Heat recovery ventilation (MVHR)
Fresh air with most of the heat kept in, for offices, classrooms and studios. Free survey for mainland installations, and a fixed written quote.
- Free site survey and fixed written quote
- Equipment, positions and price set out in writing
- Work planned around your opening hours
What is heat recovery ventilation?
Heat recovery ventilation (MVHR) supplies fresh air and extracts stale air through a unit with a heat exchanger, which transfers much of the heat from the outgoing air to the incoming air. It provides continuous fresh air while recovering much of the energy that simple extract ventilation would waste.
Our guide range in the UK is £4,950–£19,500 per unit installed before VAT; a typical job (heat recovery for a 100–200 m² office) is £6,950–£14,500 plus VAT.
Opening a window in January is the quickest way to let heat out. A heat recovery unit brings fresh air in all year round, passing it through a heat exchanger that warms it with the heat from the outgoing stale air.
In offices, classrooms, studios and meeting rooms, heat recovery cuts the heating and cooling load from ventilation and keeps CO2 down without draughts. We size the unit to the fresh-air rate and design ductwork for low noise.
Where it suits
- Offices and meeting rooms
- Classrooms and nurseries
- Studios and treatment rooms
- Sealed or noisy locations
- Refurbished buildings with better airtightness
- Spaces with high occupancy
What is included
- Fresh-air rate and unit sizing
- Heat recovery unit with filters and summer bypass
- Supply and extract ductwork and grilles
- Intake and exhaust terminals
- Controls with CO2 or time control
- Balancing and commissioning
How the work is carried out
Calculate
Fresh-air needs are calculated per room.
Select
A unit is chosen for air flow, efficiency and space.
Install
Unit, ductwork, terminals and controls are fitted.
Balance
Supply and extract air flows are balanced and commissioned.
Heat recovery ventilation prices
National guide prices for 2026. Local pages show prices adjusted for each region.
| Item | Guide price (ex VAT) | Inc VAT | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling-void heat recovery unit (small) | £4,950–£8,950 | £5,940–£10,740 | per unit |
| Floor-standing or roof unit (medium) | £8,950–£19,500 | £10,740–£23,400 | per unit |
| Filter change | £95–£245 | £114–£294 | per unit |
| Annual service | £195–£395 | £234–£474 | per unit |
Ex VAT, supply and install including standard ductwork.
Typical job: heat recovery for a 100–200 m² office — £6,950–£14,500 plus VAT.
Things to plan for
Space
Units need space in the ceiling void or a plant area with access for filter changes.
Filters
Filters must be changed regularly to keep air flow and air quality up.
Summer bypass
A bypass avoids warming incoming air in summer.
Integration
Heat recovery pairs well with air conditioning, which handles the room heating and cooling.
Questions about heat recovery ventilation
How efficient is heat recovery ventilation?
Commercial units commonly recover the majority of the heat in the extract air, depending on the unit type and conditions. We give the figures for the unit we propose.
Does MVHR cool a building?
Not really. It moderates incoming air temperature and has a summer bypass, but cooling comes from air conditioning.
How often do filters need changing?
Typically every three to six months, depending on the location and filter grade.
Is MVHR noisy?
Correctly sized units and ductwork are quiet. Noise usually comes from undersized ducts or high fan speeds.
Premises we fit this for
Heat recovery ventilation near you
Choose your county or region for local guide prices and the towns we cover.
England
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- County Durham
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- London
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Scotland
What happens next
Tell us what you need
Use the form, the quote tool, live chat or call us. A postcode and the type of premises is enough to start.
Survey or visit
For mainland installations we survey free of charge. Service and repair visits, and travel to remote locations, are priced before we book.
Written quote
You get the specification, the price and the programme in writing, including any landlord or planning points.
Work and handover
We install, service or repair around your hours, then hand over the commissioning and F-gas records.
Tell us about your premises
Send a few details and we will arrange a survey or call you back with a guide price.