HRVs aren't always as budget-busting as people think. Once you factor in long-term energy savings and fewer moisture issues, the upfront cost difference shrinks pretty fast. Exhaust fans work, sure, but honestly...they're more of a short-term fix than a real solution.
We went with exhaust fans initially in our custom build, thinking we'd save a bit upfront. But honestly, after two winters of dealing with condensation on windows and some mold creeping in the corners, we ended up retrofitting an HRV anyway. Wish we'd factored in those long-term issues from the start... would've saved us the headache (and money). If I did it again, I'd definitely budget for the HRV from day one.
We learned this the hard way too. When we renovated our old farmhouse, I thought we'd be clever and put the HRV money toward nicer countertops (rookie mistake, I know). First winter rolls around, and bam—our windows looked like a foggy horror movie set every morning. Ended up installing the HRV anyway, and those granite counters suddenly felt less impressive, haha. Sometimes, spending a bit more upfront really does save your sanity down the road...
We ran into something similar when we remodeled our place. I initially skipped soundproofing insulation to squeeze more out of the budget for custom cabinetry (because who doesn't want that Pinterest-worthy kitchen, right?). Well... turns out teenagers' music and my Zoom calls don't really mix. Had to go back later, rip open walls again, and add the insulation anyway. Lesson learned: sometimes boring choices upfront spare you a lot of headaches later on.
"Lesson learned: sometimes boring choices upfront spare you a lot of headaches later on."
This hits home. Curious though—when planning your remodel, did you have any professional guidance on prioritizing these less flashy elements, or was it mostly DIY research? I've found clients often underestimate things like insulation or ventilation because they're not "visible." Wondering how we can better communicate the long-term value of these hidden decisions without sounding too preachy...
