Hrv type system or heat pump

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Hrv type system or heat pump

nzrocketman

46 posts

Geek

#240862 30-Sep-2018 12:42

We are in the process of looking for a heat pump. We had hrv guy come over for a quote for a heat pump as we saw them at the home show.

The sale man said don't worry about the heat pump but install the hrv ventilation system. This will make the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Can anyone give me feedback or what other recommend.

Aredwood

3885 posts

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#2098729 30-Sep-2018 13:01

Plenty of threads on dodgy sales tactics by HRV. Definitely get the Heatpump instead. As the HRV is a ventilation system, not a heating system.

There won't be any heat in your roof space at night in the middle of winter. Which is also when you need heating the most.

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andrewNZ

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#2098730 30-Sep-2018 13:04

Spend the money on a real heat pump.

HRV can NOT cool air, it can only bring cool air in. Useless when it's 30 degrees outside.
HRV might be able to heat the air coming in, but it's going to be a much more expensive way to heat it.

Also, it's well known that HRV employ misleading sales and marketing tactics, and their sales people are usually very pushy.

timmmay

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#2098732 30-Sep-2018 13:19

Don't believe anything HRV says. They're great at sales. Basically they just pump air into your house, usually from the roof cavity - my roof cavity is horribly dirty so I use fresh air now. A ventilation system has its place, I like mine (not their brand), but it's a substitute for opening windows rather than heating.

Get a proper heat pump if you need heating. Consider a multi-room model with a single outdoor unit.

You can also get integrated ventiation / heating systems, but they're probably $15K - $20K.

sbiddle

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#2098734 30-Sep-2018 13:28

Comparing a HRV system with a heat pump is like comparing an apple with a steak. They're two completely different things.

richms

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#2098759 30-Sep-2018 14:43

nzrocketman: We are in the process of looking for a heat pump. We had hrv guy come over for a quote for a heat pump as we saw them at the home show.

The sale man said don't worry about the heat pump but install the hrv ventilation system. This will make the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Can anyone give me feedback or what other recommend.

Ahhahahaahahah, That's their usual line of BS with the sales and then they will say you need to add the heater to the HRV because of reasons and then you have paid a huge amount for an inefficient fan heater.

Profit of selling those fans in a box with overpriced vents and ducting must be so huge for them, so selling an airconditioner where they have to compete with others would make them much less cash.

Richard rich.ms

doobre

63 posts

Master Geek

#2098870 30-Sep-2018 18:46

HRV are now selling heat pumps along with their HRV products.
I have an hrv. As mentioned above a hrv can't cool air, all it can do is push air from inside the ceiling space into the rooms of the house. So a hrv is only useful when there is a temp difference between the two spaces. Ie. early morning sun on roof - heat can be pushed into the rooms on the cold side of the house... but on a hot day the temp in the ceiling is way higher than you want in the rooms, so then the HRV is unable to help unless it is able to pull the air out of the rooms, which it can't do without an extra venting unit. =extra $$
BUT the hrv will move a constant amount of air through the rooms and will be the best way of keeping a house free from dampness. That is the main purpose and it does do that very well. It ain't a heater or cooler.

Aredwood

3885 posts

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#2098962 30-Sep-2018 22:10

An HRV is only sometimes the best way of keeping a house free of dampness. As an HRV can't reduce moisture levels any lower than outside moisture levels.

If outside humidity levels are constantly 80+% due to the house being surrounded by large trees, or a similar reason. An HRV will be pretty much useless.

In such situations, only a dehumidifier combined with proper heating will solve dampness issues.

Batman

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#2098995 30-Sep-2018 22:21

nzrocketman: We are in the process of looking for a heat pump. We had hrv guy come over for a quote for a heat pump as we saw them at the home show.

The sale man said don't worry about the heat pump but install the hrv ventilation system. This will make the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Can anyone give me feedback or what other recommend.

if you want new, dry air = hrv

if you want cooling in summer and heating in winter = heat pump

that's my understanding

scuwp

3871 posts

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#2099014 30-Sep-2018 23:24

Heat pump for heating (and cooling in summer). Recommend Smartvent if you also want a ventilation system. They don’t lock you in to expensive filter changes and you can buy parts or even install yourself if you want.

HRV ventilation system to heat a house in winter..... wow, that’s a load of guano.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

MadEngineer

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#2099061 1-Oct-2018 01:11

Stay away from HRV. You’ll understand when they start “cold” calling you now every month and refuse to take no for an answer.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

blakamin

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#2099062 1-Oct-2018 01:15

Batman:

if you want new, dry air = heat pump

if you want cooling in summer and heating in winter = heat pump

that's my understanding

Fixed it for you.

Just get a heat pump.