Ductwork, Ventilation & HRV/ERV

Ducts decide how well any furnace or heat pump actually works. Undersized returns, leaky joints in an unconditioned crawlspace or attic, and rooms at the end of long runs are the reason one bedroom is always cold. A heat pump is less forgiving of poor ducts than a furnace because it moves air at lower temperatures, so a duct assessment belongs in any ducted heat pump quote.

Ventilation matters more in Metro Vancouver than almost anywhere in Canada. Months of damp weather, tighter windows and newer airtight construction mean moisture from showers, cooking and breathing has nowhere to go, and the result is condensation on windows and mould in corners. A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) brings in fresh air and exhausts stale air while recovering most of the heat; an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) also moves moisture and suits homes that run dry with a heat pump. Good bathroom and kitchen exhaust, ducted to the outside, is the first step.

Wildfire smoke has made filtration a summer question too. A higher-MERV filter on a furnace or air handler, a sealed return and running the fan through a smoke event make a measurable difference, as do portable HEPA units in bedrooms. Duct cleaning is worth doing after renovation dust or a pest problem, not on a fixed schedule; be cautious of very low-priced duct cleaning offers.