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Home Ventilation Guide | Part 4 | Ongoing Maintenance

SolutionAir

Choosing, Costing & Caring for Your System

A practical guide to selecting, budgeting, and maintaining MVHR in New Zealand

In this Series:

Part 1 - Why your home needs better air
Part 2 - Humidity, heating & NZ’s ventilation rules
Part 3 - Your ventilation options explained
Part 4 (this guide) - Choosing, costing & caring for your system 

You’ve understood why indoor air quality matters, how humidity works, and what the ventilation options are. Now comes the practical part: choosing the right system for your home, understanding what it will cost, and knowing how to keep it performing well for years to come.

This final guide in our four-part series focuses on Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) — the most complete solution available for New Zealand homes. We walk through system selection, installation considerations, real cost ranges, maintenance requirements, and the financing options available to help you get started.

System Types
Centralised vs. Decentralised: Which Approach Suits Your Home?

The first decision is whether to install a centralised MVHR system — a single unit serving the whole home through ductwork — or a decentralised system using individual through-wall units in each room.

– Centralised MVHR: a single unit, typically installed in a roof space, subfloor, laundry, or plant room, connected to every room via a duct network. Extraction points in wet rooms; supply points in bedrooms and living areas. The most complete solution, with the highest heat recovery and best filtration options. Ideal for new builds and homes with accessible ceiling or floor cavities.

– Decentralised through-wall units: individual units installed through external walls, each serving a single room. No ductwork required — making them considerably easier and cheaper to retrofit. Suitable for older homes, apartments, or specific problem rooms. Lower airflow capacity than centralised MVHR; bathrooms still require separate extraction fans.

Read more in the full Guide downloadable in the Product Files link below...

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About the
Seller

Solutionair is a New Zealand-based leader in residential ventilation, heating, and cooling, helping homes perform at their best. We work closely with homeowners, architects, designers, and builders to create integrated HVAC solutions that deliver healthy air, consistent comfort, and long-term efficiency.

Modern homes are airtight, which improves energy efficiency—but it also makes air quality, moisture control, and thermal comfort critical from day one.

Our approach is design-led and evidence-based. Using thermal modelling and system planning, we tailor solutions to each home’s layout, orientation, construction, and lifestyle, ensuring ventilation, heating, and cooling work together as a seamless system.

Ventilation is at the core of what we do. Our Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems continuously deliver fresh, filtered air while removing moisture and stale air. In winter the MVHR recovers heat from the outgoing air and in summer it takes advantage of cool indoor air to maintain comfort without wasting energy. Properly integrated, these systems improve indoor air quality, protect the building, and reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.

From early planning to installation and commissioning, Solutionair provides guidance, technical clarity, and support to ensure every system performs as intended. The result? Homes that are healthier, more comfortable, and better to live in—every day of the year.

Verified ArchiPro Member6 years · Since 2020