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Practical guide

Heat Recovery for Your Home — How To Choose the Right System

Choosing the right heat recovery system for your home depends on whether you're building new or renovating, the size of your house, and your budget. This practical guide walks you through every decision — from system type to key parameters to watch for.

7 min read Updated February 2026
Modern family home with energy-efficient ventilation
The basics

Why does your home need heat recovery?

Modern homes are built tight — well-insulated walls, triple-glazed windows, sealed joints. That's great for energy efficiency, but it creates an airtight box where moisture, CO₂, and pollutants build up without adequate ventilation.

Heat recovery ventilation solves this by continuously replacing stale indoor air with fresh, filtered outdoor air — while recovering up to 95% of the heat that would otherwise be lost through open windows. The result: fresh air, low energy bills, and no condensation or mould issues. Learn more about the technology in our complete guide to heat recovery.

The big decision

Central vs decentralized — which one for your home?

This is the first and most important decision. Both systems recover heat effectively, but they differ significantly in installation requirements, cost, and suitability.

Scenario Central Decentralized
New build (family house)✓ Best choicePossible but less efficient
Major renovationIf ductwork is feasible✓ Usually easier
Apartment✗ Usually not possible✓ Best choice
Older house (no renovation)✗ Too disruptive✓ Best choice
Budget under €2,000✗ Not feasible✓ 2–4 rooms possible
Large house (6+ rooms)✓ More practicalMany units needed
Allergy sufferers (HEPA needed)✓ HEPA filters availableLimited to G3/G4 filters

Rule of thumb: If you're building a new home, go central. If you're retrofitting an existing home without major construction, go decentralized. Read the detailed guides: central heat recovery and decentralized heat recovery.

What to watch for

Key parameters when choosing a system

Regardless of system type, these are the critical specifications to compare:

  • Heat recovery efficiency (%) — Look for 85% minimum, ideally 90–95%. This is the percentage of heat recovered from exhaust air. Higher efficiency = lower heating bills.
  • Airflow capacity (m³/h) — Must match your home's ventilation needs. A typical 150 m² house needs 150–250 m³/h. Undersized units can't ventilate properly; oversized units waste energy.
  • Noise level — dB(A) — Critical for bedroom comfort. Central systems: check noise at valves, not at the unit. Decentralized: look for models under 25 dB(A) on low speed.
  • Filter class — G4 is standard; F7 is recommended for allergy sufferers. Central systems offer more filter options than decentralized units.
  • Power consumption (W) — Look for specific fan power (SFP). Good units consume 0.3–0.5 W per m³/h. Lower SFP = lower electricity costs.
  • Summer bypass — Allows fresh air to enter without passing through the heat exchanger on cool summer nights — essential for passive cooling.
Bright, well-ventilated modern home interior
The right ventilation system keeps your home comfortable, healthy and energy-efficient
Budget planning

How much does heat recovery for a house cost?

Costs vary significantly based on system type, house size, and installation complexity:

Cost component Central system Decentralized
Unit(s)€1,500–€4,000€400–€1,200 per room
Ductwork/materials€800–€2,000Not needed
Installation labour€1,000–€2,500€100–€200 per unit
Total (4-room house)€3,500–€8,000€2,000–€5,600

The investment typically pays for itself in 5–8 years through heating savings of €300–700 per year, depending on climate and energy prices. For a detailed breakdown, see our heat recovery cost guide.

FAQ

Common questions from homeowners

Yes — with decentralized units. Start with the most important rooms (bedrooms, living room) and add more units over time as budget allows. Central systems need to be installed as a complete package, though you can prepare ductwork during construction and add the main unit later.
Yes. Heat recovery reduces heating demand by 30–50% but doesn't replace your heating system. In cold climates (Central Europe), you still need a heat pump, boiler, or other heating source. HRV and a heat pump together make an excellent combination for near-zero energy homes.
For a new build: central system with Flexit or similar quality unit (€4,000–6,000 total). For an existing house: 4–5 decentralized units in key rooms (€2,500–5,000 total). Both options deliver excellent results — the difference is mainly in installation approach.
Decentralized units: the core drilling (wall hole) should be done professionally, but mounting the unit and electrical connection are DIY-friendly. Central systems: duct installation can be DIY if you have building skills, but the system design (airflow calculations, duct sizing) should be done by a professional to avoid performance issues.

Not sure which system fits your home?

Use our free calculator to find out how much airflow your home needs, or send us your floor plan for a professional recommendation.

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