Question 1

What is an ERV?

Accepted Answer

An ERV, or Energy Recovery Ventilator, is a ventilation device that continuously exchanges stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while recovering the heat and moisture from the air it removes. It's how a home or room gets a steady supply of fresh air without losing the energy already spent heating or cooling it.

Question 2

What is a ductless ERV?

Accepted Answer

A ductless ERV is a compact, self-contained ERV that installs through a single opening in an exterior wall, with no ductwork connecting it to the rest of the building. It ventilates one room or space directly, which makes it practical for condos, bedrooms, additions, and any building where installing ducts isn't an option.

Question 3

How does the ERV work?

Accepted Answer

An ERV pulls stale air out of a space and draws fresh air in from outside at the same time. Both airstreams pass through a heat exchange core inside the unit, which transfers heat, and in an ERV's case, moisture, from the outgoing air to the incoming air before it enters the room.

Question 4

What's the difference between an ERV and an HRV?

Accepted Answer

Both recover heat from outgoing air to warm or cool incoming air. The difference is moisture: an ERV also transfers humidity between the two airstreams, while an HRV only transfers heat. That makes an ERV better suited to balancing indoor humidity year-round, which is why it's the more common choice in most Canadian climates.

Question 5

What's the difference between a ductless ERV and a standard ducted ERV?

Accepted Answer

A standard ERV connects to a home's ductwork and ventilates the whole house from one central unit. A ductless ERV is a standalone unit built into one wall, ventilating just the room or space it's installed in. Ductless units are the practical option for renovations, condos, and additions where ductwork isn't feasible.

Question 6

Do I need an ERV if I already have an air purifier?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An air purifier filters and recirculates the air already inside a room, it doesn't bring in outside air or remove CO2. An ERV replaces stale indoor air with fresh, filtered outdoor air, which is the only way to actually lower indoor CO2 and bring in new oxygen.

Question 7

Will the ERV work in my home?

Accepted Answer

Holtop ERVs are designed to work in any building, residential or commercial. They can be installed via either the back or the side of the device, and require access to air from the outside. To learn more, call us at 604-222-2100, or see our Installation Guide.

Question 8

How can I install my ERV?

Accepted Answer

ERV installation is straightforward and requires few steps. For customers in the Lower Mainland (Canada), our team of experts can perform installation in your home. To learn more, please see our Installation Guide.

Question 9

Is the Smart App compatible with my phone?

Accepted Answer

The Holtop Smart App is compatible with both iOS and Android devices

Question 10

What is your Shipping Policy?

Accepted Answer

We offer free shipping to Canada and provide home installation for customers in the Canadian Lower Mainland. For more information, please see our Shipping Policy

Question 11

Why does a newer, airtight home have worse air quality than an older one?

Accepted Answer

Older homes leaked air through gaps and cracks, which accidentally ventilated them. Airtight modern construction eliminates that natural airflow, so without a dedicated ventilation system, moisture, odors, and CO2 build up with nowhere to go.

Question 12

Can high CO2 levels indoors actually affect how I feel?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In a closed room, CO2 can climb well above outdoor levels within a few hours, and elevated indoor CO2 has been linked to headaches, fatigue, and reduced concentration. Ventilating the space, not just filtering it, is what brings CO2 back down.

Question 13

Does an ERV filter wildfire smoke or pollen?

Accepted Answer

Holtop ERVs use a MERV 13 filter, the rating health authorities recommend for filtering wildfire smoke and fine particulates, plus an additional filter stage for larger particles. Incoming air is filtered before it enters the room.

Question 14

Will an ERV help with condensation on windows?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Condensation is usually a sign of excess indoor humidity with nowhere to escape. Continuous ventilation reduces that buildup, and Holtop's heat exchange core is designed to resist frost and condensation itself, so performance holds up in cold weather.

Question 15

What ERVs does Holtop Canada offer?

Accepted Answer

Two models: the CO2 Sensor Wall Mounted ERV, sized for a room or open area up to 500 sq ft, and the Single Room ERV, a compact ductless unit sized for one room. Both install through a single exterior wall opening with no ductwork.

Question 16

Will a Holtop ERV work in my home?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Holtop ERVs are designed for residential and commercial buildings. They install through an exterior wall and need access to outside air. Call 604-222-2100 or check the installation guide for specifics on your space.

Question 17

How is a Holtop ductless ERV installed?

Accepted Answer

Installation is a single opening through an exterior wall, no ductwork required. The Single Room ERV's duct adjusts to fit wall thicknesses from 9.5in to 14.5in. The Wall Mounted ERV installs via the back or side of the unit.

Question 18

Is a Holtop ERV noisy?

Accepted Answer

No. The Wall Mounted ERV runs at 36 dB(A), and the Single Room ERV runs as low as 32.7 dB(A), both quieter than normal conversation.

Question 19

Can I control it from my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Holtop ductless ERVs connect over WiFi to a smartphone app, in addition to the unit's touch screen and handheld remote.

Question 20

Do Holtop ERVs work well in cold Canadian winters?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The heat exchange core recovers up to 97% of the heat from outgoing air before fresh air enters, and it's built to resist frost and condensation, so performance holds up through winter.

Question 21

How much electricity does a Holtop ERV use?

Accepted Answer

Very little. The Wall Mounted ERV draws 35W, about the same as a couple of LED bulbs, and runs continuously in the background.

Holtop F7 / MERV 13 Replacement Filter for Ductless Single Room ERV

Features

Efficient Exchanger

Energy Efficient

Fine Filtration

Frequently asked questions