How to Easily Clean you HRV Filters {Home Maintenance Tips}

A Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)  is a ventilation device that ensures your house is consistently filled with fresh air by exchanging the old, stale air for fresh air from outside while maintaining the proper humidity levels.

Like your furnace, your HRV unit should be cleaned and maintained regularly to ensure that it is working as efficiently as possible and you are not introducing dust, dirt, and pollution into your home’s air. HRV filters need to be cleaned every 2-3 months,  and cleaning your filters in early spring is recommended.

It would be best if you also had your HRV serviced to ensure everything is working correctly. It is recommended to book an appointment to service your furnace and your HRV unit at the same time every two years. (Note that you should check your manual to determine the recommended service intervals for your units). 

HRV filters can accumulate a lot of dirt and debris from all the air passing through them. Thankfully cleaning them is simple. It doesn’t take long, and you can do it in a few minutes with warm, soapy water. 

Ensure to let them dry thoroughly before you place them back into your unit.

How to Easily Clean you HRV Filters {Home Maintenance Tips}

Following these simple steps (always check your unit’s manual if possible):

1. First, turn off your HRV and unplug it.
2. Locate your filters by removing/opening the door on the front of your HRV unit. Some units have two filters. 
3. The HRV filters can be easily removed by sliding them forward from where they rest on the sides of the unit.
4. After removing the filters, clean any significant build-up with a vacuum cleaner.
5. Soak the filters in warm water and some dish soap. 
6. Rinse the filters and let them dry before returning to the unit. Ensure they are fully dry before installing them.

Your HRV air filters should be entirely replaced every 6-12 months, depending on how dirty they appear. If you see any significant signs of wear, it is time to replace the filter.

You can check your unit’s manual to find out the type of filter you need and easily order a new filter online. I recommend you add the filter cleaning/replacement schedule to your calendar.