Last updated: July 2026
Bring Fresh Air Into Your Home — Without Losing the Heat You Paid For
Whole-house ventilation systems — HRV, ERV, and exhaust-supply balanced systems — continuously exchange your home's stale air for fresh outdoor air. Required in all new Alberta homes. Essential in any tight, energy-efficient home.
Humid, Musty Air & Unexplained Allergies Are Usually an Indoor Air Quality Problem
If the air inside your home feels humid and musty, or you're troubled by allergies you can't otherwise explain, the reason might be the air you're breathing inside your own home. Alberta Indoor Comfort can install a whole-house air ventilation system that puts an end to poor indoor air quality and improves your comfort and safety.
Call us and we'll be happy to walk through all the air ventilation system options available — heat recovery ventilators, energy recovery ventilators, fresh air exchangers, and other clean air solutions, so you and your family can breathe easy inside your home.
Energy-Efficient Homes Are Too Airtight Without Intentional Ventilation
Modern Calgary homes are built tight to reduce heat loss — and this creates a ventilation problem. Without intentional air exchange, CO₂ builds up from breathing, humidity accumulates from cooking and bathing, VOCs off-gas from building materials, and radon seeps in from below. Opening windows is effective but not practical during a Calgary winter that lasts six months.
Alberta Building Code has required mechanical ventilation in all new residential construction since 2014 for this exact reason. If your home was built before then — or if your existing ventilation system hasn't been serviced — it's likely not providing adequate air exchange.
- Required by Alberta Building Code in new homes since 2014
- Reduces CO₂, VOCs, excess humidity, and indoor pollutants
- HRV systems recover 70–80% of the heat from outgoing air
- Continuous balanced ventilation — no drafts, no manual control required
Whole-House Ventilation Options
Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)
Exchanges stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while recovering 70–80% of the outgoing heat. The most efficient whole-house ventilation solution for Calgary's climate. Recommended for all residential applications where energy efficiency and indoor air quality are both priorities.
Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)
Transfers both heat and moisture during the air exchange — meaning it recovers some indoor humidity when bringing in dry outdoor air. Preferred in very dry climates or buildings where indoor humidity management is critical. Less commonly specified for standard Calgary residential applications.
Balanced Exhaust-Supply Systems
Point-source exhaust fans paired with controlled fresh air intakes provide balanced ventilation in spaces where a full HRV is not practical or budgeted. Less efficient than HRV (no heat recovery) but effective for baseline ventilation compliance and air quality improvement.
Not Sure Which Ventilator Fits Your Home?
HRV, ERV, or a simple exhaust-supply setup — our technicians assess your home's duct layout, airtightness, and budget so you get the right system the first time, not a guess.
Fresh Air Exchangers & Energy Recovery Ventilators, Explained
Fresh Air Exchanger
A fresh air exchanger circulates musty indoor air out of your home and brings fresh air in from outdoors. It uses a fan and vent system — one fan to send indoor air out, another to draw fresh air in. It's a simple, effective solution for improving indoor air quality.
Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)
An ERV exchanges polluted indoor air with fresh outdoor air throughout your entire home while conserving energy. It uses less energy to heat the air that's already inside — in other words, it captures the energy contained in the exhausted indoor air and uses it to precondition incoming outdoor air.
Every installation is completed to local code by technicians who receive ongoing, advanced training in the latest ventilator technology — backed by our customer satisfaction guarantee.
How Whole-House Heat Recovery Ventilation Works
A whole-house heat recovery ventilator removes clammy, stale air from kitchens, bathrooms, and basements and sends fresh, filtered air to bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms. The extracted air passes through the heat exchanger inside the unit, which recovers the heat and uses it to warm the incoming fresh air on the way in.
We install high-quality heat recovery ventilators from leading manufacturers, built to last. Our technicians receive ongoing training in all the latest home ventilators, so you know the job gets done right.
Benefits of Air & Heat Recovery Ventilators
Continuous Fresh Air
Heat recovery ventilators supply a continuous flow of warm, fresh air — eliminating the need to open windows to air out your home, even through a Calgary winter.
Humidity & CO₂ Control
Heat recovery ventilators control indoor humidity that can lead to health and structural issues, and lower the level of carbon dioxide inside the home.
Lower Energy Bills
Because the warm air already inside is being recycled, you'll see a real reduction in monthly energy bills — taking a load off your regular heating system.
Annual HRV Service — Critical for Calgary Winters
Calgary's extreme cold requires HRV defrost systems to cycle regularly. An HRV that doesn't defrost properly will freeze the heat exchange core — blocking ventilation entirely without any warning to the occupant.
Thinking About Aging in Place?
If you're approaching your golden years, it's good to think ahead. A well-ventilated home is part of building a safe, comfortable, healthy place to age in. Learn more by visiting our aging-in-place page.
Ventilator Questions
My home has a ventilator but the air still seems stale — why?
Common causes: clogged filters (reduces airflow significantly), a frozen heat exchange core (cold weather + deferred defrost service), unbalanced airflow (unit is pulling more air than it's supplying or vice versa), or controls set to a run schedule that doesn't provide adequate continuous operation. We diagnose on-site and restore proper function at the service visit.
Can I add an HRV to a home that doesn't have one?
Yes. Retrofit HRV installation connects to your existing forced-air duct system using dedicated supply and exhaust duct runs. For homes without central ductwork, point-source units installed through exterior walls provide room-level ventilation. We assess your home and recommend the best approach based on your duct layout and budget.
How often should an HRV run?
Continuously at a low airflow rate in most climates. The recommended standard is fresh air delivery at a rate based on your home's floor area and occupancy (roughly 0.35 air changes per hour for a typical home). Most HRV controls can be set to continuous low-speed operation with intermittent high-speed boost in bathrooms — we set the controls appropriately at the service visit.
Ventilator Installation & Service Across Calgary & Area
Schedule Ventilator Installation or Service
Our Recent Whole-House Ventilator Work in Calgary
Fresh Air. Warm Home. No Compromise.
Whole-house ventilator installation, service, and replacement. HRV and ERV systems across Calgary. New builds and retrofits.
