Whether the issue is airflow, controls, leakage, drainage, noise or no operation
- For replacement/new installation: available plans and project stage where applicable
HRV & ERV FAQ
Service, repair, maintenance and ventilation questions.
Does DAVESDUCTS repair HRVs and ERVs?
Yes. DAVESDUCTS diagnoses and repairs applicable HRV and ERV equipment and ventilation-system concerns, in addition to installing and replacing these systems.
Can DAVESDUCTS service an HRV or ERV it did not install?
Yes, for applicable equipment within our service scope. Send the manufacturer, model number, photos and symptoms when requesting service.
Do HRVs and ERVs require maintenance?
Yes. Filters, cores, fans, accessible interior surfaces, outdoor terminations and drainage components where applicable require maintenance appropriate to the equipment and operating conditions.
Can you balance an HRV or ERV?
Yes, airflow and system balance can be evaluated as part of applicable installation, commissioning or corrective ventilation work.
Can you replace an older HRV or ERV?
Yes. Existing ductwork, controls, drainage, HVAC integration and installation space should be reviewed before selecting replacement equipment.
Can an HRV or ERV be added to an existing home?
Often, yes. Retrofit feasibility depends on the mechanical system, available space, exterior access and practical duct routes. DAVESDUCTS can evaluate the building before recommending a configuration.
Which is better for Toronto — an HRV or an ERV?
There is no universal answer for every Toronto-area home. Selection should consider the building, occupancy, ventilation requirements, humidity conditions, HVAC system and the performance of the specific equipment.
Does an HRV or ERV replace a HEPA filter?
No. HRVs and ERVs provide ventilation and energy recovery. HEPA filtration captures particulate from air passing through the HEPA filter. They perform different functions.
Will an HRV fix high indoor humidity?
Not necessarily. Ventilation can affect indoor moisture, particularly during cold weather, but high humidity can also involve moisture sources, building-envelope conditions, HVAC operation and other factors that should be investigated.
Why is my HRV leaking water?
Applicable HRVs can produce condensate during operation. Drainage, traps, freezing conditions, equipment condition and installation issues are among the items that may need to be checked. The cause should be diagnosed rather than assumed.
Why is my HRV or ERV noisy?
Noise can involve fans, motors, vibration, airflow, dirty components, ductwork or installation conditions. A service assessment can help identify the source.
Can DAVESDUCTS design HRV/ERV ventilation for a custom home?
Yes. Ventilation can be coordinated with the custom home’s heating, cooling, ductwork and indoor-air-quality strategy, including equipment location, duct routes, outdoor terminations and commissioning.
SERVICE • REPAIR • MAINTENANCE • REPLACEMENT • INSTALLATION
Need help with an HRV or ERV?
Whether the existing system needs diagnosis or maintenance, an older ventilator needs replacement, or you’re planning ventilation for a renovation or custom home, DAVESDUCTS can evaluate the complete system.
