Opinions on HRV systems
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Topic: Opinions on HRV systems
Posted By: bumblebee
Subject: Opinions on HRV systems
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 6:54pm
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Hi there im just wandering if anyone here has a HRV system and if anyone has a opinion on them and also if they noticed a diffrence with one? ------------- [URL=http://lilyslim.com][IMG]http://swlm.lilyslim.com/xSCep12.png][/URL] [URL=http://lilypie.com][IMG]http://lb1m.lilypie.com/yjadp12.png][/URL] |
Replies:
Posted By: julz85
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 7:08pm
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are they the same as DVS systems ??? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: RedHeadDuck
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 7:09pm
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cost vs what they do its expensive as heck.
If you are simply wanting to transfer heat from your lounge and transfer to other rooms then I would suggest going to the electrical wholesalers and buying a fan some ducting and do it yourself. The HRV does however take heat from the ceiling space and transfer that down into the house via use of a air filter. Keep in mind it will only do this if there is heat up there to take. on a cold day some systems actually use a built in heater to blow your warm air down to you. Common complaint is also the air up there smells musty etc keep in mind not much ventilation up there up till now and it has nowhere to gain fresh air from. So all in all depends on what you want it to do and for what cost. If I had to choose between using some warm air from the ceiling space and creating some with the use of a heatpump I'd pick the heatpump any day. ETA: this message was brought to you by moocow's DH. (sparky) |
Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 7:19pm
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We have one. It seems to be doing it's job, since this summer was bearable most days and I was pretty heavily pregnant throughout and now coming into winter it's not icy cold anymore, but I reckon a heatpump sounds much better as you can actually control the temperature.
We're still using a heater in our room. (coldest room in the house) ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 7:30pm
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Love it - we don't get any condensation on any of our windows any more and the house is more efficicient too heat without the dampness in the air.
They aren't a heating system though, which some people think they are. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 7:35pm
True, I should probably comment on the air quality huh? 
I haven't really noticed any change in dampness or odour or whatever else they're supposed to clear out. At all. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Red wrote:Posted By: bumblebee
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 7:37pm
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Thanks guys
Julz - im wouldnt have a clue if so which would be the cheaper of the 2? hmm MooCow - Yea they do seem a lil on the expesive side, would cost us over 4000 for our house (we have a massive louge) its not too much of the heating in our case i think we were thinkin more of the moisture and condensation (sp) we have a fire place that seems to do its job pretty good but we are in northland so and havent really felt the the cold here and our house ibeen pretty warm so far (never lived here through the winter) Jelly - we would just use our fireplace as we get free fire wood from DP parents, Do you have much miosture and condensation? ------------- [URL=http://lilyslim.com][IMG]http://swlm.lilyslim.com/xSCep12.png][/URL] [URL=http://lilypie.com][IMG]http://lb1m.lilypie.com/yjadp12.png][/URL] |
Posted By: Snappy
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 8:18pm
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We have one here. It is great.. and there's no moisture/condensation. The air is also drier.
It also gets stinking warm in the afternoons once the temperature rises... BUT, on a frosty morning it basically shuts off because there's no warm air to move from the ceiling. So its not a heating system at all. ------------- Mummy to two beauties... Formerly Kaiz. |
Posted By: Lucky apple
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 8:46pm
| ...I have no comments on the product...but I've met a sales person in another context (ie they weren't selling to me)...and the whole "target sales" talk put me off!! |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 8:47pm
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My mum has one and said they are great so long as you get the filters cleaned/changed every 6 or so months. And you are the one who has to arrange it as once they install it they usually don't contact you again!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 8:50pm
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Oh also it's much better for single storey than double storey. My mum got it for dampness but they can only do ducts in the ceiling/roof space so the downstairs rooms are still damp in winter like you won't believe!! But the upstairs ones aren't.
They don't transfer heat, although you can get something that does transfer heat from roof to rooms iygwim. Personally I like the thermometer on it! And you can set the temp and it won't cool the room below that iygwim. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 8:54pm
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I should also say the main reason we have one is DP and I were out one day and by the time we got home the sales team had made DP's overly nice mother feel as if she had no choice and I don't know what they said to his elderly and slightly senile father but he seems to think it's a heating system that uses no power. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: RinTinTin
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 9:05pm
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I've had them in two different houses. In a smaller house, single story, 90-120 square metres they work well. In bigger split level or two storied houses, not so great. Honestly, I don't think they're worth the $2500 they want for them. They helped with condensation, didn't stop it. Didn't keep the house any warmer really and they create a lot of dust. JMO ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: julz85
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 9:55pm
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well if its the same as the DVS system ( which its sounding like it is ) iv just ,moved 2 weeks ago so havent quite got the hang of how to use our DVS system yet , it does have a heat option on it and iv noticed if i use this that it does send a little bit of heat through the vents but certinly not a heater. i certinly have never noticed any condensation or dampness since moving in . I really need to have a good sit down and read the manual , i dont really know if i should be leaving it on all the time or turn it off at night, its very quiet , havent had a power bill yet so dont know how expensive it is to run , should be interesting . ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 03 June 2010 at 11:09pm
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We never noticed much of an increase in power bill. We have a small 3 bedroom house and paid about $2,800 nearly 3 years ago including ventilating the bathroom. It says to get filters changed every two years. And I agree, their follow up service isn't as good as it could.
Strange to hear you have noticed that they generate alot of dust Mum2Mac. Thought it would be the opposite. Strange. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Booski
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 12:57am
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Oh I'm interested in how it created dust for you Mum2Mac??
I'm not surprised people think its a heating thing as when we had a quote the guy went on about heating, and I'm like thats not even what they're designed for, I want it to get rid of the moisture/ condensation!! I know several people who have said they're great for condensation (and then for heating their home easier), all have been older single level homes. I'm quite keen on one in our place as it can get quite damp and so difficult to heat, we are on two levels but there is a wardrobe that can be used to get to the only room without ventilation downstairs. ------------- 
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Posted By: squoggs
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 6:49am
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Hi, just thought I would put my 2 cents in
We had a Moisture Master installed in our house in chch - a 120sqm bungalow - after looking at MM, DVS and HRV. It cost $2800 for a duct into every room, and seems to be working well (place is tenanted out). MM just seemed to be a better product than the other two when I researched them, they also have the option of adding heating into the ducting at a later date if required (another $800) and this would mean the air being moved around from the roof space would be heated. The MM guy said not to bother with the systems that include a heat transfer system built in - it would be cheaper and easier to pop down to Bunnings/Mega mitre10 and buy one of their DIY jobbies instead - which I was a bit suprised at, as he also sold heat transfer systems (why tell a client that your product isn't any good!? But at least that showed honesty).
Our primary reason for getting a system installed was to dry the house out, not a particulary damp house, but got terrible condensation on the windows in winter, which left the house really chilly. By drying it out, the heating has become way more effective - we have electric heating at one end, and a gas fire at the other (flued). The system has paid off in terms of reduced heating costs and less maintainence due to the reduced moisture. And if the tenants want, we will get the ducting heated when they ask, but so far they haven't needed it. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 7:52am
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I thought the purpose of them was to keep airflow through the house thereby not letting the moisture settle and that is why you don't get condensation. They'll heat a little when they bring the air from the roof space but only if the air in there is warm to start off with, which on a freezing winters day it isn't going to be. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: squoggs
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 8:01am
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That sounds about right, but the MM system is designed to keep the air moving - even on cold chch winter days, think it operates between -10 and +25 degrees from memory? But the air in the roof space will always be warmer than the outside....brrrr! Having said that, the air in the roof in winter will generally be cooler than that in the house overnight, hence the ability to add heated ducts, so not forcing cold air into the house while you are sleeping. Anyway, it seems to be working really well - and we are so happy with it (spent a year saving up to get it installed so was really really hoping it would work!).
Hope that makes sense - rambling a bit as haven't slept in 3 nights ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 8:49am
They must pick on old people, coz they sold it to my grandparents (my mums house), and they thought the same thing - no power  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 8:58am
I love my HRV. We built our house 18mths ago so of course it's well insulated but that also means the moisture couldn't escape. We had TERRIBLE condensation problems last winter, the windows were dripping wet all day. We got the HRV solely to get rid of that problem and the day after installation, not a drop of condensation and haven't had any since. They are NOT a heating system. I believe you can buy the heating thing but I've heard your power bill will go up drastically. We have a heat pump anyway so didn't need any other heating source. HRV is on 24/7. In winter you set the temp you want the house to be (ours is 22). If the house is cooler than that and the roof space is hotter then the fan is on full and pumping as much air from the roof in to try and up the temp in the house. If the roof space is cooler/or the house is already at 22 then the fan is on the lowest setting. Not enough to cool down the house and you can't feel any cold air, but enough to change the air in the room every 20mins (or so the salesman told us  ) And in summer it is the opposite, if the roof is cooler then the fan will be on full. I personally didn't notice the house being cooler in summer though, mainly cos the roof is generally always hotter so it was on low.
Hope that makes sense! Until I got one installed, I wasn't exactly sure how they worked either! ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 10:08am
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We've had DVS for 3 years in our house, and we have hardly any condensation and the house is noticably drier than our friends and families that don't have it. DVS isn't a heat transfer system - if anything it is taking the warmer air from your ceiling space and pushing that out into the house - meaning that the cooler moist air already in the house if getting pushed out via windows etc. Our power bill is minimal less than $200 during winter for 2 adults. If you are looking for a heating option then you are better off looking at a heat pump or fire depending on where you live. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 10:22am
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we have a small 1960s weatherboard house... our first winter was really cold and I had puddles of condensation on the window sills and floors in all the rooms!!! we got HRV before last winter and now only a slight mist of condensation in our bedroom in the morning. Also the rest of the house is easier to heat.
They are good at drying a house out but do not heat. They may help keep the days heat around a bit longer. We are thinking about also getting a heat pump before next winter because of the baby but they are expensive also,,, we paid $2500 for our HRV and I think it was really worth it. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 12:56pm
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We have a HRV and got a summer kit with it we have found it fantastic our house is 7 years old and we had started to get mould and a lot of condensation since putting it last year it is a lot drier and warmer just like when we first moved in. |
Posted By: KatzWtgn
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 2:07pm
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I had an HRV system in my previous house and loved it. I would love to put one in this new house (but finances are a bit tight with the new baby and not working).
I think how well it works depends a lot on the type of house you have. My previous house was an old bungalow with a huge tin roof that got sun all day. So in winter during the day, the roof space would often be 35 degrees plus. I agree it's not a heater but it did mean that we didn't need heating for an extra 4 months of the year (April, May, Oct, Nov) when we did before, and it really took the chill off the house even in the winter months. If you have a smaller roof space or don't get a lot of sun on your roof, I don't think it would warm the house as well (although it would still deal to condensation). ------------- [IMG]http://lb3f.lilypie.com/rGG7p13.png] |
Posted By: Ant
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 2:21pm
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We have an HRV in our house and in a rental property. The tenants love it. It's a two bedroom unit that is warm and dry (the ceiling is also well insulated). It was a bit damp when we lived there, and is much better now. They say that people comment on it when they walk in.
In our house it's been less effective (1920's bungalow), but still an improvement. It definitely does not heat and we had them come back and check the system after having it put in because what the salesman told us and what it does are two different things. If he'd told us the truth we'd have still got it, but at least we would have had the right expectations! He told us it would keep the house warmer (that only works on warm days), and I very specifically asked him about having doors and windows open etc. He very specifically said, repeatedly, that 'why would we want to, when we've got this lovely fresh air coming it'. I was surprised, but he was fairly adamant. We were left with a clear understanding that we wouldn't need to open windows to enjoy the nice breeze because the house would be so comfortable. We had a newborn in Jan. The house was very very hot and stifling. Noone can sleep. We get the people back and the guy asks us why we have the windows closed. The system turns off if the roof is hotter than you want, otherwise it's pumping very hot air into the house (tin roof in summer? very hot air). We still need to open the windows he says. I told him what the salesman had said, he implied we had misunderstood. I said we certainly hadn't - I had clearly asked about this very thing. Now that we know what the system will do, and what it won't, we're very happy with it. It's all about managing expectations. Also - they are expensive, but if you get a quote after a home show or something you can get a really good price (which is how we could get two properties done... even if we were bad and got them quoted after the show, but didn't do the installation on ours until a year later  )------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: bumblebee
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 9:25pm
Thank you every one for your comments, we have decided not to get a HRV due to the price (we were quoted 4300 or 3800 if we said yes when he was here, paying it off with the interest works out to be 4300 the guy was quite pushy at the end when we said we would think bout it for the night) At that price we thought it was a bit expensive for what we wanted it for (condensation etc..) the only room in the house that has mould is the bathroom because there is only a very small window in there for ventilation and we cant have it open all the time.We have a awesome big kent fire place and and get fee firewood 
I wonder why he gave us a very high quote price ?? hmm ------------- [URL=http://lilyslim.com][IMG]http://swlm.lilyslim.com/xSCep12.png][/URL] [URL=http://lilypie.com][IMG]http://lb1m.lilypie.com/yjadp12.png][/URL] |
Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 10:30pm
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How big is your house bumblebee? If it is a big house then you might have needed to get two fans and that is what bumps the price up. We have one fan and four vents which was $2.800.
We get free firewood as well so haven't bothered with getting any extra heating, but the house does heat up faster without the extra moisture in the air we have noticed. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: tictacjunkie
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 10:55pm
| DH is also a sparky. He bought a Moisture Master for $1300 & a 3-way transfer kit for $500. So we have fresh air coming into living room (open plan) plus 3 bedrooms, 24hrs/day, if it's cold we turn on the heating in it which just takes the chill off the air coming in. We still have fire going in winter. We have no condensation, no damp, no mould. But we also fully insulated our house- ceiling, walls, floors. It won't solve everything on it's own. |
Posted By: tictacjunkie
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 11:08pm
| Oh & we're going to add an extra intake, so in summer you select it to bring air in from outside (it sits southside in the soffit- ?iykwim?) so that it's cool air coming in- not hot roof air. Our house is renovated late 40s/early 50s single storey state house. We've had the MM 6 years, wouldn't give it up, ever! We don't open our windows, the filter is washable, works fantastic. No, DH doesn't sell them! (He does substations, not domestic!) -No bias, honestly! |
Posted By: bumblebee
Date Posted: 05 June 2010 at 6:34pm
Red nope only the one fan and 5 vents (2 for lounge and 1 for each of the 3 bedrooms) our house is 140sqm or just over i think our house is a weatherboard home that was built 50s/60s even got an old school built in radio turntable thing 
Wish we had a family member that was a sparky
Tictac whats a miosture master? where do you get those and who do get to put one one in? ------------- [URL=http://lilyslim.com][IMG]http://swlm.lilyslim.com/xSCep12.png][/URL] [URL=http://lilypie.com][IMG]http://lb1m.lilypie.com/yjadp12.png][/URL] |
Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 06 June 2010 at 10:08pm
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We were quoted the same sort if price for HRV too (big house), but DH is a builder and has a sparky friend so they installed a Smart Vent system in our house, with the heat transfer kit, heater and summer kit. We don't have condensation anymore, it takes the chill off the air in winter, DS's asthma has been WAY better this winter so far (fingers crossed it stays that way) and in summer it pulls the cooler air from out the back so cools the house a little (very wam house). It also makes the fire so much more efficient and the hot air from the living area is pumped into the rooms. Definitely recommend it, but no - its not like a heat pump (or my parents $14,000 air con system!). ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: SophieD
Date Posted: 07 June 2010 at 10:45am
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we had a DVS in our old house. Cost about $3k from memory and we had outlets in all the bedrooms and lounge. Never had any heating attached, but ours was soley get rid of condensation and dampness. We had a fire which effectively heated the house (3bedroom, 1 level) when the DVS was in but never reached the edges (IYKWIM) without it. LOved it!
In our new house we have just ordered a Smart Vent system to be installed. Cost is about the same as our DVS was and again it is just for drying out the house and getting rid of condensation. Nikki, would you recommend the heat transfer kit? I thought about it but we didn't get it yet. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: tictacjunkie
Date Posted: 08 June 2010 at 1:32am
| Moisture Master is just another type of dvs or hrv, they have ads on tv sometimes, I think they're mostly sold through electrical companies, so you ring your electrician (company more than individual) of choice & they sort it out. That's one thing that annoyed DH about my grands getting a HRV- they had some pushy sales guy- it wasn't installed by an electrician, no certificate of compliance issued, so if it caused a fire their insurance would be void. |
Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 08 June 2010 at 12:39pm
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DH used to consult on heating insulation etc...He would recommend bypassing DVS HRV's and going for a heat exchange ventilation system. HRV's etc only pull air from one part of the house to the othe HEVS take cold freash air from outside and exchange the warm heat from inside the house, bringing the fresh air in nice and warm. this avoids circulating warm air with cooking smells etc into bedroom and the like. Pulling hot from a roof in summer is bit counter productive.
we had an intellivent system and it was brilliant no condensation and house near got below 9 degrees on super cold days. most nights was 17 in bedrooms. personally i think heat pumps are great for quickly warming up an area, but i would have a modern wood burner with good radiant heat any day. |