Research shows that women, especially those spending more time at home due to caregiving, remote work, or age related needs, are more likely to be exposed to poor indoor air quality, a key factor in respiratory issues, fatigue, and hormonal disruption. MVHR systems continuously remove airborne pollutants such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds), mould spores, and allergens, replacing stale air with filtered, fresh air.
Consistent ventilation and heat recovery reduce indoor humidity, preventing conditions like mould growth which disproportionately affect women with asthma or hormonal sensitivities. Improved air quality has also been linked to better sleep, reduced anxiety, and fewer respiratory symptoms, all of which support women’s long-term wellbeing during and after menopause, pregnancy, or chronic illness management.
MVHR helps create a home that is healthier to breathe in, easier to keep warm, and quieter to live in, all while supporting long-term energy savings. Whether you’re managing a busy household, preparing for future care needs, or simply want to make sure your retrofit is done right, MVHR is a unique health benefit that really addresses the understanding know that our indoor air quality is of paramount importance in the home.
We support the work of Ellora Coupe with Her Retrofit Space.
The platform is UK’s only women led retrofit platform created for women homeowners.
A supportive community where you plan and deliver a healthy, energy efficient home with confidence.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) brings filtered fresh air into your home, while recovering heat from stale outgoing air. It’s especially effective in homes that are relatively airtight.
This guide is here to help you choose the best team and system for your retrofit and understand what questions to ask and how to identify the best supplier and specifier for your home.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) brings filtered fresh air into your home while recovering heat from stale outgoing air. It’s especially effective in homes that are well insulated and airtight.
This guide is here to help you choose the best team and system for your retrofit and understand what questions to ask and how to identify the best supplier and specifier for your home. Before you get quotes, these are the conversation you should have:
Questions to Ask … About Design & Suitability:
Clarify your needs and hopes?:
Questions to Ask:
Look for these answers:
Questions to Ask:
The designer should know these answers:
Questions to Ask:
Your installer should know these answers:
Questions to Ask:
When reviewing quotes:
Questions to Ask:
Questions to Ask:
| Task | Who Does It | What to Ask |
| System Design | MVHR Designer or M&E Consultant | “Will this be bespoke to my home and retrofit plans?” |
| Specification | Retrofit Coordinator or Energy Consultant | “Will the system meet SAP and ventilation standards?” |
| Installation | Certified Installer (BPEC/NICEIC) | “Can I see examples of your retrofit installations?” |
| Commissioning | Same installer or third party | “Will I get a signed commissioning report?” |
| Maintenance | Homeowner or Service Provider | “How often do I clean/change filters?” |
☐Is your home well-sealed and airtight (or will it be post-renovation)?
☐Have you had (or planned) an airtightness test (e.g. blower door test)?
☐ Are you improving insulation and reducing uncontrolled air leakage?
☐Does your home have space for ducting, central unit, and intake/exhaust points?
☐Do you understand the difference between MVHR and MEV/PIV systems?
☐List all wet rooms (kitchen, bathrooms, utility, WC) needing extraction
☐List habitable rooms (bedrooms, living rooms, study) needing supply air
☐Obtain Calculation for required airflow rates (based on floor area and occupancy)
☐Decide if you want summer bypass mode (for passive cooling)
☐Consider if you need humidity sensors or CO2 monitoring
☐Think about internal air quality sensitivities (e.g. asthma, allergens)
☐Look for SAP Appendix Q listed units (for verified performance)
☐Check for high heat recovery efficiency (≥85% is ideal)
☐Prioritise low Specific Fan Power (≤0.7 W/(l/s))
☐Ensure the unit is Passive House certified (optional but gold standard)
☐Compare noise levels (dB) for both unit and room vents
☐Choose between centralised vs. decentralised systems (most UK homes opt for centralised)
☐Review brands (Zehnder, Brink, Vent-Axia, Nuaire, Paul, Airflow)
☐Appoint a specialist MVHR designer
☐Confirm room-by-room ducting layout and grille/vent positions
☐Avoid long duct runs and sharp bends to reduce pressure loss
☐Specify rigid or semi-rigid ducting (avoid flexible and PVC ducting where possible)
☐ Include acoustic attenuation (e.g. silencers) to reduce noise
☐Plan external wall or roof penetrations for intake and exhaust (avoid contamination from nearby sources)
☐Include condensate drainage for the unit
☐Ensure ducting insulation where required (e.g. in unheated lofts)
☐Ensure good insulation of the intake and exhaust ducting, ideally foam ducting or Armaflex.
☐Allow space for filter access and routine maintenance
☐Obtain at least 2–3 quotes from reputable MVHR suppliers/installers
☐Check lead times for unit and components (some have long delays)
☐Confirm warranty period (typically 2–5 years)
☐Factor in design, supply, install, commissioning and testing costs
☐Confirm what’s included: ducting, silencers, diffusers, filters?
☐Ask about aftercare and maintenance packages
☐Schedule MVHR installation after airtightness work but before final finishes
☐Coordinate closely with builders, electricians and joiners
☐Avoid placing ductwork in cold areas without insulation
☐Mount unit in accessible, frost-free area (e.g. utility, plant room, or loft with access)
☐Ensure fire-stopping and acoustic separation where ducts pass between zones
☐Protect ductwork during construction from dust and debris
☐Ensure system is commissioned by a qualified technician (e.g. BPEC certified)
☐Confirm balanced airflow rates in each room
☐Receive documentation: user manual, design drawings, commissioning report
☐Learn how to change filters (check intervals: typically every 6–12 months)
☐Understand control settings and how to adjust boost/manual override
☐Keep a record of maintenance schedule and filter replacements
☐Register the unit warranty with manufacturer
☐Monitor noise levels and condensation in the first few weeks
☐Book annual servicing (or learn to inspect yourself)
☐Replace filters as needed and check for blockages or unusual smells
☐Recommission if making further changes to your home’s layout or airtightness
This checklist was created by Her Retrofit Space & Paul Heat Recovery to empower women homeowners with clear, impartial advice during their retrofit journey.
Expert Opinion:
“Under the Warm Homes Plan, insulation is treated as ‘the’ fabric measure.
But insulation alone is not fabric performance.
Fabric is a system: insulation, airtightness, ventilation and moisture risk are inseparable. Improve one without properly addressing the others and the outcome is predictable — condensation, mould, poor IAQ and underperforming low-carbon heating.
If the Warm Homes Plan is to deliver genuinely warmer, healthier homes, retrofit must move beyond single measures and be grounded in building physics, not just EPC points.
The focus on low carbon tech solutions is expected, to rapidly reduce carbon emissions, but if we refocus on effective energy demand reduction at the same time we can make a much bigger impact.”
Rupert Daly, Associate Director/ Passivhaus Designer at John Gilbert Architects/ Sussed Sustainability/ Coaction Trainer
Passivhaus deemed to satisfy UK NZCBS The Passivhaus standard is now deemed to satisfy certain aspects of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UK…
Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show Glasgow PAUL Heat Recovery is exhibiting at the SEC in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th May 2026. Please visit…
Big Magic Installer Training May 2026 PAUL Heat Recovery hosts a product training event for the Big Magic MVHR system on Thursday 7th May 2026…
Launch of the UK Zehnder Academy As Approved Zehnder Partner we were invited for the official launch of the UK Zehnder Academy in Camberley on…
