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Expert guide

Central Heat Recovery — Whole-House Ventilation System

A central heat recovery system ventilates your entire building through a network of ducts connected to a single high-performance unit. It recovers up to 95% of heat from exhaust air and delivers filtered, pre-warmed fresh air to every room — the gold standard for new builds.

7 min read Updated February 2026
Modern family house with central ventilation system
The principle

How does central heat recovery work?

Central heat recovery ventilation (often called MVHR — Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) uses a single air handling unit, typically installed in a utility room, attic, or basement. The unit is connected to all rooms through a network of insulated ducts.

Stale air is extracted from "wet" rooms (kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms) and passed through a counter-flow heat exchanger. Fresh outdoor air passes through the same exchanger on the opposite side, absorbing up to 95% of the heat from the exhaust stream. The pre-heated fresh air is then distributed to "dry" rooms (bedrooms, living rooms, offices).

The entire house is continuously ventilated with filtered, tempered air — without opening a single window.

System anatomy

Key components of a central system

1

Air handling unit

The heart of the system — contains the heat exchanger, fans, filters, and control electronics.

2

Duct network

Insulated supply and exhaust ducts running through ceilings, floors, or walls to every room.

3

Air valves

Supply and extract valves in each room — adjustable for balanced airflow distribution.

4

Controls

Central control panel or app — set ventilation modes, schedules, and monitor filter status.

New house construction with ventilation ductwork installation
Ductwork is installed during the construction phase — before walls and ceilings are closed

The duct layout is planned during the building design phase. Common duct materials include EPP (expanded polypropylene) — pre-insulated, lightweight, and easy to connect without gluing — or traditional galvanised steel ducts with external insulation. VENTIT offers a complete range of EPP insulated ducts designed specifically for residential heat recovery systems.

Why choose it

Advantages of central heat recovery

Highest efficiency — up to 95%

Large counter-flow heat exchangers in central units achieve the highest heat recovery rates available on the market.

Whole-house coverage

Every room receives filtered, tempered fresh air from a single system — consistent comfort throughout the building.

Superior air filtration

Central units accommodate F7 or even HEPA filters — removing pollen, fine dust, and allergens from all incoming air.

Silent living spaces

The unit sits in a utility room — living spaces only have quiet air valves. No fan noise in bedrooms or living areas.

Smart automation

Modern units feature CO₂ and humidity sensors, automatic boost mode, summer bypass, and app-based control.

Meets building codes

Central MVHR satisfies ventilation requirements in nearly-zero-energy buildings (nZEB) — often mandatory in new construction.

Planning

When and how to plan a central system

Central heat recovery must be designed during the building planning phase. Retrofitting ductwork into a finished building is possible but significantly more expensive and complex.

Plan during construction

The ideal time to integrate central ventilation is when planning your new build or major renovation. Key decisions include:

  • Unit location — Utility room, attic, or basement. Central position minimises duct lengths.
  • Duct routing — Through suspended ceilings, raised floors, or dedicated shafts. Plan routes before walls are closed.
  • Room layout — Supply valves in bedrooms and living rooms, extract valves in kitchen and bathrooms.
  • Duct material — EPP ducts (pre-insulated, no condensation) or insulated steel/flexible ducts.

Retrofit considerations

If you're renovating an existing building, ductwork can be routed through:

  • New suspended ceilings (adds 15–20 cm)
  • Along walls with boxing (less aesthetic but functional)
  • Through existing unused chimneys or shafts

If retrofitting ducts is too disruptive, consider decentralized heat recovery as an alternative — no ductwork required.

Featured brand

Flexit — Norwegian ventilation excellence

50 years of Norwegian engineering

Flexit has been manufacturing ventilation and heat recovery systems since 1974 in Ørje, Norway. Their residential units achieve up to 95% heat recovery efficiency with whisper-quiet operation. VENTIT is the exclusive Flexit distributor for Slovakia and Czech Republic.

Discover Flexit products
Modern living room with optimal indoor air quality from central ventilation
Central ventilation delivers consistent comfort to every room in your home
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Residential ducts are typically DN 125 or DN 160 (125–160 mm diameter). In a suspended ceiling, you need roughly 20 cm of height. EPP ducts are round and compact. The main unit itself is about the size of a small refrigerator (60×60×90 cm for residential models).
Yes. Some central units can be combined with a cooling coil or integrated cooling module. The duct network distributes cooled air the same way it distributes heated air. Additionally, most units have a summer bypass mode that brings in cooler night air directly without the heat exchanger.
Supply and extract filters should be replaced every 6–12 months, depending on air quality and local conditions. Most modern units display a filter change reminder. Filter sets cost €20–50 per change. It's a 5-minute job — the filters slide in and out without tools.
The unit stops and the building reverts to natural ventilation (through window vents or infiltration). Modern buildings with MVHR should have trickle vents or other passive ventilation as backup. Once power returns, the unit resumes automatically at its previous settings.
The unit itself produces some noise (30–45 dB(A)), which is why it's placed in a utility room, attic, or basement. In living spaces, properly designed ductwork and silencers reduce noise to under 25 dB(A) at air valves — barely perceptible. Key: use acoustic silencers on main ducts and flexible connections near the unit.

Planning a new build or renovation?

Our engineers will design a complete ventilation solution with duct layout, unit selection, and cost estimate — free of charge.

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