Heat Recovery Ventilation

Design: it is absolutely vital to have your Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system installed properly. This begins with a good design. Brookvent is very experienced in system design and provides professional guidance on ducting routes across a wide variety of residential properties.

Installation: HRV systems are generally installed in two stages – 1st and 2nd fix. At 1st fix stage the majority of the ducting is installed, as per the system design, and any wiring requirements are provided for, including the tracking of remote sensors such as humidistats. At 2nd fix stage the system is installed, all ducting and wiring is connected, ceiling valves are fixed to the ducting point in each room, and the condensation drain from the system is installed. Finally the system is commissioned as per the appropriate Building Regulations.

Performance: the size and location of the HRV unit is extremely important. The unit must be fit for purpose, taking into consideration the size of the property and associated airflow rates. Brookvent is a BPEC Centre of Excellence and installs to the highest standards to achieve best performance.

Commissioning: Brookvent issue commissioning certificates detailing the measured installed airflow performance of each system against design requirements. Finally, each unit’s operational and maintenance requirements are clearly defined and demonstrated to ensure competent user operation and optimum system performance. At Brookvent we have adapted our products based on customer feedback so they can be installed easily, often in compact spaces, and accurately commissioned.

Yes, it is possible to get a heat recovery ventilation system installed in your existing home. Heat recovery ventilation systems are becoming increasingly popular in residential homes, especially those with good insulation and airtightness.

There are different types of heat recovery ventilation systems available, and the installation process can vary depending on the system you choose. In general, the process involves installing ductwork in your home to allow for the circulation of fresh air and the removal of stale air, as well as the installation of a heat recovery unit to recover heat from the outgoing air and transfer it to the incoming air.

We have specialists here at Brookvent that can see which heat recovery ventilation systems is best suited for your home and to ensure that it is installed correctly. We will also provide you on any potential challenges that may arise during the installation process and help you navigate any necessary permits or building codes. Contact us today!

All Brookvent aircycle Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) systems are SAP approved and use EC fan technology which helps to ensure a low Specific Fan Power (SFP) which means our systems run as efficiently as possible. Heat Recovery Ventilation systems will generally save significantly more money through heat recovery versus what it costs to run the system, therefore covering its own cost of running and also contributing towards savings on the space heating bill of the property, in some cases up to 20%

MVHR can help control excess moisture by continuously extracting humid air from areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms. By helping regulate indoor humidity, an appropriately designed and commissioned system can reduce the conditions that contribute to condensation and mould.

Regular maintenance helps ensure an MVHR system continues to perform efficiently. Filters should be checked and replaced according to the manufacturer's recommendations, while the system should be periodically inspected to ensure airflow and overall performance remain within the required levels.

Brookvent recommend a full service annually on the system.

Depending on the location of the building, we would recommend that you change the Heat Recovery Ventilation System filters every 6-12 months.

Traditional mechanical ventilation systems remove wet or polluted air from your property and replace it with cleaner fresh air from outside. While this creates a healthier environment in your home, the constant airflow can make it difficult to retain heat. Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems, on the other hand, retrieve heat from expelled air and transfer it to the new air being drawn in. This allows them to recover up to 95% of the heat that would otherwise be wasted, improving energy efficiency and helping you save on your heating bills, whilst still refreshing your home with clean air.

The Energy Savings Trust state that in an energy efficient house with high insulation values, the energy loss due to purpose provided ventilation accounts for approximately one third of the space-heating energy demand (i.e. the energy lost by extracting warm pollutant air from bathrooms, opening windows, and opening window vents). (Energy Savings Trust (2006), GPG268: Energy Efficient Ventilation in Dwellings ‘A Guide for Specifiers’ pg.3) This means in a average property where the space heating bill can typically cost around £750 per year, £225 of this total is lost due to purpose provided ventilation. Brookvent Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) systems typically operate at up to 93% efficiency depending on the ventilation demand of the property. Larger homes with larger ventilation requirements result in the air moving though the heat exchange core at a faster rate, therefore reducing the amount of heat transfer time. If at the very minimum, the system recovers 80% of this £255 loss, this results in an estimated energy saving of £180 per year.

Most Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) systems including the Brookvent aircycle range, are air-to-air types. These recover heat from the exhaust air stream and use it to pre-condition the incoming air from outside. The effectiveness of these units is given by its heat recovery efficiency i.e. the proportion of waste heat that is usefully recovered by the process (this figure is typically expressed as a percentage). A heat recovery unit will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat up the incoming air to room temperature. This benefit must always be balanced against the electrical power requirements needed to drive the process. HRV systems are most efficient in more airtight homes, where almost all ventilation takes place via the heat exchange core. The concept is simple, the less heat that is lost through the leaks in the building envelope then the more heat there is to recover. The Energy Savings Trust Best Practice recommendation for heat recovery efficiency is 85% or higher. Brookvent’s aircycle 3.1 Heat Recovery Ventilation unit currently achieves up to 93% heat recovery efficiency which makes it one of the market leaders in the industry.

Mechanical systems require electrical power to operate, including power to the fans, any compressor(s) and transformer(s) and control and safety devices. The term ‘specific fan power’ is used to compare the electrical energy use for different ventilation systems as installed (i.e. allowing for system resistance). Specific Fan Power (SFP) is defined by the Energy Savings Trust as: ‘The power consumption, in Watts, of the fan (plus any other electrical system components) divided by the air flow through the system, in Watts per litre per second (W/l/s)’. In a heat recovery system, the SFP is an important parameter because it directly affects the energy consumption and operating costs of the system. A lower SFP means that the fan is more efficient, and therefore requires less power to move the same amount of air. This translates to lower energy consumption and operating costs, as well as lower carbon emissions. Specific Fan Power Calculation: Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) For a small house with a Kitchen + 1 Wet Room the minimum extraction airflow rate is 21 l/s (Part F: Eng & Wales 2010). If the unit consumes 15 watts to achieve this rate of air flow then: SFP: 15 / 21 = 0.71 W/l/s The Energy Savings Trust Best Practice recommendation for SFP is 1 W/l/s or lower. Brookvent’s aircycle 3.1 Heat Recovery Ventilation unit currently achieves a SFP down to 0.37 W/l/s, which makes it the market leader in terms of efficiency.

On our Brookvent Heat Recovery Ventilation HRV Systems, we offer a 1 year labour and 5 year warranty on the MVHR units.