Balanced Ventilation: Design and Installation Use the ERV/HRV Sizing Calculator(/tools/erv-hrv-sizing-calculator) to translate floor area, bedroom count, and climate zone(/glossary/climate-zone) into ASHRAE 62.2 airflow, ERV vs HRV recommendation, duct size, and defrost guidance before specifying a unit. A balanced ventilation system brings controlled fresh air into a home while exhausting stale air at the same rate, and it is essential for healthy, energy-efficient eco homes. This guide to balanced ventilation explains how to choose between HRV and ERV, how to size a system to ASHRAE 62.2, step-by-step installation tips for DIYers and small contractors, commissioning checks, and realistic lifecycle costs. Readers will learn concrete sizing examples, component specifications, and retrofit strategies to add balanced ventilation without blowing the budget. TL;DR: - Aim for heat-recovery efficiency of 60–95% and select a unit sized to ASHRAE 62.2; a typical 3‑bed, 120 m² house needs ~73 m...