How to Use the HRV Electricity Cost Calculator
A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) exchanges indoor and outdoor air while minimizing heat loss, letting you ventilate without opening windows even on high-pollution days. Since many manufacturers recommend running HRV units continuously, homeowners often worry about the added electricity cost. This calculator uses your unit's wattage, your electricity rate, and daily runtime to estimate the monthly cost.
The math converts wattage to kilowatts, multiplies by daily runtime and 30 days to get monthly energy usage in kWh, then multiplies by your electricity rate for the estimated cost. Most HRV units draw only 20-40 watts, which is far lower than heating or cooling appliances — meaning 24/7 operation is often surprisingly affordable.
Beyond the electricity cost, continuous ventilation also brings health and housing benefits like improved indoor air quality, reduced condensation and mold risk, and filtering out fine particulate matter. If you want to adjust runtime seasonally or based on outdoor air quality, try recalculating with different hour values to find a schedule that balances cost and comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most HRV units draw only 20-40W, far less than an AC unit. Even running one 24/7, the monthly cost is usually just a few dollars.
Check the rated power label on the unit or in the owner's manual. Power draw varies by fan speed, so enter the value for the speed you normally use.