Extractor fan? Or heat recovery ventilator?

We got used to extractor fans in our homes. But should we replace them with heat recovery ventilators?

A heat recovery ventilator offers much more than a simple extractor. In addition to extracting humid, stale air along with pollutants, they also constantly supply a stream of fresh air into your home.
Improved air quality is crucial for our wellbeing. We need it like… well, air.

Apart from the obvious benefit of bringing fresh air in your home, heat recovery ventilators also save you money on energy bills. They do this by recapturing heat from the expelled air and using it to warm the incoming fresh air. The heat exchangers fitted in those ventilators can reach up to 85-90% heat efficiency, and in the case of Ambientika units, up to 93%.

Up until recently, the argument against installing heat recovery ventilators was the high initial price and significant disruption during the installation. Nowadays, that’s no longer the case: once decentralised heat recovery ventilators started to become available, the installation process became much simpler – more resembling that of a regular extractor fan, rather than an extensive system with ducting.

Another advantage of using heat recovery ventilators over extractor fans is the ability to create a safer setup for rooms with fireplaces. Extractor fans can sometimes cause negative air pressure in the room, which in turn can reverse the normal airflow of the chimney. This can be dangerous, as it might lead to the carbon monoxide (CO) being backdrafted into the room, rather than being safely vented to the outside through the chimney.

Heat recovery ventilators can work with negative pressure monitors to ensure that if such a situation occurs, the airflow settings can automatically change to prevent the danger.

Another undisputed perk of having fresh air supplied to your home through the heat recovery ventilator is that you don’t have to open the windows. As well as cutting down on energy bills, it is worth pointing out the obvious security benefit: you can now keep your windows safely shut and come back home after work to crisply aired surroundings. Even after coming back from a long holiday, you won’t have to worry about mould in your home.

In conclusion, while both extractor fans and heat recovery ventilators serve to improve indoor air quality, they do so in fundamentally different ways. Extractor fans offer a simple solution for removing stale air and moisture, while heat recovery ventilators provide a more energy-efficient and balanced approach, ensuring continuous fresh air exchange while minimising heat loss. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on factors such as budget, energy efficiency goals, and the specific ventilation needs of the space. For those seeking long-term sustainability and improved indoor air quality, an HRV system presents a compelling case over traditional extractor fans.