Indoor Air
HRV vs ERV: Which Does Your Mississauga Home Need?
Heat-recovery vs energy-recovery ventilator — what they do, the climate-zone rule, and which one belongs in a GTA home.
· 4 min read
New homes in Ontario are airtight. Without controlled ventilation you get stale air, condensation, and rising indoor CO₂. Both HRV and ERV solve this — they just handle moisture differently.
What they share
Both are balanced ventilation: they push stale indoor air out and pull fresh outdoor air in, while a heat exchanger transfers heat between the two streams. So you get 80–90% of the heat from the outgoing air without exchanging the air itself.
The difference
- **HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator):** transfers heat only.
- **ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator):** transfers heat AND moisture.
In summer, an ERV holds humidity OUT of the incoming air. In winter, it holds humidity IN.
The climate-zone rule
Mississauga is climate zone 6, sometimes considered the boundary between HRV and ERV territory. Common guidance:
- **Cold + dry winter homes (Edmonton, Sudbury):** HRV. The home is already too dry; you don't want to keep moisture in.
- **Mixed climate, varying humidity (Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa):** ERV is usually preferable. Humid summers benefit from blocking moisture in. Dry winters benefit from holding existing moisture.
- **Very humid climates (rare in Canada):** ERV.
Default our way: **ERV for the GTA.** Your indoor humidity in winter stays a touch higher (good for skin, wood floors, sinus), and you import less moisture in summer (less load on the AC).
Sizing
Both are sized by ASHRAE 62.2 — roughly 7.5 CFM per occupant + 1 CFM per 100 ft². For a 2,500 sq ft home with 4 occupants, that's about 55 CFM continuous. We size up slightly so you can run on low speed most of the time.
Where we put them
Hung from joists in a mechanical room or basement, plumbed to the supply trunk of the furnace (so the fresh air gets distributed). Boost switches in bathrooms and the kitchen for cooking/showers. Ducted condensate drain.
Cost
Installed in a typical Mississauga home with existing ductwork: $2,400–$3,400 for a quality ERV (Lifebreath, Venmar, Panasonic Intelli-Balance). Often partially covered by Enbridge HER+ rebates if installed alongside other upgrades.
If you're getting condensation on your windows in winter, smelling cooking from yesterday, or have a baby on the way, an ERV is the right call. Book a consultation: (416) 258-2460.
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Mississauga, ON · Greater Toronto Area and up to 2 hours out — London, Kitchener, Barrie, Kingston, Niagara.