HRV & ERV Systems

What Are HRV & ERV Systems?

HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) An HRV brings fresh outdoor air into your home while exhausting stale indoor air. It recovers up to 80% of the heat from the outgoing air to warm the incoming fresh air — reducing heat loss and lowering your heating bills in cold Manitoba winters.

ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) An ERV does everything an HRV does, plus it transfers moisture (humidity) between air streams. This helps maintain comfortable indoor humidity levels: preventing overly dry air in winter (common with forced-air heating) and blocking excess summer humidity from entering your home.

Both systems provide continuous balanced ventilation, filter incoming air, reduce pollutants/odors, and help prevent mold by controlling moisture.

Feature	HRV	ERV
Heat Recovery	Yes	Yes
Moisture (Humidity) Recovery	No	Yes
Best For	Colder, drier conditions	Manitoba's variable climate (dry winters, humid summers)
Helps With	Energy savings on heating	Balanced humidity + energy savings
Ideal Homes	Tightly sealed modern homes	Homes with dry air issues or AC use

We help you choose the right system (HRV or ERV) based on your home's size, construction, existing HVAC, and local conditions.

Benefits of HRV/ERV Systems in Manitoba Homes

• Fresher, Healthier Indoor Air — Continuously replace stale air with filtered fresh air; reduce allergens, VOCs, CO2 buildup, and stuffiness.
• Lower Energy Bills — Recover heat (and humidity with ERV) to ease the load on your furnace or AC — perfect for Brandon's long heating season.
• Better Humidity Control — ERVs prevent overly dry winter air (which can cause dry skin, static, wood damage) and excess summer humidity.
• Quiet & Efficient Operation — Modern units run quietly and meet ENERGY STAR standards for maximum savings.
• Improved Comfort Year-Round — No more opening windows in -30°C or dealing with condensation/mold risks in airtight homes.
• Increases Home Value — Modern ventilation is a sought-after feature in Manitoba's energy-efficient building standards.

Our HRV/ERV Services

• New Installations — Professional sizing, ductwork integration, and setup for new builds, renovations, or retrofits into existing homes.
• Repairs & Troubleshooting — Fix frozen cores, motor issues, damper problems, or poor airflow common in cold climates.
• Maintenance & Cleaning — Annual filter changes, core cleaning, and inspections to keep your system running efficiently.
• Upgrades & Replacements — Switch from older HRV to newer ERV, or upgrade to higher-efficiency models.
• System Integration — Tie into your furnace, boiler, or standalone setup for optimal performance.

We work with top brands and ensure installations meet Manitoba building codes and ventilation requirements.

Why Choose First Call Plumbing And Heating?

• Local Brandon experts who understand Manitoba winters and home heating needs
• Licensed, experienced technicians for plumbing, heating, and ventilation
• Clean, respectful job sites — we treat your home like our own
• Honest advice — we'll recommend HRV or ERV only if it fits your situation
• Reliable service with upfront pricing and no surprises
• Serving Brandon, MB and surrounding areas — quick response times

Ready for Better Indoor Air?

Whether you're building new, renovating, or just tired of dry/stale air in winter — we're here to help. Contact First Call Plumbing And Heating for a free on-site assessment and quote.