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Home ventilation

Single-room heat recovery ventilation

Through-wall heat recovery for one problem room, without ducting the whole house.

  • From £595 inc VAT per unit
  • Free survey on the UK mainland
  • Airflow tested and recorded
Get a guide price0800 088 6341
Round through-wall heat recovery vent beside a window

A single-room heat recovery unit is a compact through-wall fan that supplies and extracts air for one room while recovering much of the heat from the outgoing air. It is the answer when one bedroom, kitchen or flat has a condensation problem but whole-home ducting is not practical.

How it works

Units fit into a cored hole in an outside wall. Some alternate direction every minute or so, storing heat in a ceramic core; others run supply and extract side by side through a small exchanger. Either way, the room gets fresh air without the heat loss of an open window.

They are popular in flats, in north-facing bedrooms where mould keeps coming back, and in rooms with no route for ducting. Two alternating units can work as a pair across a flat.

Options we fit

Single problem room

One unit in the bedroom or kitchen that suffers most.

Paired units in a flat

Two alternating units working together across living spaces.

Kitchen-diner

A higher-rated unit sized for cooking moisture alongside an extract hood.

Sound-reduced versions

Quieter units for bedrooms.

Signs you need this

  • Mould in one bedroom that comes back every winter
  • A flat with no loft and no ceiling void for ducts
  • Windows that cannot be left open for security or noise
  • You want fresh air without cold draughts
  • Whole-home MVHR is not practical or affordable
  • A room with only one outside wall

Guide prices

Single-room heat recovery units guide prices
WorkGuide price
Single-room heat recovery unit through an outside wall (per unit)£595–£1,095 inc VAT

Guide prices using West Midlands (our baseline) rates. Home prices include VAT at 20%; business prices exclude VAT. A guide price is not a quote: we confirm a fixed price in writing first. London is about 20% higher and the North East about 8% lower.

What happens, step by step

  1. Survey

    We find the best wall position away from obstructions and services.

  2. Quote

    Unit, position and wiring route confirmed in writing.

  3. Core and fit

    Wall cored, sleeve and unit fitted, outside cover sealed.

  4. Wire and set up

    Connected to a fused spur, speed and humidity settings adjusted.

  5. Hand over

    We show you the filter clean and leave the manual.

The rules that apply

England

In England, ventilation is covered by Part F of the Building Regulations and its guidance, Approved Document F (2021 edition). For homes, it sets minimum extract rates such as 15 litres a second for a bathroom and 30 or 60 for a kitchen, and expects mechanical systems to be airflow-tested.

Wales

Wales has its own Part F ventilation guidance, published by the Welsh Government, and work is checked by building control. We design to the Welsh rates and commission mechanical systems so the results can be recorded.

Scotland

In Scotland, ventilation is covered by the Building (Scotland) Regulations and section 3 of the Technical Handbooks, and most building work needs a building warrant first. We work to the Scottish ventilation standards and record the airflow achieved.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, ventilation is covered by the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) and Technical Booklet K. We design to the Northern Ireland guidance and measure the airflow achieved.

Questions people ask

How much does a single-room heat recovery unit cost?

A single-room heat recovery unit usually costs £595 to £1,095 including VAT supplied and fitted, depending on the model and the wall.

Do single-room heat recovery units work?

They work well in a room with a condensation problem, supplying fresh air and recovering much of the heat. They are not as efficient as whole-home MVHR but need no ducting.

How noisy are they?

On low speed most units are quiet enough for bedrooms; sound-reduced models are available. Boost speed is more noticeable.

Can one unit do a whole flat?

One unit treats one room well. For a whole flat, two paired units or a wall-mounted PIV unit with good extract fans is usually better.

Do they need servicing?

Filters need a clean every few months and occasional replacement, which most owners do themselves.

Will it work through a cavity wall?

Yes. The sleeve passes through both leaves and the cavity is sealed around it.

Related services

Wall-hung MVHR unit with insulated ducts in a boarded loft

MVHR installation

Whole-home heat recovery ventilation, designed room by room and airflow-tested at handover.

From £4,450 inc VAT per home

Single-room heat recovery units by area

Choose your area for local guide prices and the towns we cover.

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