Can MVHR Heat a House?

Heat recovery systems, also known as MVHR, are known to aid the redistribution of hotter air that has been extracted from your home. So we know that MVHR can help make your home warmer, but to what extent? Can MVHR heat a house?

With new buildings being made to be as energy efficient as possible, and the UK aiming for 95% of its electricity usage to be low carbon by 2030 it is imperative to understand how we can make the most of our ventilation, This is where MVHR units come in.

To prevent mould, fresh air should constantly be introduced into your dwelling daily, as it helps to regulate temperature and reduce condensation. Introducing fresh air can be as simple as having a ventilation routine, or installing extractors or MVHR units. Almost all of this is facilitated by ducting.

I-Sells is here to provide the answers you need whilst also supplying you with all the information you need to combat mould and have a well-ventilated home.

What is MVHR?

MVHR stands for ‘Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery’ This is essentially the technical term for the heat recovery units that we supply. They are often known as heat recovery systems.

Heat recovery systems can come in single or multi-room applications and provide all the benefits of ventilation with the added benefit of retaining the heat that would otherwise be lost in a regular ventilation unit.

Advantages of MVHR

The advantage of MVHR is retaining warmth without the humidity. Retaining warmth contributes to saving money that would otherwise have been spent heating your home.

The aim of a heat recovery system, aside from recovering any heat that is lost through ventilation, is to create an environment in which condensation, and consequently mould can’t survive. 

The advantages of heat recovery systems are the following:

• Holds all the benefits of an extractor, including the removal of stale air, humidity and smells.
• It helps to prevent the cultivation of mould through the removal of humidity.
• Temperature sensors ensure that additional heat is not being added to the atmosphere of the home if it is already hot. 
• Heat recovery systems take a lot of the burden from you conducting a ventilation routine. This is ideal for a vulnerable person.
• Less of a need to use your central heating frequently as the heat generated through your house is recycled through the heat recovery unit.
• The reduced use of heating as a result of the heat conservation granted by a heat recovery unit can help you save on energy bills.

How does MVHR function?

MVHR systems are generally located in the attic, of your home. It works by extracting the humid air in your home (mainly in your kitchen or wet room/bathroom) the warmth from this humid air is extracted and mixed with the air that is extracted from outside, and subsequently redistributed.

In a nutshell, here’s what you get from MVHR systems

• Extraction of humid air
• Humid air is replaced with fresh air from outside but is also mixed with the warmth of the humid air that was extracted (without the moisture.)

Can MVHR heat a house?