(855) 321-7473

M-F 9am-4pm Eastern

ductless heat recovery

Ductless HRV and ERVs - Breathe New Air into Your Home

By Luke Hunter Guest Writer
Nov 25, 2020

We all need fresh air. But energy-efficient homes are built to be airtight. So - how can you get the fresh air you need while keeping your energy bills low? A heat recovery ventilator or an energy recovery ventilator (HRV/ERV) is critical. These have become vital components for efficient homes. Suppose you are renovating an older home, making it more efficient and airtight. In that case, you should consider the addition of an HRV or ERV.

Most HRV and ERV systems use ducts to bring the exhaust air to the central heat-exchange unit and send the fresh air back through the building. They also have separate vents to bring in fresh outside air and send out stale exhaust air. That's a lot of ducts!

What if you don't have room for all those ducts or don't want them? There is a solution – the ductless heat recovery ventilator.

What Is A Ductless HRV or ERV?

Ductless HRVs or ERVs provides fresh air, recovers the heat to save energy, and doesn't need ducts running to each and every room in the house.

Who Makes Ductless HRV and ERVs?

Several companies make ductless HRVs and ERVs including, Lunos, Fresh-r, Blauberg, and Cyclone. We will provide short rundowns on each one below.

Lunos ductless heat recovery ventilator
Photo Credit: Lunos

Lunos 

The Lunos e2™ HRV System is a decentralized HRV system that uses pairs of small HRV units in each room that needs ventilation. Each unit is mounted on an exterior wall with a single vent pipe to the outside, a fan, a heat exchange core, and integrated control.

This decentralized HRV works on an ingenious principle. It has only one pipe to the outside, alternating between bringing in the fresh air and sending stale air through the tube. First, it brings in fresh air for a while, and then the fan switches direction and sends out the exhaust air. By switching direction periodically, each unit serves as an independent air supply and exhaust. The Lunos e2 Short and Standard Ductless HRV Systems are available on the Rise's Canada store.

Lunos Ceramic Honeycomb Core
Lunos Ceramic Honeycomb Core. Photo Credit: Lunos

Inside the pipe, there is a heat exchange core made of a ceramic composite material. The exhaust air exchanges energy with the core, warming or cooling it. When the ventilator reverses, it brings the fresh air through the same ceramic core, which transfers the heat energy is collected on the previous exhaust cycle. This cycle recovers 80 to 90% of the heat energy in the air, saving you on your energy bills. And it's quiet and discreet, with only a tiny, sleek, unobtrusive grill on the wall. Though this unit is an HRV, it also manages moisture, so it acts similarly to an ERV.

The Fresh-r In-the-Wall Vaventis
The Fresh-r In-the-Wall. Photo Credit: Vaventis

Fresh-r 

Fresh-r®, by Vaventis, makes several products. 

The Fresh-r In-the-Wall is based on a single unit mounted on an exterior wall in the main room, with two pipes through the wall. It exchanges the heat between the exhaust air and the fresh air with a highly efficient copper heat exchanger.

It only operates when needed, based on carbon dioxide sensors, and does not use a system of ducts. So, the Fresh-r system has very low operating costs. The international Passive House Institute chose it as the overall lowest-cost heat recovery ventilator for high-performance houses. It is ideal for retrofitting older homes made airtight because it is so thin that it can fit in an exterior wall. The company says that it acts essentially like a window that can breathe.

The Fresh-r On-the-Wall Vaventis
The Fresh-r On-the-Wall. Photo Credit: Vaventis

The Fresh-r On-the-Wall works similarly to the above-mentioned Fresh-r In-the-Wall but can be installed in any existing home that is not undergoing major construction. Homeowners can add pollen and fine particulate filters to this product.

Fresh-r Forward Vaventis
Fresh-r Forward. Photo Credit: Vaventis

The Fresh-r Forward looks similar to the Lunos, but it serves a different purpose. It moves air from room to room instead of from the exterior to the interior of a house. It continuously measures CO2 and humidity to keep each room at optimal levels. It can be wifi connected so that data is viewable from an online portal.

VENTO Expert A30 S10 W V2
VENTO Expert A30 S10 W V2. Photo Credit: Blauberg

Vento Expert 

Blauberg, out of Germany, makes a line of ductless HRVs called Vento Expert. Models offer different ventilation rates, from 30 to 50 cubic meters per hour. They can be wifi connected so that units in separate rooms can "communicate" for coordinated operation.

Cyclone SV130
Cyclone SV130. Photo Credit: Cyclone

Cyclone 

Cyclone makes a product called the SV130 ERV. It operates similarly to the Lunos and the Vento Expert. It has a maximum ventilation rate of 29 CFM. This product does not have wifi connectivity or additional filtration options. The installed filter is equivalent to a MERV 6.

How Much Do Ductless HRVs and ERVs Cost?

Given the specialized nature of these products, prices and availability seem to range widely. The Vento and the Cyclone can be found for just under $1,000. The Lunos is available in the US for just over $1,000. You'll find the Lunos between $1,400 to around $2,000, depending on which options you choose in Canada. Unfortunately, the Fresh-r line does not have a wide distribution in North America but sells for around 2,200 Euros overseas.

Container Home with Ductless HRV
Container Home with Ductless HRV. Photo Credit: Colleen Lashuk

If your home needs ventilation, a ductless HRV could be an excellent choice for you, especially if you have limited space to install ducts. Apart from the energy savings they offer, ductless HRVs are designed to fit inconspicuously into your home, with their low profile and quiet operation. A great example of this is the container cottage that we featured previously on Rise. In a house made of containers, there was not much space for ducts in the rooms. The architect chose to go with ductless HRVs, and they love the results.

Disclaimer: This article does not constitute a product endorsement however Rise does reserve the right to recommend relevant products based on the articles content to provide a more comprehensive experience for the reader.Last Modified: 2021-10-22T18:12:31+0000

Article by:

Luke Hunter

Stories
Shop
Vents-US TwinFresh Expert RA1-50-2 Ductless Energy Recovery Ventilator
Vents-US TwinFresh Expert RA1-50-2 Ductless Energy Recovery Ventilator
The Vents-US TwinFresh Expert RA1-50-2 Ductless Energy Recovery Ventilator is designed to supply and exhaust single-room ventilation up to 30 CFM, making it perfect for rooms up to 500 sq. ft. The unit features a high-tech ceramic energy regenerator with a maximum heat recovery efficiency of up to 93%, ensuring that you get the most out of your ventilation system while minimizing energy consumption.The TwinFresh Expert RA1-50-2 also features reversible DC motors with a low energy demand of 3.61 W and a safe voltage of 12 V. With an integrated humidity sensor or connection to an external sensor, the unit provides a comfortable microclimate, while the integrated control system ensures easy operation.The ventilator operates silently, producing only 0.3 Sones of noise, and is easy to mount and maintain. It also comes equipped with a MERV 5 class filter for air cleaning, with the option to upgrade to MERV 14 filter for even greater filtration performance. Rated for continuous operation, the unit is frost- and condensate-free, ensuring reliable operation even in extreme weather conditions.
$818
Vents-US TwinFresh Expert RW1-85-2 V.2 Ductless Energy Recovery Ventilator
Vents-US TwinFresh Expert RW1-85-2 V.2 Ductless Energy Recovery Ventilator
The Vents-US TwinFresh Expert RW1-85-2 V.2 Ductless Energy Recovery Ventilator is the most powerful Twinfresh unit with up to 50 CFM to ensure filtration and supply of fresh air into the room as well as exhaust of stale air with energy regeneration. One Vents-US TwinFresh Expert RW1-85-2 V.2 Ductless Energy Recovery Ventilator in ventilation mode can serve rooms up to 500 sq. ft at 50 CFM in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2016. Its high-tech ceramic energy regenerator ensures maximum heat with a regeneration efficiency of up to 70 %, while reversible DC motors require low energy demand from 3.78 W and operate at a safe voltage of 12V. The unit can be controlled through an Android or iOS smartphone, and Wi-Fi communication enables coordinated operation between several units. With easy mounting and maintenance, the TwinFresh Expert is an efficient and easy-to-use solution for a comfortable indoor climate.
$1,118
Vents-US MICRA 60 Single Room HRV
Vents-US MICRA 60 Single Room HRV
The Vents-US MICRA 60 Single Room HRV is a single-room heat recovery ventilator suitable for larger rooms, such as apartments or small commercial places. No need to connect to air ducts. It provides a great solution for simple and efficient single-room heat recovery applications. Features Efficient heat recovery ventilation for separate rooms Energy recovery efficiency is 79% EC-motor Three operating modes Silent operation (0.38 - 1.0 Sones) Air cleaning with two MERV8 built-in filters Easy mounting Suitable for continuous operation
$1,215
Vents-US MICRA 150 Single Room HRV
Vents-US MICRA 150 Single Room HRV
The Vents-US MICRA 150 Single Room HRV is a single-room heat recovery unit. It is designed to provide the ideal single-room ventilation of social and commercial premises, flats, and cottages. MICRA 150 is the most suitable solution for the arrangement of ready-made and refurbished premises. It has easy mounting without air ducts. Features: Efficient supply and exhaust ventilation of separate premises (rooms) Polystyrene plate counter-flow core with sensible recovery efficiency 85-88% EC fans with low energy demand (8 to 51 W) Integrated automation with 3 operation modes (up to 71 CFM) Silent operation (1-1.8 Sones) Air cleaning with two built-in filters Easy mounting Compact sizes
$1,870
Shop Sustainable Products