HRV and ERV Installation in Ottawa
Fresh air all winter without throwing away your heat
- 5.0 · 396 Google reviews
- TSSA & HRAI approved
- 24/7 emergency service
- Family-owned since 2005
Fresh air all winter without throwing away your heat
- Free estimates on new installations
- Financing from $49/month (OAC)
- All makes and models serviced
What an HRV or ERV does for an Ottawa home
A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is a balanced ventilation system. One fan pulls stale air out of kitchens, bathrooms and living areas; another brings the same amount of fresh air in from outside.
The two airstreams pass through a core without mixing. In January, the outgoing 21 °C air warms the incoming −20 °C air, so the fresh air reaches your furnace or living space far warmer than it started.
That matters in Ottawa because homes stay sealed for five or six months a year. Without ventilation, moisture from showers and cooking, cooking odours, carbon dioxide and household chemicals build up indoors.
Signs your home needs better ventilation include heavy condensation on windows, musty smells, lingering cooking odours, and stuffy bedrooms in the morning.
HRV vs ERV: which is right for Ottawa?
Both an HRV and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) recover heat. The difference is moisture: an HRV exhausts excess humidity, while an ERV transfers some moisture back into the house in winter and keeps some out in summer.
| HRV | ERV | |
|---|---|---|
| Recovers heat | Yes | Yes |
| Winter humidity | Removes excess moisture | Keeps more moisture indoors |
| Summer humidity | Brings in humid outdoor air | Blocks some incoming humidity |
| Best for | Homes with window condensation, large families, lots of showers and cooking | Homes that feel very dry in winter, smaller households, air-conditioned homes in humid summers |
| Drain needed | Yes (condensate drain) | Usually not |
In Ottawa, an HRV is the most common choice because winter moisture and window condensation are the bigger problem in most houses. An ERV makes sense when your home is already dry in winter even with a humidifier, or when keeping muggy July air out matters more to you.
We go deeper on the trade-offs in our guide to HRV vs ERV.
Building code context for newer Ottawa homes
The Ontario Building Code requires mechanical ventilation in new houses, and an HRV is the most common way builders meet it. If your home was built in the last couple of decades in Barrhaven, Kanata, Riverside South or Findlay Creek, there is a good chance it came with one.
Builder-installed HRVs are often the most basic model, sometimes connected to the furnace in a simplified way and rarely balanced or serviced after the home is sold. Many homeowners we visit don’t know the grey box in the basement is there, or that it has filters.
Older homes built before mechanical ventilation was standard usually rely on air leaks and bathroom fans. After new windows, insulation or air sealing, they can become tight enough to need an HRV too.
Code requirements change over time and apply mainly to new construction and major renovations. We install to the requirements that apply to your project and the manufacturer’s instructions.
HRV installation options
How an HRV connects to your home affects both the price and how well it works.
Simplified (furnace-connected)
The HRV draws stale air from the furnace return and delivers fresh air into the return duct. It uses your furnace blower to distribute air, so the install is simpler and costs less.
Learn more →Dedicated (fully ducted)
Separate ducts pull stale air from bathrooms and the kitchen and deliver fresh air to bedrooms and living areas. It costs more but ventilates every room, even when the furnace isn't running.
Replacement of an old unit
If your builder-installed HRV is noisy, iced up or past repair, we replace it with a current model and reuse sound ductwork where possible.
Controls and timers
A main wall control sets continuous low-speed ventilation; bathroom boost timers run high speed after showers. Controls are a big part of whether an HRV actually gets used.
How we install and balance an HRV
- 1
Assess the home
We look at your home's size, layout, existing ducts, furnace, drain and outside wall locations, and ask about condensation, odours and dryness.
- 2
Choose HRV or ERV and size it
We size the ventilator to the home's ventilation needs and recommend HRV or ERV based on your moisture situation.
- 3
Install the unit and wall hoods
We mount the unit, install the intake and exhaust hoods with proper separation from each other and from gas vents, and run insulated ducts to the outside.
- 4
Connect drain, power and controls
We connect the condensate drain, wire the controls and boost timers, and interlock it with the furnace where needed.
- 5
Balance the airflow
We measure supply and exhaust airflow and adjust the dampers so the same amount of air goes out as comes in. An unbalanced HRV can pressurize or depressurize the house.
HRV maintenance: what homeowners should do
An HRV only works if air can move through it. Most of the problems we fix are clogged filters, a dirty core, or an outdoor hood buried in snow.
Clean or replace the filters every two to three months.
Most HRV filters wash in warm, soapy water.
Clean the core once or twice a year
Following the manufacturer's instructions. ERV cores usually shouldn't be washed in water, so check before you rinse one.
Keep the outside hoods clear
Of snow, ice, leaves and lint, especially after a big Ottawa snowfall.
Check the condensate drain
On an HRV so it doesn't back up or freeze.
Leave it running.
Continuous low speed is normal. Turning it off for the winter is how moisture problems start.
In deep cold, an HRV runs short defrost cycles to keep the core from icing. That brief pause in fresh air is normal. If you hear the unit straining or see ice on the core, call us; HRVs are part of our 24/7 emergency service.
HRV installation cost in Ottawa
An HRV or ERV typically costs $2,500 to $5,500 installed in Ottawa. Simplified installs connected to an existing furnace sit at the lower end; fully ducted systems in finished homes sit at the upper end.
What moves the price:
- HRV or ERV, and the unit’s size and efficiency
- Simplified versus dedicated ductwork, and how many rooms need ducts
- Access through finished ceilings and walls
- Wall hood locations, drain access and controls
The final price depends on the home, equipment and ductwork. Oria gives free estimates on new installations. Pairing an HRV with a furnace humidifier or a new furnace installation lets us plan the ductwork once.
Fresh air, balanced properly
- TSSA and HRAI approved, family-owned and operated
- 5.0 stars on Google from 396 reviews
- Financing from $49/month on approved credit
- Call (613) 866-1869 for a free estimate
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers from licensed Ottawa technicians. Still have a question? Call us any time.
How much does HRV installation cost in Ottawa?
HRV or ERV installation in Ottawa typically costs $2,500 to $5,500. A simplified install that connects to your existing furnace ductwork is at the lower end; a fully ducted system with separate runs to bathrooms and bedrooms is at the higher end. The final price depends on the home, equipment and ductwork, and Oria gives free estimates on new installations.
Is an HRV or ERV better for Ottawa winters?
For most Ottawa homes, an HRV is the better fit because it removes excess winter moisture that causes window condensation. An ERV keeps more moisture indoors, which helps homes that feel very dry in winter or households that want to keep humid summer air out. The right answer depends on how much moisture your home produces.
Does my house need an HRV?
Tightly built or recently upgraded homes usually benefit from one. The Ontario Building Code requires mechanical ventilation in new houses, so many newer Ottawa homes already have an HRV. Older homes that have had new windows, insulation or air sealing may need one if you notice window condensation, musty smells or stuffy rooms.
Should my HRV run all the time?
Yes. An HRV is designed to run continuously on low speed, with higher speed when you shower, cook or have guests. Turning it off for the winter lets moisture, odours and carbon dioxide build up and is a common cause of condensation on windows. It uses relatively little electricity on low speed.
How often should I clean my HRV filters?
Clean or replace HRV filters every two to three months, and more often if you have pets or renovations underway. Clean the core once or twice a year according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and check the outdoor hoods after heavy snow. A clogged filter or blocked hood is the most common reason an HRV stops moving air.
What does HRV balancing mean?
Balancing means adjusting the HRV so the amount of fresh air coming in matches the stale air going out. A technician measures both airflows and sets the dampers. An unbalanced HRV can push the house into negative pressure, which can draw in cold drafts or affect venting of other appliances, or into positive pressure, which can push moisture into walls.
Why is my HRV leaking water or icing up?
Water usually means a blocked or frozen condensate drain, a dirty core, or ducts that aren’t insulated where they pass through cold spaces. Icing in deep cold often points to a defrost problem or an unbalanced unit. Clean the filters and core first; if it continues, have a technician check the drain, defrost cycle and airflow balance.
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