HRV vs. ERV: which is better for Nova Scotia homes?
Same purpose, slightly different approach. In a coastal climate like Halifax, the distinction matters more than you'd think.
What they do
Both HRVs and ERVs bring fresh outdoor air into your home while exhausting stale indoor air. Both recover heat from the exhaust stream so you're not losing the warmth you paid for. The difference is what happens to moisture.
HRVs (heat recovery ventilators) transfer heat only. ERVs (energy recovery ventilators) transfer heat AND moisture. The incoming fresh air picks up some of the moisture from the outgoing stale air.
Why HRV wins most Halifax homes
Nova Scotia winters are long, cold, and mostly dry. Indoor humidity gets too high from cooking, showers, and breathing. An HRV pulls that moisture out along with the stale air, helping prevent window condensation and mould.
For most Halifax homes, HRV is the right answer.
When ERV makes sense
If your home is extremely well-sealed and runs dry in winter (bloody noses, static shocks, cracking wood floors), an ERV can retain enough moisture to be comfortable. Summer humidity management is also easier with an ERV because it sheds some of the incoming humidity before it enters the house.
In practice, ERVs are more common in new builds with high-performance envelopes. Older Halifax homes rarely need them.
Common questions
- Can I convert an HRV to an ERV?
- Not directly. The cores are different. But you can often swap the core if your unit's manufacturer offers an ERV core for the same chassis.
- Do both need cleaning at the same interval?
- Yes. Annual deep cleaning for both. The core design differs but the maintenance is essentially identical.
- What does each cost to clean?
- $129 for either system. HRV and ERV clean the same from a service standpoint.
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