Everything you need to know about heat recovery systems

Heat recovery ventilation systems, used in passive homes and buildings, and regular houses alike, are becoming more popular in Australia. If you’re an environmentally-conscious homebuyer or builder, or you want lower energy bills and cleaner air in your house, a heat recovery system could be right for you.

What is a heat recovery system?

A heat recovery system is a home ventilation method that uses hot air from inside your house (usually from a roof space or attic) to warm fresh air from outside. It ‘recovers’ existing heat in your house – that normally escapes through windows or vents – and uses it as an energy source. As it’s drawing in fresh air from outside, it recycles the air in your home – ensuring you breathe cleaner.

Heat recovery systems are used in passive houses and low-energy homes as they’re far more energy-efficient than conventional heating and ventilation. By extracting unused hot air, for example, from your roof, and drawing in clean air, they can also do wonders for reducing moisture.

The benefits of a heat recovery system

There are a number of benefits to using a heat recovery system in your home, including:

• Reduced heating bills and money saved
• Improved air quality
• Ongoing protection against moisture damage.

Let’s look at those benefits in more detail.

Save money by reducing your heating and energy bills

Having a comfortable temperate at home doesn’t have to cost the earth. With a heat recovery system, you can recapture up to 90% of ‘lost’ heat. This means your home is far more energy-efficient, as you’re using the existing warmth in your home, cutting your heating bills and saving you money.

Make sure you’re breathing clean air with a well-ventilated home

Heat recovery systems ventilate your house by drawing in filtered fresh air from outside and expelling stale air. Meaning your home circulates clean air more often and removes pollutants that accumulate from sources such as:

• Household cleaning products (e.g., bleach)
• Fungal growth (mould spores)
• Gas cooking
• Allergens (e.g., pet dander)

Protect your family and your house against moisture and mould

The effects of mould in your home can range from an unsightly inconvenience to posing a potentially serious health problem. Mould grows best in damp and poorly ventilated areas, and is the result of excess moisture. As heat recovery ventilation systems reduce humid (moist) hot air in your house, they also remove the nasties it creates, such as mould.

Trust the experts in heat recovery system installation

When it comes to designing and installing the right heat recovery ventilation system for your home, you want to work with someone who knows what they’re doing. Vaccaro Group specialises in advising, designing and installing only the very best heat recovery systems, such as German-made Stiebel Eltron products. Explore our heat recovery ventilation systems service.