I get the appeal of ERVs, but I always wonder if the payback is as clear-cut as it seems. Have you looked at how much energy you’re actually saving compared to just sealing up leaks and using spot ventilation? Sometimes I see folks invest a ton in high-end systems when a few targeted upgrades could get them 80% of the way there for a lot less hassle. Not saying ERVs aren’t great, but I’m curious—did you run the numbers before you installed, or was it more about comfort and air quality?
Sometimes I see folks invest a ton in high-end systems when a few targeted upgrades could get them 80% of the way there for a lot less hassle.
Funny you mention that—on one of my projects, we crunched the numbers and realized a solid air-sealing job plus a couple bath fans got us most of the way to “tight and right.” But then, the client wanted that “fresh air feel” year-round, so the ERV came in more for comfort than hard savings. I’ll admit, the payback math can get fuzzy, especially with energy prices jumping around. Sometimes it’s less about ROI and more about not waking up with a dry throat every winter...
I totally get what you mean about the “fresh air feel.” We just finished building our place last year, and honestly, I got a little obsessed with the idea of making everything as efficient as possible. But once we moved in, it was the comfort stuff—like not waking up parched or having weird drafts—that actually mattered day-to-day. We did a bunch of air sealing and upgraded insulation, but skipped the fancy ventilation at first because it seemed like overkill for our budget.
Now, after one winter, I’m kinda wishing we’d planned for some sort of ERV or HRV from the start. The house feels tight, but sometimes it’s almost *too* tight? We’ve been cracking windows just to get some airflow, which feels silly after all that effort to seal things up. I keep going back and forth on whether it’s worth retrofitting something more sophisticated or just living with it.
Has anyone here regretted *not* going with a higher-end ventilation system from the beginning? Or maybe found a middle ground that didn’t break the bank? I’m all for simple upgrades where they make sense, but I’m starting to think there are some areas—like ventilation—where it’s worth splurging a bit upfront. Curious if others have had similar “wish I’d done that” moments after moving in...
Title: Building Greener: Simple Swaps That Make a Difference
Honestly, I think the whole “you need an ERV/HRV or your house will be miserable” thing gets blown out of proportion sometimes. I get the appeal—fresh air, balanced humidity, all that—but I’ve lived in a couple of well-sealed homes without the fancy systems and never felt like I was missing out. Cracking a window here and there isn’t the end of the world, especially if you’re not in a super extreme climate. Plus, those systems can be noisy or need more maintenance than people expect. Sometimes the “splurge” just turns into another thing to fix down the line... I’d say unless you’re seeing real issues (like mold or crazy condensation), it might not be worth stressing over.
I get where you’re coming from—sometimes the hype around ERVs/HRVs feels a bit much, especially if you haven’t run into big air quality issues. I do think they can be a game changer in super tight houses, but yeah, for a lot of folks, just opening a window does the trick. My place is pretty well sealed, and I’ve mostly managed with a few small fans and being mindful about moisture.
That said, I’ve noticed some people have allergies or sensitivities that make mechanical ventilation more appealing. Have you tried any other “green” swaps that made a noticeable difference for you? Stuff like low-VOC paints or switching out old appliances? Sometimes those little changes add up more than the big-ticket systems.
