How much does an MVHR cost to design and install in 2024?

Installed Zehnder Q350 MVHR HVAC with pre-heater in a home utility room

This article will explain the full itemised costs to fit a high performance MVHR system in a new build or renovated home in the UK. It has been updated for 2024 prices based on our cross-industry experience of specifying hundreds of MVHR systems over the last few years. How much does an MVHR system cost … Read more

Is my home too draughty for MVHR?

Airtightness pressure test kit installed in retrofit home achieving 1 score

As much as 25% of the heat loss of a building is via air leakages in the building fabric (ie, draughts). The airtightness of the building fabric is therefore an important metric to measure and improve as much as possible when building or renovating a home. Equally, a more airtight building also improves comfort, acoustics … Read more

Supremely Efficient Dutch Barn New Build with High Performance Cooling via MVHR

Cross-laminated timber beams on show with the MVHR supply valve at low level

Heat, Space and Light Ltd has recently completed the design, supply and commissioning of an MVHR system with cooling via a reversible air source heat pump at a Dutch barn-style new build in Northamptonshire. The home has been built with a series of cross-laminated timber beams gently curved to mimic the dutch barn shape. Now … Read more

Early construction forensic air pressure test improves new building’s fabric air permeability by 50%

Forensic Airtightness Testing and Strategy by Heat, Space and Light Ltd has helped a new build home in Dorset achieve a drop in its final airtightness rate that will result in £100s of heating savings every year, turning it from a leaky home to an airtight home. Forensic air testing improves Air Permeability from 6.4 … Read more

Forensic airtightness test gives 30% lifetime heating bill savings

Airtightness Test Kit mounted in hallway of London retrofit 2021

Heat, Space and Light Ltd technicians have conducted forensic airtightness testing on a renovated London Victorian end-of-terrace. The results of the four-hour visit will have improved its comfort, energy efficiency and acoustics by up to 30 per cent, and lowered the home’s heating bills for life. The forensic airtightness pressure test was conducted over four … Read more

MVHR retrofit design and installation in a 100-year old cottage

Loft-fitted Zehnder Q350 MVHR with pre-heater by Heatspaceandlight.com

We have completed the design and first fix installation of a Zehnder Q350 MVHR system with ComfoTube ducting into a 100-year-old cottage that’s undergoing a low energy retrofit upgrade. The MVHR system will improve the indoor air quality, comfort and energy efficiency, but also protect the century-old building fabric by ensuring indoor humidity is dealt … Read more

Cotswold new build is 55x more airtight than Building Regs and 3x more airtight than Passivhaus

It is subtle and understated in its impact on UK housing, but this new build bungalow home is one of the most energy efficient buildings in the world – and represents the future of housebuilding in the UK and Europe. We pressure tested the home this December using a calibrated airtightness testing fan and it … Read more

Do we need to make homes airtight in the UK?

Level 2 airtightness testing with blower door fan

30 years ago house-builders in the UK would have never considered how airtight they were building new homes. “Aren’t all homes fairly airtight, once you put the windows and doors in and pump the gaps with insulating foam?” Well, not necessarily. Fireplaces used to be for both heating and ventilation Traditionally, homes built before our … Read more

How airtightness testing differs between Building Regs and Passive House – and why it matters so much

Using a smoke pen to detect leaks during airtightness testing

Building Regulations Part F wants to know how much air (in m3hr) passes through each metre square area of the fabric (m2). This is the Air Permeability (AP or m3.hr/m2) figure of the building. To get the AP figure, one calculates the volume of air in the property. Then one calculates the total external envelope … Read more

Where and how to buy an MVHR ventilation system in the UK

Checking the F7 and G4 filters of the Zehnder Q350 MVHR

If you’re building or renovating your home and making the property’s building fabric more insulated and airtight then you may be wondering where, how and from which company to buy MVHR (it stands for Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery) system products. Also known as Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV), the premium brands in MVHR systems are … Read more