The Benefits of an MVHR System

MVHR is the abbreviation for a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery system. An MVHR system removes musty air and provides fresh air that has been filtered and heated. There are numerous benefits to having an MVHR installed. We discuss a few of these advantages below.

Improved Health And Air Quality In The Home

Trapped air in the home can aggravate the symptoms of hayfever, allergies, and asthma. Ensuring that the quality of air is of a high standard has been shown to reduce these problems by decreasing the presence of insects and pollutants that are common when the air is stale. An MVHR unit ensures that the air which comes into the home is clean and carried throughout the premises.

Health and Safety Regulations

The UK Government has implemented net zero pollution targets for all newly constructed buildings. See the link for the full regulations. The Covid pandemic was partly responsible for this, along with the global drive for eliminating carbon emissions. This legislation has had an impact on the law regarding ventilation and makes it even more important that families look into getting an MVHR installed even in older homes where dust mites and other harmful substances linger. When purchasing a new home, make sure that the developers have implemented steps to comply with the new legislation. 

These laws have substantially improved the quality of indoor air. While ventilation systems are not new, the legislation has ensured that manufacturers meet certain prescribed minimum standards.

Better Physical and Mental Health

Clean, fresh, warmed air is released into the home by the MVHR, which is effective at dealing with the risks of respiratory conditions, headaches, and skin rashes. But it has also been shown to be beneficial in reducing the conditions leading to strokes and heart attacks. An added benefit is that the clean air boosts the serotonin released by the brain to result in improved moods and concentration. This is further enhanced by a subsequent decrease in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. At the same time, businesses and homes may use chemicals that can give off toxins, which are also removed by the MVHR system. Work and at-home employees find that their productivity is also increased, and Harvard conducted a study showing that output was eight percent higher as a result. 

The use of ever-increasing levels of insulation has resulted in internal atmospheres that are airtight and do not encourage the free flow of air. Windows that have been double-glazed and measures taken to decrease draughts all contribute to poor health without a ventilation system to offset these effects. This causes moisture to accumulate along with the dampness caused by bathing and cooking activities. This results in condensation and encourages mould to grow. Additionally, homes use air fresheners, candles, and aerosol sprays that aggravate indoor pollution and unhealthy air while cooking appliances give off carbon monoxide and other toxic substances.

An MVHR provides continuous ventilation so that moisture never gets a chance to settle on indoor surfaces like windows. 

Heat Recovery Benefit

An MVHR not only cleans and freshens the air but also recovers lost heat. As much as 90% of the warmth in a building is prevented from being lost daily. This ensures that a comfortable indoor temperature is constantly maintained. Recovered heat complies with the UK’s Build Back Greener initiative to decrease the unnecessary wasted use of energy. This means lower energy bills for UK consumers.

With all these benefits, more and more people are installing MVHRs.