As homes get tighter through air sealing and better construction, they need a planned way to bring in fresh air. Efficient Home Services helps homeowners and builders in Southern Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire with energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) that supply fresh air while saving most of the heat in the outgoing air.
Why Ventilation Matters in a Tight Home
Older homes often get their fresh air through leaks. When those leaks are sealed, moisture, cooking odors and indoor pollutants can build up unless the house has mechanical ventilation. Too little ventilation can lead to stale air, condensation on windows and mold risk. A balanced ventilation system solves that without giving back the energy savings from air sealing.
ERV vs. HRV
Both an ERV and an HRV exhaust stale indoor air and bring in an equal amount of fresh outdoor air, passing the two airstreams through a heat exchanger core so the incoming air is pre-warmed in winter. An HRV transfers heat only. An ERV transfers heat and some moisture, which can help keep indoor air from getting too dry in winter and reduce incoming humidity in summer.
Which one fits best depends on the house, how many people live there, and how humid or dry it tends to be. We help you choose and size the system.
Design, Installation & Balancing
We look at the layout of the home, where fresh air should be delivered and where stale air should be pulled from (usually kitchens and bathrooms), and how ducting can be routed. After installation the system is balanced so supply and exhaust airflows match, and we show you how to maintain filters and the core.
A blower door test during a home energy audit shows how tight the house is, which helps decide whether mechanical ventilation is needed. For new construction, the energy and residential codes typically require whole-house mechanical ventilation; see our contractor page.
Rebates
Ventilation may be eligible for incentives when installed with weatherization work through Efficiency Maine or NHSaves programs. Check our Maine rebates and NH rebates pages, or ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an ERV or HRV?
Homes that are tight, either new or after significant air sealing, usually benefit from balanced mechanical ventilation. A blower door test shows how tight your home is and helps us recommend the right approach.
Will an ERV or HRV raise my heating bill?
It uses a small amount of electricity to run fans, and because it recovers much of the heat from the exhaust air, it costs far less to operate than ventilating with open windows or simple exhaust fans.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Southern Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire from our base in Berwick, Maine, including Kittery, York, Wells, Sanford, Portsmouth, Dover and Rochester.
Schedule a Visit
Call us or send a message to talk about your home.