HRV Installation in Nanaimo & Vancouver Island
P3 Mechanical & Electrical installs and replaces heat recovery ventilators across Nanaimo and central Vancouver Island — in new builds where the code requires mechanical ventilation, and in older houses fighting condensation. An installation takes a day or two on site, more where a retrofit needs its own ductwork, and the figure itself comes from a written quote after a visit that costs you nothing.
Why an airtight house needs an HRV
A house built to current airtightness standards does not leak enough to ventilate itself, so BC requires mechanical ventilation in new dwellings, and an HRV is the usual way. It exhausts stale, humid air from wet rooms and draws filtered outdoor air in through a core that keeps most of the outgoing heat.
In an older house the reason is damp, not code. Showers, cooking, and laundry put litres of water into the air daily, and a mild wet winter gives it nowhere to go: condensation on the windows, mildew on the north wall. Opening a window costs you the heat.
What's included
- A ventilation assessment — how airtight the house is, what airflow it needs
- The HRV hung and isolated, so vibration does not reach the ceiling
- Exhaust pickups in wet rooms, fresh air to bedrooms and living areas
- Insulated ducting to intake and exhaust hoods, kept apart
- A condensate drain, because the core makes water in cold weather
- Controls set up and airflow balanced on both streams
Pricing & what's covered
Free estimate
We price the job after an in-home visit, once someone has seen what's there.
- One-year warranty on our labour. Equipment and parts are covered separately, under the supplier's or manufacturer's own warranty.
- We'll go over licensing and equipment with you at the visit.
How it works
Assessment — the house, its ductwork, and where the unit and hoods can sit.
Design and quote — unit size, duct routes, and controls in writing before anything is cut.
Installation — unit mounted, ducting run and insulated, hoods fitted, condensate drained.
Balancing — supply and exhaust airflows measured and matched, then the controls explained.
Frequently asked questions
Does a new house in BC have to have an HRV?
New dwellings in BC have to have mechanical ventilation, and a heat recovery ventilator is the normal way builders meet that. Existing homes need not add one, though many do once winter condensation becomes a problem.
Can an HRV be retrofitted into an older home?
Usually yes. Where forced-air ductwork exists, the HRV can often tie into it; where there is none, the unit gets its own small ducts to a few key rooms.
Will an HRV stop the condensation on my windows?
It addresses the cause, which is indoor humidity with nowhere to go: running continuously on low, an HRV holds the moisture level down through a wet winter. Single-pane windows are still the coldest surface, so some may sweat anyway.
How much does HRV installation cost on Vancouver Island?
We publish no figure for it. A new build with the ducting already planned is the cheaper case; a retrofit needing its own duct runs, insulated out to two new exterior hoods, is the dearer one. The quote is written after we have seen where the unit and the hoods can actually go, and that visit is free.
How often does an HRV need servicing?
Wash the filters a couple of times a year, rinse the core annually, and keep the exterior hoods clear of leaves and nests. Neglected filters are why an HRV quietly stops moving much air.
Ready to get it fixed?
Call now, or send us the details online and we'll follow up.