MVHR maintenance — an expert guide to keeping your system in good working order

hand wearing yellow rubber glove holding dusty filter with vacuum nozzle in shot removing dirt
MVHR maintenance helps keep your system clean and performance high (Image credit: Paul Biryukov/Getty Images)

Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems have in recent years become ever more popular, especially in new build homes. They ventilate the home at the right rate, recover heat from the stale extracted air and filter the incoming air to keep the home fresh and healthy.

However, while most MVHR systems are described as almost fit-and-forget systems, with claims that you only need to check the filter 'every now and then', this is only partially true.

David Hilton

David is a renewables and ventilation installer, with over 35 years experience, and is a long-standing contributor to Homebuilding and Renovating magazine. He is a member of the Gas Safe Register, has a Masters degree in Sustainable Architecture, and is an authority in sustainable building and energy efficiency, with extensive knowledge in building fabrics, heat recovery ventilation, renewables, and also conventional heating systems. He is also a speaker at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show. 

Passionate about healthy, efficient homes, he is director of Heat and Energy Ltd. He works with architects, builders, self builders and renovators, and designs and project manages the installation of ventilation and heating systems to achieve the most energy efficient and cost effective outcome for every home.