HRV/DVS/MM

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CuriiuosGeorge

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#150010 8-Jul-2014 15:15

Hi there, I've just had the HRV people come through for a quote. They said it'll cost me a total of $4133.56 for 1 fan and 5 vents. I thought it was kinda pricey. Just wondering if I could get your thoughts regarding the price and HRV in general? Thanks! :)

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#1084153 8-Jul-2014 15:20

Have you tried searching geekzone first? There are a lot of threads on HRV and similar systems already.

It would be hard for people to comment without understanding your home and how it is built.

Dynamic

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#1084156 8-Jul-2014 15:22

This might answer your question around their pricing: http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/news/hrv-cup-here-to-stay/8748/article.aspx

I've not heard a grumble about them, but being a bit tight I would be shopping around. Of course your home could be a challenging installation for them, inflating the installation price further.

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timmmay

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#1084158 8-Jul-2014 15:23

Yeah read the existing threads. Tell us about your house, needs, problem, goals, and what HRV want to sell you. I had them out once and they told me complete lies, I don't trust them one bit.

CuriiuosGeorge

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#1084164 8-Jul-2014 15:30

Hi guys, thanks heaps for the quick reply. I've read a lot of the other forums but the prices seem to be from a few years ago so I'm not sure how accurate the prices are. It's a 3 bedroom house and essentially we just want it to reduce the condensation and to dry out the house in general. It's a pretty standard house and they said it should be relatively easy to set up. They said the prices are non-negotiable and they'll give us a ring tomorrow night so I just wanted to do some further research with regards to the pricing. Thanks again guys for your help and input! :)

dclegg

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#1084167 8-Jul-2014 15:32

Dynamic: This might answer your question around their pricing: http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/news/hrv-cup-here-to-stay/8748/article.aspx

I've not heard a grumble about them, but being a bit tight I would be shopping around. Of course your home could be a challenging installation for them, inflating the installation price further.

Well, here's a grumble for you then :-)

A few years ago we got cold called regarding a HRV rep being in our area. Because we were considering getting a ventilation system, we agreed to speak to their rep, after seeking assurances that it would be a completely no pressure, obligation free discussion.

After the rep finished his sales pitch and told us the price (which was far outside our budget), he pulled out his contract form and started to fill it out. When we told him that we wouldn't be proceeding, he tried to guilt us into a sale by saying "But isn't your childrens health important to you?", along with other extremely pushy and unwelcome sales tactics. We couldn't push him out the door fast enough.

To the OP: Since then we have changed houses, and had both DVS and SmartVent around to give us quotes for our new place. While we ultimately didn't proceed (due to circumstances outside our control), we were very close to signing with SmartVent. Their price was a little sharper, and they seemed a lot more knowledgable and thorough when discussing the installation process. They may be worth checking out.

mattwnz

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#1084169 8-Jul-2014 15:36

Or open your windows, as per the EECA website which discusses ventilation.

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#1084177 8-Jul-2014 15:42

CuriiuosGeorge: ... essentially we just want it to reduce the condensation and to dry out the house in general.

It sounds like a simple ceiling mounted unit that sucks filtered air from the ceiling cavity and pushes it into the house using a low speed quiet fan in order to 'turn over' the air in the house by forcing the older air out through the gaps might do the trick. The fancy LCD touch panels with temperature readouts and next week's lotto numbers don't contribute much to the solution aside from the invoice.

dclegg: Well, here's a grumble for you then :-)

Haha thanks I think! We've had our fair share of pushy salesmen including several outright liars. Last year the Mrs jumped up and down on a power company who's cold call rep invented some prices and was kind enough to put them down on paper for us. They eventually paid her $300 to shut up and go away. Not bad for 4 brief phone calls.

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NonprayingMantis

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#1084178 8-Jul-2014 15:43

If you have gas available, you could get gas central heating installed with 5 vents for about that price, and it circulates the air AND provides heating at the same time.

mattwnz

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#1084181 8-Jul-2014 15:54

CuriiuosGeorge: Hi guys, thanks heaps for the quick reply. I've read a lot of the other forums but the prices seem to be from a few years ago so I'm not sure how accurate the prices are. It's a 3 bedroom house and essentially we just want it to reduce the condensation and to dry out the house in general. It's a pretty standard house and they said it should be relatively easy to set up. They said the prices are non-negotiable and they'll give us a ring tomorrow night so I just wanted to do some further research with regards to the pricing. Thanks again guys for your help and input! :)

You need to treat the cause of the problem, which may eliminate the need for one in the first place. If you are on piles, you may benefit in installing polythene over the dirt under the floor and sealing it at the edges and joins, and installs insulation under the floor. Then installing more insulation in the ceiling where most heat is lost.

Dingbatt

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#1084201 8-Jul-2014 16:02

mattwnz:
CuriiuosGeorge: Hi guys, thanks heaps for the quick reply. I've read a lot of the other forums but the prices seem to be from a few years ago so I'm not sure how accurate the prices are. It's a 3 bedroom house and essentially we just want it to reduce the condensation and to dry out the house in general. It's a pretty standard house and they said it should be relatively easy to set up. They said the prices are non-negotiable and they'll give us a ring tomorrow night so I just wanted to do some further research with regards to the pricing. Thanks again guys for your help and input! :)

You need to treat the cause of the problem, which may eliminate the need for one in the first place. If you are on piles, you may benefit in installing polythene over the dirt under the floor and sealing it at the edges and joins, and installs insulation under the floor. Then installing more insulation in the ceiling where most heat is lost.

+ shower domes and bathroom and kitchen extractors exhausting to outside.

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CuriiuosGeorge

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#1084202 8-Jul-2014 16:04

Thanks for your kind inputs everyone! :) It is very much appreciated! @NonprayingMantis Unfortunately, we don't currently have gas set up and can't implement your suggestion. @mattwnz Sorry mate, I wouldn't have a clue where to begin with that one. Would I have to consult a builder or a professional for that? Sorry if that sounded stupid but as you all probably know, I'm clearly a rookie at this! haha Thanks again guys for your inputs!

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Amosnz

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#1084212 8-Jul-2014 16:06

CuriiuosGeorge: Hi guys, thanks heaps for the quick reply. I've read a lot of the other forums but the prices seem to be from a few years ago so I'm not sure how accurate the prices are. It's a 3 bedroom house and essentially we just want it to reduce the condensation and to dry out the house in general. It's a pretty standard house and they said it should be relatively easy to set up. They said the prices are non-negotiable and they'll give us a ring tomorrow night so I just wanted to do some further research with regards to the pricing. Thanks again guys for your help and input! :)

I think you've done pretty well to get a price off them and get them out of the house (as dclegg mentions they are notorious for being uber pushy).

When we got our ventilation system a few years ago I didn't even look at HRV, I didn't like the idea of having to pay them to change filters and their system isn't a true Heat Recovery system.
I went with SmartVent Synergy system and self installed. It cleared up most of the condensation issues we had but if I had to do it again I'd probably try putting in a heat transfer only system first (our primary heat source is a woodburner). Smartvent allows you to addon fairly easily so you could add a heat exchanger at a later date.

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Dynamic

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#1084215 8-Jul-2014 16:15

mattwnz:
CuriiuosGeorge: Hi guys, thanks heaps for the quick reply. I've read a lot of the other forums but the prices seem to be from a few years ago so I'm not sure how accurate the prices are. It's a 3 bedroom house and essentially we just want it to reduce the condensation and to dry out the house in general. It's a pretty standard house and they said it should be relatively easy to set up. They said the prices are non-negotiable and they'll give us a ring tomorrow night so I just wanted to do some further research with regards to the pricing. Thanks again guys for your help and input! :)

You need to treat the cause of the problem, which may eliminate the need for one in the first place. If you are on piles, you may benefit in installing polythene over the dirt under the floor and sealing it at the edges and joins, and installs insulation under the floor. Then installing more insulation in the ceiling where most heat is lost.

I wouldn't think that the condensation is from moisture under the house, but agree that it should be checked to confirm under the house is not a 'significantly damp' area. Most of the moisture on the windows IMHO would be from the heavy-breathers overnight.

Any insulation is smart however (and if under the house is damp then absolutely it should be looked at). We had a cold call from these guys 2 years ago http://smartenergysolutions.co.nz/page/insulation_installation and found them fantastic to deal with. If I remember correctly 1/3 was govt subsidy, and we took up an Auckland Council offer to 'put it on the rates' meaning no cash was paid by us, just a quarterly top-up on the rates bill over 7 years at a minimal interest rate. We got the ceiling and underfloor done and the different was noticeable almost immediately.

We have a woodburner and I need to look at a heat transfer system. Circulating the dry air from the living room into the bedrooms should knock our bedroom-only condensation on the head.

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mattwnz

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#1084222 8-Jul-2014 16:27

Dingbatt:
mattwnz:
CuriiuosGeorge: Hi guys, thanks heaps for the quick reply. I've read a lot of the other forums but the prices seem to be from a few years ago so I'm not sure how accurate the prices are. It's a 3 bedroom house and essentially we just want it to reduce the condensation and to dry out the house in general. It's a pretty standard house and they said it should be relatively easy to set up. They said the prices are non-negotiable and they'll give us a ring tomorrow night so I just wanted to do some further research with regards to the pricing. Thanks again guys for your help and input! :)

You need to treat the cause of the problem, which may eliminate the need for one in the first place. If you are on piles, you may benefit in installing polythene over the dirt under the floor and sealing it at the edges and joins, and installs insulation under the floor. Then installing more insulation in the ceiling where most heat is lost.

+ shower domes and bathroom and kitchen extractors exhausting to outside.

Good point. Some kitchen vents go straight into the roof space, and people wonder why they have condensation.

mattwnz

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#1084223 8-Jul-2014 16:30

What forms of heating are you using? You aren't using bottle gas unvented are you, because they produce a lot of condensation. Thick thermal blinds I have found can also help with. But possibly talkign to a builder may help. the problem with talking to a company that is trying to sell you something, is that their advice isn't impartial, so every company will have their own opinion as to the best solution. That is why the EECA website is a good place to start.

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