DVS vs HRV Systems

We don't have one but are interested also (though we won't be able to do it for a couple of years.

I've also seen Moisture Master advertised and they have a transfer system and options for in-line heaters as well. Might be worth checking them out too.

We have just had a HRV system installed (in May) and it cost $3500, our house is 3 bedroom plus study so we have 2 fans up in the roof and 6 outlets, one in each bedroom, one in the study, one in the lounge an one in the dining room (the house is actually open plan but you still need the extra outlets). Basically they put outlets everywhere except the kitchen and bathroom as in those room you need extraction and normally have via extractor fans or oven hoods.

I don't know a whole heap about them as it was DH that looked into it, but HRV don't have a heater, they just use the warm air from the roof and it's computerised so that the fan speed adjusts automatically depending on the temp/ desired temp etc. The HRV has the largest fans which means that they actually push the wet air out of the house and get rid of the condensation and dry the house out so you stop getting any whereas DVS warm the air and circulate it so basically the air is warmer and there is no condensation on the windows but your house is still wet so turn it off and the condensation will come straight back.

I'm totally impressed with HRV, best $3500 we ever spent, the house feels warmer, drier, nicer and no condensation, less dust also, and is suppose to cut flies down by 90ish % as well so looking forward to seeing if that is true in the summer.

A heat transfer system won't sort out condensation, you need to remove the moisture. All a heat transfer system does is take heat from one part of the house (normally the lounge as that is where the main heating normally is) and transfers it to other parts of the house. If the air in that room is wet then you just move wet air from one place to another.

Even when it is freezing outside the HRV system is still running just on the lowest setting. When it's cold out with the sun up the roof gets quite warm so it ramps up. Plus the way it was explained to me is that because it will work on max when it is nice and warm it actually dries the house out so that when it is running on low it doesn't really matter as it would take years for the house to become wet again not just days or weeks.

We looked at both DVS and HRV they're very similar only reason we went with DVS is cause they gave us a better price.
Our condensation is almost non existant, i didn't realise how little we get until I went to other houses that have heaps.
By drying the house out it does make it easier to heat and keep warm.

I have just been staying with my sister for a few days and they had HRV installed a few months ago - its awesome! Their house was so damp mouldy and now its so dry. They paid around $4000 I think for a 3bdrm, living, dining area (6-7 vents I think) and they say its definetly the best money they have spent (well paying off anyway).

What I found great was on Sunday it was a nice day but obviously by late afternoon it was starting to get a little nippy outside - the temperature in the house however remained fairly warm and it wasn't until quite late at night that we thought about lighting the fire.

We have an HRV - have had it for 2 years now and for our small 3 bedroom house including ventilating the bathroom was $2,800.

From the day after it was installed we have not had any condensation (apart from when have a shower and not put the fan on!). The house heats a lot more efficiently as well as there is no dampness. Although I think that they do imply it heats more than it does.

Cheaper doesn;t always = the best. You get what you pay for basically.

We have a DVS in our house (a 1950's bungalow style house) and we have next to no condensation. I totally rate it! It was already here when we bought the house so we were stoked!

We were also recently contacted by DVS to say that they now have those heat transfer kits to add to it and they start at around $400. Would be so worth it to get that installed as well, but haven't managed to convince the DH yet

We also have an open fire so that helps reduce the condensation too unlike gas heaters that increase it!

Another vote for HRV. We've got a old house which last winter every morning had to wipe the windows. Put one in late last year and it's been amazing! No condensation and the house feels so much more comfortable.
No, they don't heat but they push heat from the roof into the house. Which this winter hasn't worked so well as its been so grey. But the house is still warmer and the last week or so it's been sunnier and we've had the house very comfortable till early evening.
Ours was $3300 - 5 vents, 2 fans. Worth every cent! A brilliant investment.

We had an HRV installed about 6 weeks ago and from that day on we've had absolutely no condensation in the living areas and only a little bit in a couple of the bedrooms (we have pelmets so I'm thinking they'll be going). We have aluminium windows and we (I mean I) used to have to use a couple of towels each morning to mop all the water up. Even when I'm cooking at night with all the steam - there is never any condensation on the windows.

It cost us $3500 which gave us a vent in each of the 4 bedrooms, lounge and dining rooms. The other thing I'm finding great is that we can now leave the windows closed which gives us added security. Before I was having to leave them open on latches to help air the house out while we were at work.

There is a thermostat in the hallway which we've set at 22 degrees so as long as the temperature in the ceiling is higher than the temperature in the hallway it will pump the warm, filtered air into the rooms with vents. It pushes the cold, moist air out through natural vents in your home. I've only noticed a couple of days so far where I can feel a change in the room temperature, however, it's been easier for the gas wall heater to heat the lounge/dining/kitchen.

We didn't look at any other options or get quotes so can't compare but I'm really happy with the money we've spent.